Model Building

Roger...
Yes, it is a pleasure to learn from John West that the boxcar restoration is not just cosmetic. I was truly concerned that it would be a shallow undertaking. I should have had more faith in The Friends.
As to model building, I've been working in 1:20 scale (not 1:20.3) for several years now. It is a joy to work in, as so many things come out in readily available sizes of plastic strip, wood, and metal. An example is the passenger car model I'm building for the convention in Salt Lake City. The model is well along, and has been fun to build. I've been able to use many commercially available materials.
The 1:20.3 scale requires that every single dimension be run through a calculator. Every single part must be cut to size with a machinist's scale, and (for me, at least) an opto-visor. In my opinion, 1:20.3 is a ridiculous modeling scale, and should not be supported.
Here's what I would really like. Call 1:20 models "K" scale. So, LGB track gauge comes out at 35.4", instead of 36" exactly. Big deal. The savings in model construction hassle far outweigh that small inconsistency, which is not really noticeable in the first place.
Bob Keller