I was hoping summer was just around the corner up here in Northern Manitoba, but no spring has only just arrived. So I have been slowly working on my GE 70 tonner project and other projects for myself and others.

First the uphill battle. Just when you think you put the stripes on nice and level, the picture you take tells you you didn't. My level mark is visible near the front just below the stripe. I must have shifted it while flattening the front. It is all set so it is what it is.

No I'm not talking about what you might think.  I came into a good supply of 40 foot Intermountain boxcars in a variety of paintschemes, none of which are appropriate for my timeframe or location.  Since I have started my backdating project I will need a significantly larger number of 40 foot boxcars, so into the vat of 99% alcohol they go.  Sorry for any fans of these roads, but they are being sacrificed for the greater good.

I am working on weathering some of my wooden boxcars. I model in the 1940's, so almost all of my cars are made of wood, (simulated wood actually), but some are made of strip wood, which makes weathering a little easier.

I have been following Gary Christensen's videos on Trainmasters TV, and although they weather metal sided cars, I have been experimenting with his techniques.

I have installed a Kaydee electromagnetic decoupler because I need to decouple in a hard to reach location.  I have been working with them for some time and am thoroughly frustrated.  Here's the situation.  One engine (a GE 70 tonner) only decouples in forward, the second, an atlas alco S-2, only decouples in reverse -- both DCC if that matters.  They have identical new kaydee whisker couplers and their "air hoses" all just touch the gauge.

Any idea of what I can do to address this?