Making unique cars in N scale.

[Lucas in Alaska]

 When I was modeling HO (for a short time) I found some of the ways the custom make their cars to be very interesting. Companies like Tichy Train Group offer different parts of cars, sides, ends, doors etc. and you could make your own cars to whatever prototype you can find. I loved having such different cars, OB wood box one with wood door one and metal end one with metal door and metal end and the ability to have different roofs.

 Now that I find myself back in N scale I would like to assemble my own cars to fit prototype cars I find but I have not been able to find any companies that offer parts. I think Intermountain has doors they sell but other than that is anyone offering separate parts to allow you to build your own car? Or do I have to buy whole cars and cop them up to make new ones? I'm just looking for a little guidance here, how does one go about making unique cars.

 I'm currently moving to Anchorage and will not have much time to start a layout for at least a year so I'm looking at other outlets to do some modeling of N scale.

Thanks
Lucas

[Mark5]

Crap, another N scale deficiency unhidden!

JNJ makes:

344-7    Doors -- 6' Superior, 5 Panel, Etched Brass
 
344-8   Doors -- 6' Youngstown, 4-5-4 Panel, Etched Brass
 
344-9   Doors -- 6' ATSF Corr, 5-5-5 Panel, Etched Brass
 
Microtrains sells:

489-49920915    Box Car Doors -- Superior Style - 40' Cars      
 
489-49920916   8' Superior Doors for 50' Box Cars pkg(12)    
 
489-49920920   Box Car Doors -- Wood, for Single- or Double-Sheathed Cars
 
489-49920922   Box Car Doors -- For Stock Car    
 
489-49920925   Box Car Doors -- 1-1/2 Doors for 40 or 50' Cars
 
489-49920935   Box Car Doors -- Youngstown Style - 40' Cars
 
489-49920937   Box Car Doors -- Youngstown Style - 50' Cars
 
489-49920940   Box Car Doors -- Double Doors for 40' or 50' Cars
 
489-49920942   Box Car Doors -- For 50' Rib Side Cars

(copied from Walthers search page).

[3rdrail]

Micro-Trains also sells things like sill steps, running boards (roofwalks), brake wheels, placard boards, and similar items by the dozen. InterMountain will sell you sprues of parts, so you might get parts you want and don't want together. DesPlaines Hobbies sells Viking roofs, Gold Medal sells ladderstock, detail kits for tank and hopper cars, brake wheels and grab irons. Precision Scale sells AB brake systems in both brass and plastic.

But, dammit, nobody sells sides and ends and only one roof is available!

[Mark5]

Precision Scale sells AB brake systems in both brass and plastic.

Are they still around? Walthers lists the availability of much of their stuff as UNKNOWN.

[TrainCat2]

Precision Scale sells AB brake systems in both brass and plastic.

Are they still around? Walthers lists the availability of much of their stuff as UNKNOWN.

Precision Scale sells AB brake systems in both brass and plastic.

Are they still around? Walthers lists the availability of much of their stuff as UNKNOWN.

You could buy them from me. I had a customized run of 350 brass sets done for my cars.

.

[3rdrail]

Precision Scale sells AB brake systems in both brass and plastic.

Are they still around? Walthers lists the availability of much of their stuff as UNKNOWN.

Look here:

http://www.precisionscaleco.com/

They appear to be very much still in business. Perhaps they're dealing with dealers direct and not through Walthers.

[Frank Amato]

But, dammit, nobody sells sides and ends and only one roof is available!

Gregg, not entirely true.  Intermountain has the Murphy panel roof and later diagonal panel.  They also have various ends for 1940s and 1950s cars.  What end/roof styles are you looking for?

I have found the Steam Era Frieght Cars site a great reference http://steamfreightcars.com.

  Frank

[sirenwerks]

Everyone's mentioned products that are certainly available, but the original post is still valid. There's a lot, I mean a lot of basic car components not available. What also makes it difficult is the manner in which N scale cars are manufactured . In HO, replacing a door is often as simple as popping one off and popping the replacement into its place. IN N, a door has to be removed with Xacto and patience. Same for ladders, etc., and end ladders are especially a pain. In the spirit of the original post, it would be nice if manufacturers worked with a modular mind set, that allowed swapping out of parts and made it less of a task. And for those who would say that this makes "modeling" too much easier, it also makes building railroad-specific fleets easier.

[3rdrail]

But, dammit, nobody sells sides and ends and only one roof is available!

Gregg, not entirely true.  Intermountain has the Murphy panel roof and later diagonal panel.  They also have various ends for 1940s and 1950s cars.  What end/roof styles are you looking for?

I have found the Steam Era Frieght Cars site a great reference http://steamfreightcars.com.

  Frank

Frank, the InterMountain ends are all for 10'6" cars, I'm looking for ends for shorter cars, 8'6"-9'6", like the Van Dorn end (looks like a bullseye), the Hutchins roof and end (four flat corrugations), and the inverted dreadnaught. BTW, you'll find two of my cars in the model section of the Steam Era Freight Cars website. I'm looking to model boxcars from 1900-1935.

[FrankCampagna]

The problem again is the size of the market. Even if the percentage of people who scratchbuild/kitbash is the same in N as HO, and I suspect it is, there is far less demand for these parts. The larger manufacturers probably won't touch it (no profit). This leaves it to those like JnJ who do it as a labor of love, and those people generally make what they like. They also have to watch their costs.

Kitbashing I can do, sort of. Scratchbuilding is out of my field. So, no NYC USRA cars in my future.

Frank

[Frank Amato]

Frank, the InterMountain ends are all for 10'6" cars, I'm looking for ends for shorter cars, 8'6"-9'6", like the Van Dorn end (looks like a bullseye), the Hutchins roof and end (four flat corrugations), and the inverted dreadnaught. BTW, you'll find two of my cars in the model section of the Steam Era Freight Cars website. I'm looking to model boxcars from 1900-1935.

Ah yes, I do see your cars out there now -- nice!  The earliest Intermountain ends would be 10'0" high for the 1937 AAR model.

Personally I could use a bunch of NYC cars (like Frank C).  These were what, like 9'8" or so?

  Frank

[Lucas in Alaska]

Wow I never expected this many responses. It’s nice to know some parts are available and thank you all for pointing them out. How do I go about getting Intermountain sprues? Do I just email them and ask?

I Love the http://steamfreightcars.com website. The only problem is all the modeling is done in HO.

I would have to say I agree with Bryan and Frank, it would be nice if someone would come up with a modular setup and start making car components so one could customize their own cars, but the cost is probably very prohibitive.

I guess if I want to make my own car I need to find out if the individual parts are out there and if not I need to buy the cars with the parts I want and cut/file them until I make my own components to make a new car. If there is any other way let me know.

Lucas

[3rdrail]

Lucas, not all the modeling is HO, there are two N scale cars in there - mine, which are the Intercolonial Railway Dominion car, and Illinois Packet Co. 40' boxcar.

[Lucas in Alaska]

Gregg I stand corrected. It's really nice to see N scale there and they look great. What did you use to represent the individual boards on the sides of the cars?

Lucas

[Lucas in Alaska]

In the last two years I have aquired a lot of Mainline Modeler and RMC mags. When I get to unpacking I'll have to review them and see if there is any cars I would like to build.

I just moved most of my mags to Anchorage and the total weight was right at 500 lbs.