Welcome to the May 2025 installment of Cody’s Office. Thanks for all of the positive feedback from last month’s episode. It’s great to be back!
Four new products are featured in the May 2025 episode of Cody’s Office. First up is the Rapido Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive. The commuter engine is followed by the Bluford Shops N scale 15-panel, 52’-6” mill gondola with factory-dented sides. Then we’ll take a look at Sooty’s Mineshaft No. 12 from Menards, which features animation and working lights. The product section concludes with a look at Basic Model Railroad Benchwork, Third Edition by prolific hobby book author Jeff Wilson. You can purchase this title at shop.trains.com or from your favorite Firecrown Media retailer.
This month’s modeling tip was inspired by a viewer letter about workbenches. We’ll visit the modeling and construction workshops at Firecrown Media’s site in Wisconsin to take a look at some of the different workbenches used by members of the Model Railroader staff. For further inspiration, we’ll share some past articles from the magazine that provide tips and tricks for getting the most out of your model building space.
To finish up the May 2025 episode of Cody’s Office, we’ll answer your questions. This time around, we help a viewer learn more about a Pennsylvania RR steam locomotive that he was photographed in as a child; take a look at freight car photo websites you can use as references when weathering your model trains; explain what the small numbers were next to the herald on some Milwaukee, Racine & Troy (MR&T) diesel locomotives; and provide a source for large rolls of sheet styrene in Ohio.
Do you have questions you’d like us to consider for a future episode of Cody’s Office? You may leave them in the comments field below or contact us via e-mail at asktrains@trains.com.
Good to see the “Office” return and the intro looks good with Cody making his way through the building with the familiar music playing. One of these days, I’ll make my own Cody’s Office boxcar as I printed the sides out some years ago. Thanks again!
So pleased to see Cody’s Office back on here! Was always one of my favorites.
Are public allowed to visit the new HQ? I visited the former one in 2016 and met most of the team, including yourself. I’m thinking of a vacation in the area again & would like to see the new premises & the new layout.
Cody,
Thanks for asking all my questions on either ask trains or on previous episodes of Cody’s Office, I have inheritated a few Milwaukee Road railroad railcars and was wondering what the F meant on some of the cars, is there an explanation on this?
US Plastics has outlets all over the country.
Thanks so much Cody for answering my question on the workbenches. I see a trip to Home Depot in my near future. Showed your answer to the railroad’s CFO and she has approved the funding. Thank you.
jim
Another great episode of Cody good to have him back.
Great to see Cody’s Office back on the air. What is the best resource for finding freight and passenger car wheel sizes?
Another great episode of Cody’s Office. Keep up the great work!
I have ordered 4×8 sheets of 0.03″ styrene from Lowes although I think Home Depot has it too. It came rolled in a tube and shipping was free. Per their website, that is the only thickness they appear to offer. It may be cheaper from that other company that Cody mentioned.
Good Luck
p******@gmail.com – I have always enjoyed Cody’s Office in past years and I am happy to see it return. Does this mean that the AskTrains.com show has been discontinued or replaced ?
Regards – Dr. Tom Hiser
rr-fallenflags.org is a great source for freight cars , passenger cars, and locomotives pictures.
Cheers,
Jeff Damerst