I had a lot of fun doing this challenge, and I learned some new skills. I would like to thank Dave Taylor for the fine kit, and Mik for running this challenge.
My total cost after receiving the kit was $15.74 ($11.25 for detail parts and $4.49 for spray paint).
Here’s my build log…
http://www.northfloridashooting.com/Gondola_Challenge/Gondola_challenge.htm
I’d like to look, but so far the link gives me no joy… Will try again tomorrow.
Looks good!
John Le Forestier said:I'm not having any luck with the link either. ralph
I'd like to look, but so far the link gives me no joy...
That one’s not working either.
Ralph
That one worked 
Nice job !
Ralph
Very Nice!!!
A very nice clean build. Good job.
Tom
Thanks for your efforts, Ralph and Joe. Only the third link worked for me too. One of the wonders of our digital age.
Good job, Joe! Outdoor pictures are the best!
nice looking gondola…
Now thats what I’m talking about. Now put 'er to work…
Dave Taylor said:
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Now put 'er to work…
Thank You Dave, and Thank You for allowing me to build one of your fine cars. I learned an awful lot doing this challenge, and don’t have a chance against the terrific modelers on this forum, but WOW, was it ever fun!
you don’t need a chance against nobody.
you had a chance for your railroad - and you used it!
and now you are lost once and for all!
no bought car will give you ever again the same satisfaction, as a homespun!
on the southern & gulf run a lot of shabby cars - but they are MINE!
Korm Kormsen said:
you don’t need a chance against nobody.
you had a chance for your railroad - and you used it!
and now you are lost once and for all!
no bought car will give you ever again the same satisfaction, as a homespun!
on the southern & gulf run a lot of shabby cars - but they are MINE!
I really do not know what to think of your remarks or how to take them. There are many excellent modelers on this forum and this IS a competition, so yes, we are competing against each other. My modeling skills do not compare to many in this contest, but I do not consider my entry to be at all shabby, as you may think. I will very likely not be a winner in this challenge, but I would not say “now you are lost once and for all!” as you insinuate. I may very well win in a challenge build some day. I really can not figure out where you are coming from.
Very nice and the first link worked fine but I suspect it’s the new router which has made my life a lot easier!
It’s back to working on mine today. The glue’s dry!
Joe Zullo said:
Korm Kormsen said:
you don’t need a chance against nobody.
you had a chance for your railroad - and you used it!
and now you are lost once and for all!
no bought car will give you ever again the same satisfaction, as a homespun!
on the southern & gulf run a lot of shabby cars - but they are MINE!
I really do not know what to think of your remarks or how to take them. There are many excellent modelers on this forum and this IS a competition, so yes, we are competing against each other. My modeling skills do not compare to many in this contest, but I do not consider my entry to be at all shabby, as you may think. I will very likely not be a winner in this challenge, but I would not say “now you are lost once and for all!” as you insinuate. I may very well win in a challenge build some day. I really can not figure out where you are coming from.
Joe,
I believe you took Korm’s remarks wrong. He is from Paraguay, so language is sometimes misunderstood.
The challenge is to participate, no matter your skill level.
And once you have the satisfaction of building your own, store bought can never give you that same satisfaction 
Ralph
Joe. I’m with Ralph and Korm on this. It was a positive call on doing your own building. There is just something self satisfying about answering a friends question about the car with “I Made it my self from Scratch”, and the reply is “Really?” “Thats neat”. You will never get that reply from, “I bought It”, Anyone can plop down the $, But NO-ONE has one just like yours.
Joe,
I share the sentiments of those above, as well as to comment that I judge not only on the model itself, but on the skill level of the modeler who built it. Not everyone has the same level of experience in the hobby and it would be unfair of any of us to judge a first attempt by a novice modeler against the skill level of a seasoned, well experienced one.
My grandfather always told me ‘It is better to have tried and failed than to have not tried and succeded’. Joe, never give up on yourself, even the best modelers will tell you there is always room for improvement.
I didn’t have any issues with the links and found you efforts to be quite well done. As they say in grade school, marking on a cure you have a fair chance.
Bob C.