02-05-2011, 03:01 PM
It's very enjoyable to watch as you overcome the various situations that arise as you add details to these cars. 
Those small drill bits would be very handy to have, but my local tool supply shop doesn't carry anything smaller than a #80. The oversize shank on yours is ideal, too, as there's no need for a special pin vise for such small drills.
It's difficult to tell from the picture in PSC's catalogue, since the illustrations are drawings rather than photographs, but their HO-3263 (this one is supposedly meant for tenders, and is a brass casting - two for $2.50) appears to be more detailed than the one offered by Tichy. (Tichy's version is especially disappointing because their styrene parts are usually very nicely rendered, with very crisp details.) PSC also offers retainer valves (again, meant for tenders, although they appear identical to those used on freight cars) in plastic - these are HO-31796 and are four for $2.00.
It's interesting how shop forces moved those retainers around until they found a less-vulnerable location that would protect them from damage. Gondolas, especially those with drop ends, often had the retainer located on the car's side, as on the Proto2000 gondola shown below. (It's right next to the grabirons on the right end, and still has its oversize plastic "pipe".)
![[Image: Foe-toesfromTrainPhotos2007third-2.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/freight%20cars/Foe-toesfromTrainPhotos2007third-2.jpg)
Wayne
Those small drill bits would be very handy to have, but my local tool supply shop doesn't carry anything smaller than a #80. The oversize shank on yours is ideal, too, as there's no need for a special pin vise for such small drills.
It's difficult to tell from the picture in PSC's catalogue, since the illustrations are drawings rather than photographs, but their HO-3263 (this one is supposedly meant for tenders, and is a brass casting - two for $2.50) appears to be more detailed than the one offered by Tichy. (Tichy's version is especially disappointing because their styrene parts are usually very nicely rendered, with very crisp details.) PSC also offers retainer valves (again, meant for tenders, although they appear identical to those used on freight cars) in plastic - these are HO-31796 and are four for $2.00.
It's interesting how shop forces moved those retainers around until they found a less-vulnerable location that would protect them from damage. Gondolas, especially those with drop ends, often had the retainer located on the car's side, as on the Proto2000 gondola shown below. (It's right next to the grabirons on the right end, and still has its oversize plastic "pipe".)
Wayne