Re Powhatan Arrow Consist in N-Scale

[NW Modeling List]

The recent post re the Rapido passenger car with N&W lettering in 
N-scale prompts me to speak up for the M&R etched brass sides for the 
basic Arrow consist (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, D-1), available via 
www.nscalesupply.com (a very competent supplier).  Click on "supply 
catalog", then "listings by manufacturer", then scroll down to "M&R Sides".

I secured the entire consist, 8 sides plus a single wrap-around for the 
rounded P-4 (tavern car) , and found all executed exceedingly well.  
Fully accurate to drawings I have.  Manufactured in Italy, I believe.

All pieces match the American Limited passenger car core kit perfectly.  
Be sure to get the 8040 kit in black, which gives you a leg up on the 
Arrow roofs.

The tavern car, rounded in the rear, takes some modifying of the core 
kit.   I trimmed the roof and undercarriage, crafted 1/8" balsa plugs to 
contour the trimmings (inside), and found that the single tavern car 
side strip, with end door in the middle, wraps around just right to meet 
the opposite end in very snug fashion.

I used Scalecoat II paint, S2082 (N&W red), which hits the bullseye to 
my mind for the Arrow's Tuscan Red livery.  With ShellScale #6 (or N123) 
decals, the whole business is quite spiffy.

My consist is pulled by a Bachmann Spectrum J, the first of which, out 
of the box, ran half-way around the pike, then, with a clunk, stopped in 
its tracks, not to be coaxed back to life.  I returned it to Bachmann, 
which by return mail supplied me with a new engine right off the shelf.  
I added a decoder and MT tender coupler, and all goes fine.

Go for the M&R sides, which make for an arresting Arrow.

Frank Gibson