TheRailwire

General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: JoeD on June 22, 2009, 06:59:49 PM

Title: ESM Gondola
Post by: JoeD on June 22, 2009, 06:59:49 PM
Eric brought back a sample of Bryan's gon and....wow about says it all.  Now I just gotta figure out what SP car is close to this so I can repaint a bunch of them and run it local ;D  Great job, I plan on waving this in front of Tooling.

Joe
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Ed Kapuscinski on June 22, 2009, 07:20:26 PM
Nice!

I saw one a few weeks ago and it really is stunningly nice.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: wm3798 on June 22, 2009, 08:57:28 PM
Aw, c'mon Joe.  There's nothing wrong with the MT gon...
(http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/NW_GB_98863_%281%29.jpg)

... that a Dremel tool and a couple of hours of labor can't fix... ;D ;D

Lee
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 22, 2009, 09:10:33 PM
Eric brought back a sample of Bryan's gon and....wow about says it all.  Now I just gotta figure out what SP car is close to this so I can repaint a bunch of them and run it local ;D  Great job, I plan on waving this in front of Tooling.
Thanks!  Hope everyone agrees when they hit the shelves in a couple of weeks. :)

BTW, the Pennsy CKs did run out west on the SP, so you can run them as is!  8)
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: asarge on June 22, 2009, 09:55:08 PM
I'm in for a couple of CK's and a PC. Ever since I read the Penn Central sampler I've had a soft spot for that lost cause.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Bob Bufkin on June 22, 2009, 09:59:56 PM
Any gon has got to be better than Athern's let's dip it in paint a dozen times model. 

As for PC, I have been tempted to advance aboutg 12 years and do early PC.  Gives me an excuse to get some NYC locos.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 22, 2009, 10:02:36 PM
Here's the Pennsy SK car in operation during the Portland Convention on the Spokane International Railway layout.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bbussey61/PortlandConvention2009#5349582724742566434 (http://picasaweb.google.com/bbussey61/PortlandConvention2009#5349582724742566434)

http://picasaweb.google.com/bbussey61/PortlandConvention2009#5349582735124188754 (http://picasaweb.google.com/bbussey61/PortlandConvention2009#5349582735124188754)
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: asarge on June 22, 2009, 10:05:29 PM
Link didn;t work Bryan. The paint was heavy on those Atheans but they weathered up pretty well.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 22, 2009, 10:13:37 PM
Should be working now?
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: asarge on June 22, 2009, 10:18:05 PM
Yup, looks great in a train!
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: tom mann on June 22, 2009, 10:19:08 PM
Aw, c'mon Joe.  There's nothing wrong with the MT gon...

... that a Dremel tool and a couple of hours of labor can't fix... ;D ;D

Lee

Hey, that gon was tooled before Joe was born!!
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: ai5629 on June 23, 2009, 07:08:51 AM
Any gon has got to be better than Athern's let's dip it in paint a dozen times model. 

As for PC, I have been tempted to advance aboutg 12 years and do early PC.  Gives me an excuse to get some NYC locos.


I  have to agree with the thick paint comment on the Athearn gondolas.  However, I may have discovered why this is so.  I stripped a couple of Athearn flatcars (metal bodies just like the gondolas) with the intention of repainting them Conrail.  I got them down to the bare metal with some stripper from Home Depot.  I tried to spray them with Floquil boxcar red, and three coats into the process, my paint coverage was still poor and getting thick.  I was not sure what to do.  I stripped the cars again and primed with Tamayia primer and resprayed with Boxcar Red.  One coat of primer and two light coats of Floquil boxcar red, and I was able to get a very reasonable finish with good coverage.  Maybe Athearn needs to prime before they paint.  Thanks.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: amato1969 on June 23, 2009, 08:19:16 AM
Aw, c'mon Joe.  There's nothing wrong with the MT gon...

Right on, Lee -- and it's a dead ringer for the Lehigh Valley 52-footers!

  Frank
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Sokramiketes on June 23, 2009, 08:48:10 AM
Aw, c'mon Joe.  There's nothing wrong with the MT gon...

Right on, Lee -- and it's a dead ringer for the Lehigh Valley 52-footers!

  Frank

Is it a real match?  The MTL car is only a 50' car, scruntched to fit the boxcar underframe at the time.  A Dremel and a few hours can fix the ride height, but the length is an itch you can't scratch.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: JoeD on June 23, 2009, 10:19:18 PM
 ;D  or a quick dip in a Lacquer bath!

Aw, c'mon Joe.  There's nothing wrong with the MT gon...
(http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/NW_GB_98863_%281%29.jpg)

... that a Dremel tool and a couple of hours of labor can't fix... ;D ;D

Lee
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: sirenwerks on June 23, 2009, 10:25:30 PM
Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Chris333 on June 23, 2009, 10:37:56 PM
How about fixing up the composite gons?
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n255/Chris333_33/IMG_6739.jpg)
(http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n255/Chris333_33/IMG_6740.jpg)
Just carved the openings to the right size with an exacto.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: JoeD on June 23, 2009, 11:07:04 PM
This is one of the cars I am looking at.  Maybe loose the floor and make it part of the underframe to thin it down and snap in place.  that would make room for the larger openings and better looking interiors.  Makes a huge difference Chris.

Joe
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Chris333 on June 23, 2009, 11:17:03 PM
Yeah cutting it open that far did come up level with the floor so the whole under frame had to go. I whipped up the center frame from styrene and laid a piece of tungsten welding rod down the center. There are a few frame members that run out to the body (more styrene)

If MT came up with a new gondola frame to lower them. You could just bevel the sides to open up the composite hopper. Or just paint it black.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 24, 2009, 03:31:13 AM
This is one of the cars I am looking at.  Maybe loose the floor and make it part of the underframe to thin it down and snap in place...

That is how the G26 was designed.  The floor/underframe is one diecast piece with the sides/ends built around it.  The drop end functionality and construction is the same as the MTL gons - hinges slide into grooves and are held in place by the floor/underframe.  The coupler box is part of both the floor/underframe and the plastic end yokes so that the end yokes weren't compromised anymore than necessary and the drop ends could still function while having the car stand at the proper height.


Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Ian MacMillan on June 24, 2009, 10:29:17 AM
How about a shot of the ESM gon?
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 24, 2009, 12:59:43 PM
Shots are in this earlier thread:
ESM - Pennsy G26 pre-production proofs pics
Page 1 (http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,17931.msg156213.html#msg156213), Page 3 (http://therailwire.net/forum/index.php/topic,17931.msg158307.html#msg158307)
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: amato1969 on June 24, 2009, 02:00:09 PM
Right on, Lee -- and it's a dead ringer for the Lehigh Valley 52-footers!

Is it a real match?  The MTL car is only a 50' car, scruntched to fit the boxcar underframe at the time.  A Dremel and a few hours can fix the ride height, but the length is an itch you can't scratch.

OK, OK, it may be a few scale feet short, but the rib pattern and side sill are spot on.  To me, I'll gladly lower the car and live with the squished length.  :-X

  Frank
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: SecretWeapon on June 24, 2009, 02:28:15 PM
After seeing these cars in person, I can honestly say they look real good!!!!!!!
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: wm3798 on June 24, 2009, 04:26:27 PM
Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?

ACI's started being applied in 1967, which is the bottom edge of my layout's era...  I guess I'll have to pull out the decals!

Lee
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Ryan87 on June 24, 2009, 04:40:35 PM
Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?
ACI's started being applied in 1967, which is the bottom edge of my layout's era...  I guess I'll have to pull out the decals!
Lee

They were not mandatory until 1970 however so cars could still be seen missing them...
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: wm3798 on June 24, 2009, 04:42:14 PM
Cool! With a build date of 63, I can put the decals away!

Thanks for letting me off the hook...

Lee
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Mark5 on June 24, 2009, 04:46:34 PM
Cool! With a build date of 63, I can put the decals away!

Thanks for letting me off the hook...

Lee

I'm pretty sure they were added to all interchange cars, and locos, regardless of build date.

(hook back on!)

I'm still on the fence about doing all this ACI crap for my 1974 layout.

Mark
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Dave V on June 24, 2009, 06:01:03 PM
I've been adding ACI labels to everything in service prior to 1977 for my 1980 era.  It's a pain, but it just looks better.  Athearn has been pretty cool about adding them to appropriate cars, although it looks like the upcoming covered hoppers may not have them on cars that should.  We'll see.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Mark5 on June 24, 2009, 06:13:56 PM
I've been adding ACI labels to everything in service prior to 1977 for my 1980 era. 

Looks like in 1980 you are off the hook on locos, as all the Conrail locos tagged in 1980 that I've seen are sans ACI.

Here's one stenciled CR in 1977 still with it from an earlier scheme:

http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/equip/cr2289b.jpg
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: Dave V on June 24, 2009, 07:02:38 PM
I've been adding ACI labels to everything in service prior to 1977 for my 1980 era. 

Looks like in 1980 you are off the hook on locos, as all the Conrail locos tagged in 1980 that I've seen are sans ACI.

Here's one stenciled CR in 1977 still with it from an earlier scheme:

http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/equip/cr2289b.jpg


Roger that.  My only ACI-labeled loco is a PC paint-out SD35, per proto-photo.

I'm leaning toward getting 2-3 of the ESM gons, 1 each in CR and PC for sure...  and maybe circle keystone Pennsy for 1956 (the shadow keystone paint date listed on ESM's site is 7/56, the very month I model for my PRR roster, and would mean I couldn't weather it!).  The PC gon will get an ACI label.
Title: Re: ESM Gondola
Post by: bbussey on June 24, 2009, 09:31:21 PM
Looks like in 1980 you are off the hook on locos, as all the Conrail locos tagged in 1980 that I've seen are sans ACI.

Here's one stenciled CR in 1977 still with it from an earlier scheme:

http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/equip/cr2289b.jpg

Mark, that CR ex-PRR example is way cool.  Might have to model one of those for my Conrail era stuff.

... I'm leaning toward getting 2-3 of the ESM gons, 1 each in CR and PC for sure...  and maybe circle keystone Pennsy for 1956 (the shadow keystone paint date listed on ESM's site is 7/56, the very month I model for my PRR roster, and would mean I couldn't weather it!)...

Sorry about the SK Dave!  A weathered battered CK in 1956 would be far more interesting I think.  Where's Tom?  ;)