TWIN STAR MODELS Is in the process of releasing several new items in 2022.
First up is a very useful detail for diesel modelers. It is a spark arrestor used on a number of railroads. The parts are etched in nickle silver and are easy to assemble. The final price is not set at this moment. Ross Dando has a new website coming online shortly.
The production samples are shown installed on a Red Caboose GP-9 hatch and a P&D F-unit fan panel.
Ross Dando is pictured at a recent RPM in Cocoa Beach. The modern freight cars are new to TSM. These cars were previously offered by Bill Yancey. Ross decided to upgrade the kits a one-piece body rather than the previous flat kits. These kits will be on the new website shortly.
The gondola underframe is all about adding the detail parts contained in the kit.
Ross tried a little modification removing the blank panel where the door goes and some dunnage left over from the last load or two.
Twin Star Cars has a number of detail parts for steam era freight cars as well as some very nice brass castings for diesels. Down the road you might just see a few steam era freight car kits.
SOUTHERN CAR & FOUNDRY is preparing a couple new car kits in the works. First up is urethane tank car kit. The prototype is an 8,000 gallon three compartment tank car. The prototype was built by Standard Tank Car Company (STC). STC was acquired by General American Tank Car around 1930. The tank was rebuilt converting it into three compartments with the addition of two small domes and internal bulkheads.
SC&F is preparing a kit composed of urethane castings and etched details like the sill sets. The rivets on the tank body are dome shaped like the prototype. Tank car rivets are different from the normal rivet used in othe types of freight cars. Jon Cagle invented a technique for creating rivet strips like what Archer sells but made from perfectly formed urethane rivets not ink dots on decal film.
The preproduction model shows off the unique STC bolster. SC&F produced an HO model of this car which is shown below. Protocraft offers the decal set for this car.
Several other tank cars are planned based upon STC designs. In addition, SC&F has a couple new boxcars in the pipeline. The cars are based on the 1923 ARA design with wood sheathing and exterior posts. A steel sheathed version was represented by an earlier kit of the Sand Springs boxcar. Jon is talking about doing about doing the Columbus and Greevile and the Missouri Pacific. These cars differ in door designs. Jim Zwernemann did the pattern work on this boxcar series and they are excellent.
It is wonderful to Jon turning his incredible talent to producing superior 1/48 freight car kits.
Small Scale Ruler
I found this six inch architectural ruler eBay. I have been using my short ruler all the time. Take a look you might find it useful.
That’s all for now.
Gene
Gene's P48 Blog 
Very exciting news!
Hi Gene : You are a gold digger-always finding new and usefull products . I am from the slide rule generation I still have one of these rulers .