ESM pilot model sneak peak pic

[CBQ Fan]

I for one am most grateful for that exception!!

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  Thank you, but my question wasn't clear.  I was thinking of an entirely different body style, that just needed the ends and roof.  An XYZ Ry double door box, for instance. 

If you make the variations by swapping entire side pieces, that would seem to indicate that it COULD be done, mechanically. 

[bbussey]

Yes, it is possible, as that is how the X58 tool is designed.  The body tool consists of "slides" which allow for multiple sides, ends and roofs.  As an example, the X58 tool specifically has (2) L-sides, (2) R-sides, (3) A-ends, (2) B-ends, (1) roof, and (1) core.  All of these can be mixed/matched to create the various X58 configurations (4 in total) to match the prototype.  If another prototype exists that shares multiple features with the X58 — a true XML-14/15, for example, shares the roof and ends with one of the X58 variations — then slides of the unique body features could be tooled for less than tooling the entire body from scratch.

FYI — the paint on the ESM model matches the pigment and finish of Tru-Color Paint #86, CB&Q Chinese Red, for those who are considering correcting the lower sill profile and moving the tackboards.

[central.vermont]

FYI — the paint on the ESM model matches the pigment and finish of Tru-Color Paint #86, CB&Q Chinese Red, for those who are considering correcting the lower sill profile and moving the tackboards.

Brian,
That's some good info there released by you. I wished more of the manufacturers matched their paint and finish to this line of paint. Just curious but do other roads you have match up to Tru-Color paint as well?

Jon

[bbussey]

Jon,

No, they match up to various paint sources.  The finish is a semi-gloss which just happens to match the Tru-Color finish.  I would have to look everything up at this point to get the original source formula/item numbers, as our contractor works from the initial chips we send which are then identified by the first ESM item it was used on.  Generally, the sources (for the injection-molded products) are:

Pennsy ck — Floquil, Oxide Red
Pennsy sk, Pennsy pk, Conrail, Lehigh Valley brown — Floquil, a mix of Oxide Red and Tuscan Red as per PRRT&HS-provided specs
Penn Central — Scalecoat, Deepwater (PC) Green (PCHS exclusive)
BAR/MMA Old Glory Red — DuPont, as per MMA specs
BAR/MMA Old Glory Blue — DuPont, as per MMA specs
Dark Freight Car Red — matched to InterMountain FCR used on 1st run 1937 AAR 40' Boxcar
Light Freight Car Red — matched to MTL FCR used on various models over the decades
BAR dark brown — Floquil, Roof Brown (I think)
NH Hunter Green — Accu-Paint, NH Hunter Green
NH New-Image Red-Orange — Accu-Paint, NH Red-Orange
ACL purple — don't remember, was sourced through ACL-SAL HS.

[nkalanaga]

Thank you!  That's what I was wondering, as "Dreadnaught ends and diagonal panel roof" was probably the most common 1960s boxcar combination. 

As I said, I have no plans to do it, and don't know anyone who does, but it might interest a historical society if their road had a signature car that shared the features. 

[fifer]

Really Really Nice. You all are doing a great job with your projects.

Mike

[Denver Road Doug]

FYI — the paint on the ESM model matches the pigment and finish of Tru-Color Paint #86, CB&Q Chinese Red, for those who are considering correcting the lower sill profile and moving the tackboards.

Man, that is great information to have.  Even though these particular cars are out of my era, I still appreciate you offering up this info.

[bbussey]

Thank you!  That's what I was wondering, as "Dreadnaught ends and diagonal panel roof" was probably the most common 1960s boxcar combination. 

As I said, I have no plans to do it, and don't know anyone who does, but it might interest a historical society if their road had a signature car that shared the features.

I don't know how feasible it would be for a historical society to make such an investment.  It still would cost them upwards of $4k just for the side slides, which would have to be amortized across a subsequent number of production runs before they saw their return-on-investment.  It is, however, a good option for the manufacturer, as it is a less-expensive method of adding a new model rather than tooling from scratch.  But there still must be enough roads/schemes and/or demand to justify the expense.  You don't just want to reach ROI, you want to make some profit as well.

[sirenwerks]

Any chance of seeing those ends and roofs available as separate parts for kitbashing?

[bbussey]

The tooling isn't designed that way.  You'll have to chop up X58 bodies to get the parts, or track down the Athearn 50' NCAA boxcar model with removable Stanray roof.

[w neal]

Beautiful. Will it be under $30 a car?

[Dave V]

Can't wait to see the PC keystone paint-out!

[bbussey]

Beautiful. Will it be under $30 a car?

Sadly no.  The increase in cost of some OEM components and shipping have conspired to push the price a little higher than last year's run.  Even so, the model never has had an MSRP of under $30.

Can't wait to see the PC keystone paint-out!

You will see it this Monday in the ESM Newsletter!  Or, you can mosey over to the ESM website now and take a gander!

[nkalanaga]

True, $4K would be high for most historical societies, but, still, less than trying to do an entire car from scratch. 

Oh well, again, it was just an idle question, inspired by the molding machines at work.  Thank you for the answers!