I am re-posting this as the link was broken sorry about that. My son build a foam cutter that we use to build a hatch over the staging yard ladder using pink foam and plaster cloth. I do not dip the cloth as that is messy. I work with the cloth dry and use water and a paintbrush. I buy the cloth in bulk of 64 rolls and it works out to less the $2.00 per roll 4 inch wide by 180 inches ( http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Mark-Plaster-Cloth-Large/dp/B0049V1BY0 )

hope this is helpfuly to you

Mike

I recently had to send my Lionel Mikado back for repairs to the smoking unit.  All of a sudden stopped smoking.  Lionel was great about it.  They tried to help me via email first for several tries, but no luck.  Finally I sent the unit off to them and with a quick turn around they fixed the problem -- even though my engine was out of warranty.  Great service.  In any event she's back and up and smokin' so I made a little video of her travels, if you care to see it..  She's running on the top level of my Tombstone Southwest railroad layout.

Anyone know how much the individual components of a prototype freight truck weigh on average?  Wheels (33"/36"), axles, side frames, springs, etc.?  The reason I ask is that I've seen many dioramas where the builder scatters such parts about with no regard to how they might end up there given it might take a small football team to lift them.  Likewise in models of locomotive/car repair shops where I worry about the weight bearing limits of the shop floor...