Left over kit pieces or scrap can be used to create gondola scrap loads.  spray the pieces brown or gray and add your pigments, rust, dirt, or grime as you wish.

I've read lots of advice, howto, intro, and helpful things on the internet about modeling railroads.

But nowhere is there any information for the beginner, [ ... ]

In other news, John M. is hospitalized, suffering from shock. ;-)

I've finally added as much plaster cloth as I expect I'll need, and have moved on to priming the base before painting it.  Priming made it look unfamiliar, [ ... ]