Let's talk about Tariffs

 I've been avoiding writing about this contentious issue, in part because I'd been hoping that is was a lot of bluster from incoming President Trump, but it's looking more and more likely.
Also I've been motivated by Jason Shron's excellent column in January RMC on the same topic.

Simply put, the threatened tariffs will raise the end cost of almost everything we consume in this shared hobby of ours.
It's that simple.

How the tariffs will be collected remains to be seen, but most likely for mail order items such as my products, it'll be collected by the post office before they hand over to you your package.
If I wind up having to prepay the tariffs before shipping into the US, that amount will be added to the price of every item I sell.
That's the way it works.

I'm hoping that wiser heads prevail in this.
Right now I am still moving forward on new projects. The Canadian Postal strike and a few other hiccups have set me back on releases of new kits.
I'm hoping that within a month or so this car will be ready

Etchings are enroute from the UK and I've been casting up a storm.
Stay tuned

NP reefer trucks

 For you fellows looking to acquire an NP reefer kit from me in Naperville at the RPM;

By special arrangement with Brian Leppert of Tahoe Model Works, we have come into possession of a limited number of the NP T-section Andrews trucks.
The style shown in this image

These trucks are frames only, and will be sold on a first come first served basis. $3.50 a pair

ACF proprietary roof

 Ben Scanlon was asking for this
The best photo I ever found for this roof

New kits for Naperville 2024

 Where as the summer gone?
It's less than a month until the Naperville RPM.

https://www.rpmconference.com/

It's great to see that Frank Hodina has resurrected the granddaddy of the RPMs.

Yarmouth Model Works will have 3 new kits available for sale that weekend.

YMW #143.1 CNR wood sheathed reefer

YMW #143.2 GTW wood sheathed reefer

YMW #144 NP wood sheathed reefer

All three feature, one piece body castings and new underframe patterns, photo etched details including prototype specific ladders, laser cut running boards, Tahoe Model Works truck frames and cutom decals from Black Cat Publishing.
Price per kit will be $65.00 USD
The kits were be available through the website right after the RPM at 

https://www.yarmouthmodelworks.com/

Come and say hi at the RPM

Some layout improvement

 As with so many things in my life, this wasn't planned but just sorta presented itself to me.

I was online, poking around for something, don't recall what, when I came across this;

https://www.modelrailroadcontrolsystems.com/mp1-version-2-switch-motor/

And I was enthralled.
Small, simple and affordable.
Now I have been using the "Bullfrog" from Fast Tracks
https://handlaidtrack.com/product/bf-0002/?v=3e8d115eb4b3
and was mostly satisfied with them except for one ongoing issue.
Sleeve snagging

I have relatively narrow aisles in places, and the choke rods were forever getting caught in clothing and generally annoying me and my operators.
So now that I'd identified a turnout motor that I liked, time to solve the other problem;
Mounting toggle switches.
Again a prolonged Google search turned up the desired item
http://www.togglecup.com/

Exactly what the doctor ordered. 
I contacted Daniel Mack at "Togglecup" and a order was quickly placed.
A brief foray into the DigiKey online catalogue for single pole toggles and some 2 pole terminal blocks and we're ready to go.

The fascia mount is simple, just drill a 1.5" hole in the fascia for the toggle cup and screw in place

Installation of the motor is straight forward.
Pass a piece of piano wire up through the existing hole in the roadbed and throwbar, and screw the motor in place, after some brief fiddling back and forth. I found that a piece of double sided tape on the motor helped keep things in place until I could get a screw in.
Wiring is simple
12 VDC
one lead to the common connection, one lead to the toggle.
2 leads back from the toggle to the 2 options on the toggle
The 2 pole terminal makes it easy for me to run a daisy chain to the other motors along the way

There are terminal screws for frog polarity should one desire, I use Hex Frog Juicers, so that's a nonissue.

The only thing I struggled with was the actual mounting screws
I had bought #4 panhead, Robertson drive screws. It's a Canadian thing. Best screw invention ever. If the screw head is made properly, the screws stay on the end of the driver. However, as with most things these days, these screws are made in China and they don't make the socket in the screw head deep enough, so screws keep slipping off the driver.
Much swearing ensues.

Anyway, one down 51 to go
Fun times on a long weekend

All expectations surpassed

 As of today, Friday June 7, 24, advance sales of the helium tank car have ended.
The number of kits ordered has far exceeded the numbers I expected to of sold, and I wish to still have a few for sale at the table in St Louis.

My sincere gratitude to all who have committed to buying the kit.
Every new resin kit offering is a bit of a gamble these days. It's encouraging to see market confidence.

Deliveries will start late July

Again thanks to everyone for the support

Now available on the website

 Three new kits are now on the website for immediate sale
https://www.yarmouthmodelworks.com/index.php/ResinModelKits/YMW-140-1

https://www.yarmouthmodelworks.com/index.php/ResinModelKits/YMW-142-1

https://www.yarmouthmodelworks.com/index.php/ResinModelKits/YMW-142-2

 Also
Advance sales of the Helium tankcar have surpassed expectations.
If you have not made your purchase and intend to do so, I would act quickly. Only 100 kits are being made and over 70 have been purchased