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SAY-CAN YOU RETIRE? I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS RETIREMENT THING.

Q1. Why don't you post your phone number so it would be easier (than writing a letter) to discuss purchasing the business?

A. I want to talk with SERIOUS potential buyers, not "idle tied -bit & gossip" gatherers [and after I hear from serious folks we will use a phone].  Casual half hour or hour phone calls or drop in visitors are not compatible with concentrating on packing kits correctly; meeting with $50 an hour mold makers; concentrating on the correct part fit dimensions of new tooling or the prototype research involved; getting press releases and ads out by publisher deadlines; getting orders processed and shipped promptly; preparing website updates and getting to the next medical appointment on time. These are all still happening.  We love to talk with Red Ball admirers at train shows etc. when we have set aside the time to be there for that purpose. (And in our allotted email read & respond time). You have probably noticed the half dozen large train companies hire folks (that you are disgusted with because they don't know any answers) to sit in their booths and us little guys in the business have PO Boxes etc, not secretaries, right? 

Q2. Would one need to be a skilled machinist?

A. Not unless that is the direction a new owner planned to take the company. All the new Signature line, Traction and LTD kits currently involve reputable subcontractors for production and production tooling. Managing skills are important for this. The Heritage line, especially, could be enhanced by machining skills.

Q3. You state the price (per section) would be five digits. Why so much? 

A. When new, Injection molds cost 5 or six digits EACH.  Tooling for quality photo etching costs four digits.  When one invests their savings in a bank or mutual fund they expect to recover them, right?  Shouldn't the same apply to this kind of investment?

Q4. Would you be available to consult or coach?

A. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. You know I kept this business "alive" (though not very "well") through nearly a year of blindness and some dozen eye surgeries. Just 3 weeks before the Seattle National Train Show I was rear- ended by a semi on I-69. Much of our display in the station wagon was scattered across three southbound lanes.  [Those who expect to take personal steps "someday" to assure their relationship with The Lord are living unbalanced on the edge in my opinion.] But I love this work and have been doing it (along with 37 years of college and high school teaching) for over forty years- so yes, as long as I am able I can be available.

Q5. Why do you have so many unreleased kits?

A. In part, reflect on the previous answer #4. Then there are two kits that were voted highly in our website ballot but advanced reservations were dismal. Our LTD kits are deliberately this way. Many are well along BUT the very first kit will STILL will cost me $1,000-$3,000 or more. If the reservations aren't adequate to convince Mrs. Rice that is where our money belongs, I don't need that first kit. It would be physically impossible for our subcontractors to supply all of those tomorrow anyhow if you sent along a million dollars [or decided to custom market all of them using the "so you want to be a manufacturer" thing I posted many moons ago]. Most are in que to become reality in coming months.  These DO provide an opportunity for a buyer to continue releasing new items while engaged in the learning curve themselves.

Q6. Is Hostler Ginchell ready to move?

A. Yes. He was there with M. Dale Newton in Red Ball's earliest days and Red Ball fans obviously expect him to outlive Dale, Howell and myself.  He thinks he is indispensable and I am not about to burst his bubble. Maybe he is.

Q7. What caused your announcement? Some people think you were out of business years ago.

A. The consequences of over 30 years of diabetes ganged up and caused the announcement. Some people thrive on inventing news and others on spreading it. Thank you for checking for actual facts. { Heard that one chat group thinks John Greene makes Red Ball.  John IS  Bethlehem Car Works.  He SELLS some Red Ball kits.  He SELLS  BCW parts to us  for some Red Ball kits. We sell his kits and parts too. He is not us. OK. Next rumor….) 

Q8. What is the inventory status I should expect?   Is it full of white elephants or in need of massive refills to resume the business?

A.      Neither. The business is not winding down. It is continuing on a normal basis now. I am maintaining complete inventories of all lines we distribute at the levels appropriate to smooth operation of MRRW.  This applies to distributed lines (except Eastern Car Works currently unavailable items) and the products we make. Injection molded plastic parts are typically run in minimum quantities of 1000 or more so those numbers might look heavy. or light at any given time depending on rerun schedules. The lines listed as "not currently distributed" would require refills but reasonable quantities to resume but a good base are here yet.  Of course the tooling would be inventoried to serious inquiries. Because these number fluctuate, a specific price is not quoted out front.

Q9.  Boss Merle, does your well -deserved phase out dash hopes for a long awaited DL&W caboose?     (similar requests on Cincinnatian loco, other cabooses, traction kits).

A.      Hope for the D&H caboose [etc, etc] would only be dashed if

1)       I die before a/ or no competent successor is found

2)       A successor dropped that ball

3)       Someone else brought out a good kit first

And on item 1-none of us knows "when" on that score do we?  My medical problems are not "terminal" but they do impair energetic progress.

Item 2- Reservations are the best "security."  Hollering for "kits we need" isn't nearly as effective as reserving them.

Item 3- Copying our kit ideas and designs has plagued Red Ball and Hometown for decades.  Copying whole lines in China by other "big boys" is reaching absurd levels. 

. 

.INFORMATION BELOW IS OLD AND MAY BE OUTDATED OR UPDATED WITH NEW INFO

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME  

Several recent chat groups have included threads from individuals thinking of manufacturing kits- and we receive frequent inquiries about doing specific projects for others.   If that's you, read on.

Would you like an affordable molded styrene model kit of your favorite railcar quickly? . Do I have a deal for you! I will offer you several dozen undecorated kits of your car for only $2.50 each in N or HO, or $5 each in S or O !  Delivery- within the next 6-9 months on most cars*. How to proceed:

1. Send a group of clear detailed photos of the prototype and precision CAD drawings of all elevations and details. Also include CAD drawings required for construction and completed engineering plans for each separate individual part.  Parts must be designed to allow molds to fill and parts to be removable from molds.
2. Upon receiving the exact amount quote from us, send a cashier's check for the molds to be machined into steel blocks.  This payment will be in the  $25,000-$60,000 range for most N or HO models and roughly three times that for S or O.  Request special quotes on larger scales.  Cost is at least double for kits requiring the full body as one piece.
3. Upon receiving and approving the half dozen test shots, send $1,000 for those test shots.  If changes are requested, additional charge will depend on the changes requested.  *This step may be repeated as desired with appropriate charges each time. This will lengthen the stated delivery time.
4. Upon approval, send the agreed kit price for 1,000 kits plus shipping of the kits and steel molds (if they are to be returned). If you are not interested in 1000 kits you may request that we keep the extras and market them for you at whatever price you would like. At this time we will need to receive from you a cashier's check for  $1.50 each for boxes and instructions,  50c each for packaging labor and  $2,000 for minimum advertising expenses (this will cover two small ads and their preparation). Additional thousands may be ordered later if you wish. The retail price to be charged is up to you. The $2.50 kit is costing you $4.50 plus advertising and mold costs apportioned over the kits you expect to sell. If you plan to sell to us or any distributor for resale through dealers you will receive 40% of the retail and pay the shipping charges. Other distributors publishing catalogs will likely charge you for catalog space.

If you do not expect your kit to sell a thousand copies there are other options:

      1. For kits that might only sell a few dozens we suggest considering precision photo etched brass. The cost per kit will vary because it is based on the square inches of brass used per kit in the 12x12 or 12x24 inch sheets and on the thickness. Each single sheet of etched material will cost about $110-$130 at current metal prices. The additional hand labor involved removing kits from the sheet is skilled [if you with us to provide it or not].  Regular CAD drawings may be submitted as above but we will require specially prepared CAD work that is designed for the etching. [The etching process acts horizontally as well as depth and most kits require sophisticated double etching and bends, drill locations, holes etc etched from the rear]. Special CAD redrawing from your regular CAD can be provided at $50 per hour.

2. Our etcher requires this professional to edit each project that has been professionally drawn by us.  This cost is $300-$500 per kit typically. The cost escalates when the editor must cross check part fitting. The first test sheet and production negative will be $600-$750. Kits with multiple thick nesses (the Red Ball B/W Steeple cab has 3) require this cost for each thickness material.  Upon approval you may order sheets in any quantity at the prices noted above $110-$130 each plus shipping from CA. Any alterations (or scale changes) require a repeat of step two at the costs noted.

We  welcome the opportunity to provide either the plastic or brass options to you.

If you wish to do your kits in laser cut wood or thin styrene. The steps involved will be similar to the etched brass steps but with the additional option of variable depth control.  We do not provide this service and cannot quote but expect the costs are comparable to etched metal costs.

If you wish to do your kits in poured resin you must develop a "scratch built model" -in pieces- that will be used to make molds.  It will be coated by multiple layers of liquid rubber to build up a set of molds.  The resin is poured into these molds by hand to make the parts.  Special techniques of vibration and vacuum are involved avoiding bubbles.  The shrinkage of resin should be considered when sizing your master patterns.  We do not provide this service and cannot quote but resin and labor costs are appreciable.  This technique is appropriate for models that may sell dozens to one or two hundred.  Kits that have a greater potential probably cannot be considered by injection molding companies if 10% of their potential market has already been creamed by resin kits [from individuals or societies].

If all this seems too involved and you aren't adept at marketing BUT you are good at research and CAD or machining patterns or molds there is another way. In the 1950-60 era most of the kit lines that grew did so because various individuals contributed their skills. They received free kits and great satisfaction for their efforts. We and other kit makers are still very willing to work with folks on this kind of basis today.  We aren't getting rich [hoping to break even on some kits and pay the bills with the others]. But we enjoy bringing enjoyment to others and most kit makers  can use help at that.

However you proceed, please respect the intellectual property of those who have made these investments before you.  Simple ethics suggest that making a mold from others' kits, scanning a laser cut- part, etched metal part, instruction plan or color printed panel is not the appropriate way to proceed.  Many things are copyrighted and some cannot be.  If you find yourself involved developing a "reason" or excuse for "using" someone else's product you are on an ethics slope.  If theirs is too expensive, currently unavail- able, not in your favorite material or not quite up to today's standards ---it is still theirs.

Approximate Dollar Amounts are given for March 2007. Mold making historically doubles every 5 years.

Boss Merle

MEMORIUM

Howell Day passed away at his Florida home Monday December 19,2005. Howell was a pioneer in the model railroad industry.  The Model Railroad Shop he began in Dunellen (Piscataway), New Jersey, continues to serve New York hobbyists today, some seven decades later. He was an early manufacturer of O scale kits and items then introduced the " H Owen" line before World War II. He was proud to point out that when he announced an HO  Pennsy K4 kit the ads showed several of the engines-proving it was not a pipe dream.. This same attention to selling only what he had available continued during the 1950-70 era as he continued leadership with the extensive Red Ball product line.

 Howell closed during the slow summer months and built up a season's inventory.  He then insisted on a mailed "pre-order" to which he answered which items were still available and how much to remit. Seasoned hobbyists today remember him for Red Ball that  he purchased from its founder, M. Dale Newton,  in 1955 and sold to us in 1976.  During those two decades he introduced additional car sides to the line. Red Ball was the source of well over 200 billboard reefers and over 100 boxcars in an era when only a handful of car sides were offered by other kit makers. The line was a precursor to today's interest in a large selection of prototypically accurate models. Red Ball was respected for dozens of other unique prototype cars with crisply cast detail parts and was an early importer of Japanese made brass motive power. Many anomalies crept into the line as well. Red Ball briefly included the first injection molded model railcar kit (Kurtz Kraft PS1 boxcar) and Howell provided a variety of N scale boxcar and reefer sides when only foreign imports were in the N marketplace. Today's modeler who missed that golden era will recognize Howell's name as the name on the fledgling NMRA national museum of model railroading.

 Howell had the foresight to provide builtup models of the Red Ball line and finances to initiate the museum. The NMRA Museum leadership approached us last summer to provide an appropriate Howell Day memorial car that is in development. Howell Day was a gentleman in business transactions and a humble friend.

  Messages of appreciation addressed to his wife, Ruth Day, can be mailed to her at Ruth Day, c/oRed Ball Models , PO Box 411, Roanoke, IN 46783 and we will send them  along to her

UPDATED SEPT, 2005

DECALS

B&O   M53 WAGONTOP BOXCAR with choices on service dates & shops, contains logos for all lettering schemes through the 1950s. (for one car with leftover logos) licensed by CSX    #772-4463D  $5.95  available now

MONON  Coke Car and Stone Gon material to decal one each of these cars. licensed by CSX and available when kits are released  #772-4401D    $9.95

CENTRAL OF NEW JERSEY  with correct statue of liberty herald.  Heralds & Data to decal one CNJ class boxcar  and other cars,  Number jungle and heralds permit use on other cars as well.   #772-4464D   $9,95    (coming Sept)

US ARMY WW II HOSPITAL CAR  with 2 color Red Cross for carsides & roof. Decals for one car  #197-97004  $6.95,  Same decal with doors & instructions to convert most any heavyweight Pullman into hospital car   #197-87006   $9,95

US ARMY WWII HOSPITAL AUXILIARY with 2 color Red Cross and lettering for one kitchen car or most other auxiulliary service cars in hospital train. #197-97005  $9.95

PULLMAN/ US ARMY WWII TROOP TRAIN decals for two sleepers and one kitchen car #197-97002  $5.95

WE ALSO STOCK DECALS MADE BY BETHLEHEM CAR and EASTERN CAR for their kits.

FAVORITE VINTAGE RED BALL PARTS

Steel car side ladders         10/ 50cents  as is
Wood 36' freight car roof     4/ $1.00        as is-some discoloration
36' DEPRESSED CENTER FLAT CAR SIDE SILLS   $2 /pr this is the same prototype Eastern has dopne in styrene.  Weight it!

Many have requested the earlier cast Red Ball parts. Existing inventory is being organized to make these parts available this winter --while they last.  M are die cast soft metal and P are injection molded styrene from the same metal molds.  Your reception will determine whether reruns are to be considered. Orders now accepted for delivery late fall/winter. Supplies limited, orders accepted on first come, first served basis.

Prices unless otherwise noted:
Boxcar & Reefer ends or doors  $3.50 / pr
Bolsters, Span Bolsters,  End sills & Gondola ends  2pc $2.75   4 pc  set  $3.95
Brakewheels (4) or Brakewheel & Housing (2 set) $2.95
Underframe   (1 or 2 pc set)   $3.95
Ice Hatches , Steps  4 pc set $2.95; 8 pc set $3.95

Others listed as available:

ILLUSTRATIONS  AND LIST POSTED WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.

The Boss and Bea arose [too] early for the MRIA Breakfast Meeting so we got to play tourist at  5:30 AM our time. Here is Bea at Fountain Square-about our only chance to play tourist. It was a busy train time

            Bea-too early at Fountain Square

Our booth (202-203) featured (on the left side) Oregon Rail crossing flasher and cantilever Signal bridge that  were welcome sights to many.

On the same panel were the NEAT CMA and Tichy 'minikits' for tell tales, mail cranes, water plugs,ice blocks, burlap bags, milk cans, fire escapes, wheel stops and the like. We nearly sold out of  Tochy/CMA

In the corner was the Cannonball Car Shops display of the new WWII Hospital Car, Hospital kitchen car and a 'converted' heavyweight Pullman to hospital car using CCS conversion kit. We started with a stack of styrene GE steeple cab kits and a builtup model.  The display model came back to Indiana but the kits went far and wide.  There were CB&Q, Monon, and N&W express cars made with the CCS kitchen car and several other interesting troop conversions.  RED BALL's converted troop sleepers were next on the right. Folks seemed to really enjoy studying the many different brass sided cars.that ran every where from the 1950-70s era (many are still in special service. N scalers saw THE first announcement of brass sides to convert Micro Trains ® troop sleepers-and snatched up the sample sides that were for sale.

The center of our booth featured Red Ball LTD, Red Ball Heritage and Red Ball SIGNATURE series cars. From LTD: our first modernized / betterment train, the Cincinnatian was shown with nickel silver etched sides (with raised lettering like the prototype). LTD's first traction model, the  Baldwin B steeple cab, was shown and available for purchase and a pre-production B&O C15 baggage car was there.   A 1980's vintage Wreck Crane kit represented the old favorites being upgraded for reruns as 'Heritage Series.'  Signature cars included a train of Mann's Creek    

HO hoppers, the B&O Wagontop boxcar, PRR H30 Covered Hopper; PRR Troop Sleeper; PRR Depressed Center Flat and Mann's Creek Log buggies in G,O and N. The Mann's Creek Hopper in O scale was also on display..

Over on the right we featured the HOMETOWN Bristol Backgrounder buildings and 17x21 brick sheets, factory walls and 'Insulbrick' Sheet. There were folks crowded around this most of the time.   We sneaked in  some of the Hometown Studio Series  parts and Hoosier Byways postcards from the area too. We'll tell more about those things on this website soon.      Insulbrick? That's the tar/asbestos sheeting they used to use to cover old buildings.

It looks like ugly brick with black mortar-from afar.  Those Brick sheets are in HO, N, O, S and G !!!

In our booth this year you met Boss Merle, his wife Bea and George Dollens and his wife Mary Ann. That's George in the red shirt.  He's the lead man on most of the LTD projects. After Merle does basic design George does the special CAD work for etching the brass. He works from the plans and pix we've assembled. We're proud of the Cincinnatian he developed (it's hiding behind them) .

But that's only the beginning. All of George's work is then  'edited' by Doug Hunt.  [He stayed. back in Indiana working on caboose molds]. On projects when Doug is lead man, the editing is George's to do   Doug was in charge of the raised lettering on the Cincinnatian cars. May sound simple to you                 

but that alone took a couple weeks!!  Preparation of the exhibit was Doug's job for over a month so the cabooses were calling him. George got to see the show too.  There were so many of you the boss didn't.  That's good-we came to meet you. IF we are able to be in Philly it will be Doug's turn. Most of us smaller companies have to shut down for over a week to do a show, and it can easily cost a tenth of the year's income. That alone should explain why we told so many of you we wouldn't be at a show you asked about.  We'd love to-but. .

It is super to be able to visit layouts the evening after a long & tiring day of setting up the booth. 

The day starts with long waits at a loading dock and continues non stop. We did well this year- Only forgot to pack one display model and only had one new kit (Brill 55) that didn't make the deadline to be in the show. We were showing over a hundred new products for the first time!   

City Classics' Jim Sacco didn't want his picture on the website until we agreed to include his new HO neighborhood supermarket.       Of course we wanted to show IT.                                 

His new booth display was also Impressive.

January 29, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cannonball Car Shops has continued their HO World War II troop train series begun six years ago with the troop sleeper and kitchen car. Now being released  is the consist for a World War II troop hospital train.  Such trains typically met incoming ships at dockside to transport casualties to military hospitals in the US

Cannonball's HO Army Hospital Car consists of an injection molded styrene core with double etched brass overlay body wrapper. The finely detailed wrapper has attached stirrups and is preformed for ease of quick construction.  Also included in the kit are Eastern Car Works truck side frames, window glazing, custom created decals and metal stairwell castings. Underbody detail is included in the styrene core floor.  The 'full length passenger' configuration of these cars and their streamlined appearance led to postwar purchase for other uses. The best known of these are Ringling Brothers Circus and Monon passenger cars.  Hospital kit #197-9708 is  $79.95 including preformed brass wrapper, styrene core kit, decals, steps  and  truck side frames.

Hospital trains often consisted of hastily adapted heavyweight cars as well as the custom made hospital cars. Photographs indicate a wide variety of cars were converted in this manner. Cannonball offers the decals and litter doors for easily adapting your own HO heavyweight cars into 'emergency' hospital cars. Conversion kit #197-97006 with decals, doors and instructions for one car  is $9.95.The hospital car decal set alone, #197-97004, is $6.95.  

Each eight to twelve hospital cars in a train were served by a hospital kitchen car. Cannonball now offers an  injection molded styrene hospital kitchen car kit #197-9710 in HO for $29.95. Included with this kit are special hospital kitchen car lettering decals with two color Red Cross emblems, metal underbody AB brake parts  and Allied Full Cushion truck side frames. This decal set (#197-97005 ) includes lettering for a wide variety of other auxiliary medical service cars as well. It  is also offered separately at $9.95. The kitchen car accepts Kadee ® draft gear boxes for coupler mounting.

Cannonball Car shops kits are designed for modelers with moderate kit building experience. They  are designed, tooled and made in the USA.  Further prototype specific military train cars and some of their conversions are promised on the kit maker's website, www.mrrwarehouse.com.  

Jpg of Hospital Car #197-9708 is a pre-production model.

Jpg of Hospital Kitchen Car #197-9710 is a production model

MOW TROOP CAR LINK UPDATES 2004
Most MOW conversions of anything-troop cars, old boxcars, passenger cars, flats etc. is done at the direction of a local wreck master or master mechanic/ No two can be assumed alike, and documentation is the exception, not the rule. A vast resource exists from the photos of John C. Larue Jr. whose photo catalogs (and photos) are nominally priced. John's e address is  ( mofwcaboose at aol.com  ) if you wish to inquire about the catalogs he offers. 

As a result of increasing awareness of the role that troop cars played in the last half century - and what they look like-many are being discovered these days on various photo posting websites. We'd suggest a study of our own kits and photo resources on this page first. Many sources mistakenly mislabel the cars-note the differences between windows of kitchen and sleeper cars. Doorways of sleepers were often widened due to their narrow width. Their off center position made this relatively easy. Kitchen car's wider doors were seldom modified. The Cannonball HO kits were specifically designed to allow kitbashing to copy prototype car bashing using only photos as a guide. Red Ball express cars with brass sides simplify those modifications and BBGT offers them in other scales pending sufficient reservations. But NOW while the Cannonball reject sleepers and their kitchen cars are available is a great time to create prototype MofW conversions. 

Sightings of ex troop cars have become more frequent than Elvis sightings. When this page was started there were few and we cataloged them by road but the task could become full time servitude for Shambles, our webmaster. SOOO.. as we receive links to posted troop pictures we'll ask him to paste them in here for your study and enjoyment.  TROOP MOW Links CLICK HERE

WINTER WEB SPECIALS 

(model built by Bill Basden of Delta Models-Portland Oregon)

'For more prototype info, click here'  

RAILROAD SIGNALING by Brian Solomon
a new 160 page hardcover explanation of prototype
signaling practice chock full of color illustrations & photos,
If you need to read the book first (then study the Oregon Rail page on our website) to determine what signals you need that's OK. Explain that to Barbara when you call and authorize her to charge non-refundable $160 + book shipping to your card now. Then order the signals later-even after this offer expires. The book will be promptly shipped charging the special postal media rate (US) . Any additional signal value will be charged at time of signal order shipment.

NORTH AMERICAN RAILYARDS by Michael Rhodes
A new 240 page hardcover introduction to the major US & Canadian railyards with color photos, maps and understandable explanations of their history and operation.

There is no better time to start bringing your pike's signal and switch detailing up to the same standards you expect from the Prototype Specific locos and cars offered on the Model Railroad Warehouse website. These new books , Oregon Rail and Central Valley can help.

MRRW does not distribute these books. We have secured a limited number of them to assist a limited number of our Prototype Specific customers meet their own standards of excellence. They are available from MRRW ONLY UNDER THESE FREE TERMS. Limit one each book per customer.
POSTED JANUARY 9,2004-This offer will expire without notice.

Our standard shipping charge will apply to the merchandise in these offers.
The $160+ merchandise must be placed in ONE lot order and does not apply to previous purchases
There may be delays in shipping while we await book supply replenishments.

Subject: Theft Alert
Monday, February 10, 2003 9:11 PM         Subject: [traintools] Theft alert!
  'Last night, thieves forcibly broke in at the Strasburg Rail Road's engine house, and took the following items:
  1.)--The number plates from engines #31, #90, #475.
  2.)--Classification lights from engines #31, and  #89.
  3.)--1 new classification light.
  4.)--6 rear end marker lamps, 4 kerosene, and 2 converted to battery operation.
  5.)--1 photograph of engine #89 on the Green > Mountain.  Side view with specifications.
  6.)--1 Strasburg Rail Road rule book. Red loose leaf format.
  7.)--1 Small (about ½ normal size) locomotive brass bell and yoke.
  8.)--1 ICC steam locomotive defect chart. 
 They also forced open (and destroyed in the process) a steel door to the back shop, but we haven't spotted anything missing from in there yet.  It appears that there were two perpetrators in that they left many footprints and tire tracks in the snow. Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. They seemed to have a specific 'shopping list' in that they took only rail fan collectibles, and only specific ones at that.  We at the Strasburg Rail Road ask for the help of the community to return our property to us, and to bring these criminals to justice.  If anyone has any information, please call the  Strasburg Rail Road at  717-687-8421

MODEL RAILROAD WAREHOUSE
235 N MAIN, PO Box 411, ROANOKE, IN 46783 

Our toll free 800-672-8762 line is now ready for those that cannot order online.

Wabash Valley Lines, Inc.
OPERATED BY

MODEL RAILROAD WAREHOUSE
235 N MAIN, PO Box 411, ROANOKE, IN 46783

November 1, 2002 
RED BALL, known since 1939 for introducing variety and unique prototype kits to model railroading, is retiring the printing plates which were used to produce over 200 different prototype refrigerator car sides and over 100 scribed boxcars during the 1939-1975 golden era of HO. The plates will be offered as one-of-a-kind souvenirs mounted on finished hardwood bases. Engraved brass plaques will identify them as the authentic production tooling used to print the Red Ball kits now sought after by collectors. Most plates are of the standard zinc design used in letterpress printing though some were a hard rubber composition. The 'desk top' style displays will be hand produced in spring of 2003 to fulfill reservations received by April 15,2003. Most prices will range from $25 to $95 depending on the options and car chosen. A special catalog of the carsides with ordering information is being prepared and will be mailed (beginning in December) for a refundable (with purchase of a mounted plate) charge of $4.00. Carside preferences will be honored on a first come basis with the reservation postmark date the determining factor. 
For clerical and legal reasons, only mail orders using the order form in the special catalog will be accepted.

Red Ball has been owned by Wabash Valley Lines, Inc. (Huntington, IN) since 1975. Car sides by Wabash Valley have been produced on scribed wood by silk screening and, a few late editions of the 1980's, by pad printing. The printed cars were produced by M Dale Newton until 1955 and by Howell Day (Dunellen, NJ) 1955-75. They utilized heavy cardstock, which was 'scribed' by impression with a rule die on the letterpress. Mr. Day made a few laminated paper/wood sided cars and some specialty cars used a paper wrap. In addition to the printed side cars, the Red Ball line has featured about 200 unique prototypes with their own crisply die cast metal parts since World War II. The rare pre-war Red Ball line is mostly unknown to today's collectors but it included many cars with plastic castings. Mr. Newton reestablished the line after a devastating fire at his Medford, Oregon plant. Mr. Day was an early importer of Japanese brass models that were also marketed under the Red Ball brand. He also sold the very first HO styrene car kits, Kurtz Kraft's PS1 boxcars and steel reefers, under the Red Ball brand for a period of time. Remaining Red Ball card sides were last marketed by Wabash Valley Lines. Inc in simplified economy craftsman kits of the late 1970s under the QuicKits brand name. The car sides and kits are now prized in the collector market.

September 10, 2002              MODEL RAILROAD WAREHOUSE

235 N MAIN, PO Box 411, ROANOKE, IN 46783 

RAILROADERS AND RAILFANS

WANTED: WW II TROOP AND HOSPITAL CARS 

As manufacturers of the Cannonball WW II TROOP TRAIN cars

We have been co-operating with a new World Class Museum of World War II which expects to open later in 2002 in mid-America.  This museum will house an impressive collection of the weapons  and vehicles of the nations involved in that conflict and is intended as a tribute to the veterans of WW II. Though they have the tanks, half tracks and all, their collection does not include the troop cars -- sleepers and kitchen cars -- which carried our men to the ports and forts. We have been asked whether we can help locate cars (troop sleepers, a kitchen car and hospital cars) that might become available for preservation and inclusion in this museum. There are sleepers (particularly) still relatively unmodified and in MofW use around the country. If you are aware of any cars still in service or surplus in rail museums which could be possibilities for restoration and preservation, please notify us at fax 260-672-1714, by mail or at ( museumcars at mrrwarehouse.com )  The car's location and ownership (road number if possible) would be key information.  

Railroads/fans wishing to donate WWII cars may be encouraged to know the museum is located near a CSX mainline and yards and gifts would be to a non profit foundation. The display may be sheltered within view of a major Interstate at the museum exit or inside the museum as deemed appropriate for the number of cars available. The community is also home to a highly respected world-class classic auto museum and annual meet-all conducted by permanent staffing in a highly professional manner.

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