Hi Mike. I used Plastruct Fineline Styrene Round Tubing - TBFS-3, 3/32" x 15" tubes. They are about 24" dia. in Z scale and I cut them into 48' lengths to fit into the 50' gondolas and 50 lengths for the 60' flat cars. I did drill out the ends of the black (fake steel) pipes to thin the wall thickness down. So easy to do and they really look nice. Have fun! Bill Mock

Hey John, a bowl of rice a day IS a raise for me. ;-)<br />And Loren, I'm using 3/0 Fly Tying Thread. It's cheap and comes in many different colors. You can purchase it at some fishing stores and any fly fishing store. Or at www.Cabelas.com<br />www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod...=cat20538&id=0042655<br />I also use the bobbin holder to accurately apply the thread banding. There's lots of other neat stuff in the fly tying department too.<br />Bill Mock

Hi Karin. The red pipes in the photo are like a coated concrete pipes for buried sewer and storm water mains. The gondola behind has a load of uncoated black steel pipes for buried petrolium distribution. Both loads are 24" OD pipe and I did drill out the inside of the black steel pipe to make the wall thickness thinner.<br />UHG! The thought of building these for sale would be wild. I'm just too slow building them or I'd be eating a bowl of rice a day for wages! Maybe I'll build some for the National Convention for a charity auction.<br />Thanks, Bill Mock

Hi Alex, I made those pipe loads the other day with styrene tubes, bass wood strips and fly tying thread. Pretty easy compared to super detailing a locomotive. I'll see if I can do a "how to" photo series.<br />Bill Mock

Thanks Tim. I LOVE your container decals!!! Thanks again. I only wish I had bought more at the time.<br />Next up, the detailed and weathered ATSF GP35. ;-)<br />Bill Mock