PM/Red Caboose 3000 cu ft hoppers

[ljudice]

I found a pair of these - the RC versions with the upgraded outlet gates today - so I snapped them up with the intention of doing something to improve them or at least make them plausible for some of the ex NW or NS 3k cu ft covered hoppers...

Obviously Precision Masters who tooled the car took the easy way out here and cut down a 4750 without changing much of anything else. The major objection is the roof - which has three linearly placed hatches.  RC seems to have glued the roof in place, which I wish they had not done, although I believe it can come off without too much difficulty. 

My thought was to mate the roof of an Athearn or Atlas PS-2 2 bay in some way to the car.

Anyone look at these for possibilities or build anything?

thx, lou

[ljudice]

Well to answer my own question  I'm thinking this is a perfect shapeways project...

I know the exact dimensions of the RC supplied roof - so I can design a part that is an exact fit - with a correct topside -
and possibly the top chord of the NW hoppers.  Then cut a new roofwalk from brass or ss etched material to fit it.

Might be able to do the same thing with a BLMA or EXR PS4000 to do the AOCX Alumina hoppers.

- Lou

[bbussey]

Or you could just etch a new roof, since you're going to etch a new roofwalk anyway.

[ljudice]

Or you could just etch a new roof, since you're going to etch a new roofwalk anyway.

Bryan - it's a pretty 3 dimensional piece - due to the hatches - and the unseen "baffles" that hold it in place. 

But one question - could this be a good test for something like "strong white and flexible" instead of FUD - as it needs to be strong, but there are not a lot of details... 

[Robbman]

My guess is you're looking at the Bethlehem cars built in the mid-80s for N&W (I think WC had some too)

[bbussey]

Bryan - it's a pretty 3 dimensional piece - due to the hatches - and the unseen "baffles" that hold it in place. 

But one question - could this be a good test for something like "strong white and flexible" instead of FUD - as it needs to be strong, but there are not a lot of details...

Still much cheaper to etch.  Half etch the low-laying detail on the roof (since you have to etch the roofwalk anyway); use MTL, BLMA or EXR hatches.  Much better results visually than Shapeways FUD.

[ljudice]

Bryan - I see your point...

Robbman....   well fry me for an oyster......  I've never seen one from that angle before and holy cow, it's close to the PM/RC car...

Looks like it just needs that top chord and if I was ambitious, new ends....

[ljudice]

I don't know Robb - the car is actually closer to this except for the roof....  Actually it's somewhere in the middle with 10 ribs.  The NS car below has 11 ribs and the photo you posted has 9 ribs.

http://shellscale.com/HC77A.jpg

Definitely a stand-in at best, but which to do?

- Lou

[Robbman]

That's a Portec 3000... not even close to the 'model with no prototype' PM/RC car. 

[ljudice]

That's a Portec 3000... not even close to the 'model with no prototype' PM/RC car.

What do you mean not close - they both have 8 wheels and 2 couplers??? 

It's kind of annoying we have four models of ACF 2 bay centerflow hoppers, but no relatively modern era 2 bays from other builders.

This looks like too much effort to do right, so I am thinking it's just foob stand-in time for these cars.  I am leaning more to the Portec 3000's, since
the decals are available - I would have to do my own Claytor black N&W lettering to do the Bethlehem cars.

- Lou

[GaryHinshaw]

It's kind of annoying we have four models of ACF 2 bay centerflow hoppers, but no relatively modern era 2 bays from other builders.

+1.  I'd love a Trinity 2-bay, cylindrical or ribbed.