Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Edwin C. Kirstatter

A 4-truck Flatcar Conversion

The author took an American Flyer depressed-center flat car and kitbashed it into a four-truck depressed-center flat car designed for carrying heavy loads. He describes how he built the special trucks for this project. For the load he is using a SouthWind Models Type A large transformer.

A Boxcar Shanty on the Ground

The author built this MOW building from a spare body made by Smoky Mountain Model Works. Includes a couple of photos.

A Converted Track Cleaner

The author builds a super-structure (a B&O U-2 Unloader) on top of a Centerline Products track cleaner, so that it can remain on the layout without being so obvious.

A Fire Hose House

A simple structure that holds the fire hose for keeping the wooden structures of an engine servicing facility safe. Model is based on the B&O design.

A Mountainous Pike in S-scale

This article covers Ed Sauers' B&O Mountaintop branch line layout that fits in his 17'x31' basement. The article covers the track's design (a plan is included), layout construction methods, and motive power. Includes photos of the layout and its owner.

A Poultry Car as an S Model

The author shares how he built the Lehigh Valley Models Palace Poultry Car kit #LVM45. Includes several final-model photos.

A Tale of Two Gondolas

Converting two O-27 gondolas to 46-foot, close-enough, S-scale gondolas, one for the Pennsylvania Railroad and one for the B&O. Includes a couple of paragraphs on how the author built two different pipe loads (with photos).

A Transformer Load You Can Build

The author uses an A.C. Gilbert AF depressed-center flat car to model a car after the Erie railroad that had a large transformer load on it. He describes the changes he made to the car to make it more accurate, and how he built the load.

A Truck Painting Mask

The author describes the mask he made so that he could paint the freight car wheels and not everything else.

Adding Details to AM 40 Foot Boxcars

The author admits to not knowing what the prototype for the American Models' 40-foot box car is, but he does describe how he added some more details to the model to enhance its appearance. Several close-up photos are included.

An Unusual Load

The author describes how he built a unique load for a very unique B&O well gondola.

B&O Iron Scale Test Car

The author describes the purpose behind this car, and then shows how he modeled it. Includes prototype photo and a scaled drawing, and several construction photos.

Build a Barber Shop

The drawing and photo is of the barber shop in Fountain, Michigan. The author then describes how he built his in S-scale. Has one model photo, one prototype photo, scaled drawings, and scale colored signs. More photos are available on page 33 of the online PDF version of this magazine.

Building a Composite Gondola in S

The author takes an A.C. Gilbert American Flyer flat car, and shows how to add parts to it to make it be a composite (steel frame, wooden sides/ends) gondola. Includes construction photos. The model uses 3D-printed parts.

Building And Detailing a Vintage House Car Kit

Using a Scenery Unlimited resin box car, the author describes how to properly prepare and build these types of kits. Include three built model photos.

Cheap Watches by Train

In the 1880s you bought a good-quality watch at a train station!

Coal Dealer Down by the Tracks

The author describes how he scratchbuilt a scale for the local coal retailer. Includes photos and scale drawings.

Construction Cement Pipe Loads for Your Gondola Cars

The author describes how he simulated a concrete pipe load in an S Scale America gondola using Evergreen Scale Models styrene tubes.

Conversion

The author describes how he converted in old A.C. Gilbert American Flyer flat car to "scale". Includes construction photos.

Convert a Lionel Flat to S Scale

The author describes how he converted a Lionel O-scale UP 9020 yellow flat car to S-scale.

Converting a Flyer Gondola to Scale

One of the two types of gondolas designed by the USRA during WWI was modeled by the author using two damaged A.F. gondolas. Includes several model photos.

Create a Load for Your S Flatcar

The author uses a prototype photo of a flat car with a crate load, determines the dimensions of the crate, and then scratchbuilds a model of that load. Includes a sidebar on how to convert a Rex Engineering hi-rail flat car to "scale".

Detailing a Putt Trains Diesel Switcher

The author describes his building this small, unpowered industrial switcher, with a battery powering the LED headlights. It would be great in a train or as a scenic element.

Detailing American Models Triple Hopper Not Exceedingly Difficult

The author describes how he super-detailed the AM hopper.

Hunting for Flat Car Loads

The author used a 42-foot Rex Engineering flat car, which he slightly refined, to install two boilers as a load. The boilers are HO-scale made by Bachmann, but are oversized for HO, so they make good S-scale models. Includes a model photo and a boiler load drawing.

Keep Them Doors Open

The author examines the prototype devices that keep roundhouse doors open while engines go in and out of the facility. Prototype and model photos are included, as well as some design diagrams.

Kitbash a 65ft Gondola

The author took two A.F. gondolas and modified them to build this one car. Includes construction, prototype, and final photos.

Lionel Gondola Conversion

The author converts a Lionel O-27 short gondola to one that is usable in S-scale. Includes detailed instructions to do the conversion, with several supplemental photos. Also includes prototype reference material.

Load It, Don't Trash It

Reusing parts of a medicine bottle as gondola loads.

Loads for "S" Scale Open Top Cars

The author shows and describes loads for a flat car and a gondola.

Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

This article covers the following loads: Chooch Enterprises #7282 "120 Ton Steam Boiler Equipment", Lionel General Motors diesel-driven generator set, Ertl Farmall Super M tractors, Blue Mountain Hobbies coal loads, Steam Depot baled scrap load, and S-Helper Service trailers. Also covered are lumber loads made from ice cream sticks, and pipe loads from plastic drinking straws. Includes photo of all.

Make a Container Car

Starting with an O-scale gondola, the author describes how he built one of these cars, accompanied by a handful of photos.

Making A Pipe Load

Using soda straws to make pipe loads. Includes photos and several diagrams of how pipes might have been loaded.

Making an S Scale MOW Crane

The author takes a Lionel American Flyer Maintenance-of-way crane and kit-bashes it into a very nice model.

Modeling a Heavy Flatcar Load

Inspired by a prototype photo, the author describes how he built the 100-ton load for a flat car. Includes model photos and design diagrams.

Modeling with the Masters

How to paint freight car trucks without getting the wheels wet, using a painting mask when using an airbrush.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

A Rex flat car with a box and a GM engine as its load. A converted AF flat car with a large lumber load.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

Two photos, one of a Rex Engineering Lowside gondola loaded with a Building & Structure Co. wooden container kit. The other is an American Models flat car with a load of seven John Deere tractors.

Narrow Gauge Industrial Railroads

A small industrial switching area with a turntable can be easily built to hand-switch cars in an industrial complex. Includes two photos.

Scale Looking Wheels for Your RIP Track

Plastic wheels from Pacific Rail Shops kits can be used as freight car loads, or as scenery items.

Short & Easy

This article describes how the author converted an HO-scale Bachmann starter set's bridge for S-scale use as a steel truss country road bridge.

Super Detailing a Covered Hopper

The author describes how he super-detailed an S-Helper Service PS-2 hopper. Includes photos of the finished model.

Tankcar Fuel Facility for Ed Sauers' Layout

The author describes how he used an old A.C. Gilbert tank car body to build a freelanced, trackside re-fueling station.

The Last Detail

How to add car tags to freight cars. A sample set of tags is provided on the page, as well as some photos of models.

Twin Quads?

The author describes how he detailed two American Models 4-bay offset-side hoppers, including removable loads. One was modeled after a B&O and another after a C&O hopper. Includes several photos of the completed models.

Two Different Car Loads to Create for Your Layout

The author describes how he built a crate load for a converted-to-S O27 Lionel gondola. He also creates a uniquely-shaped load for a well flat car.

Ultimate Conversion of American Flyer 640 Hopper to Scale

The author describes how he converted an A.C. Gilbert AF offset-sides, two-bay hopper to a scale model by adding details, and replacing the couplers and trucks. Includes photos.