Is a 1959 TTX F85 or F85A possible from a MTL F89 ?

[up1950s]

Early thoughts for the deck cuts . Frame needs to have 4.5 feet removed for correct bolster spacing , thats easier because I really am not caring about exact locations I can barely see  .



These are not where the final cuts were made

[bbussey]

Richie,

Since by your own assessment a shortened MTL F89 body wouldn't be an accurate representation of an F85, wouldn't it be easier to start with a 3/4" wide slab of .060" brass (or styrene) and add the desired details?

[up1950s]

Richie,

Since by your own assessment a shortened MTL F89 body wouldn't be an accurate representation of an F85, wouldn't it be easier to start with a 3/4" wide slab of .060" brass (or styrene) and add the desired details?

I don't remember exactly saying that . I am not that good to start from nothing , and in the end it will look like nothing with some details . I would rather start from something and frig it up . Being that I have seen maybe only one or two 85 footers that were done in N , I am thinking a full scratch is deceptively difficult . I expect this to be a bit of 85 and a bit of 89 that were shot at each other in the HC in Europe . A transitional 85 with some 89 eyebrows , mustache , and sandals . Stick some 40 footers on it and in a train of pigs it will pass muster . Hopefully a proper 85 is in the making from a manufacturer .

[up1950s]

I changed some original planned cuts .
Car is now 85 feet long.
Bolster span is now the correct 62 feet.
Some deck guard rails shaved off .







The biggest next change is the side guard rails and do-dads on them .

[John]

Looks pretty good .. you can hide the cut with some putty and a little paint .

[up1950s]

Thanks , the rub rail extends down past the bottom of the sill side so it as we speek it is already covered up .

I am going to try for an early UP F70-2

[up1950s]

Some progress shots of the 1959 85 foot UP F-70-2 and the beginnings of the first of 2 1959 straight sided  TTX F-85's


UP F-70-2










TTX F-85

[Frank Amato]

Looks good!  The raised side sills are the distinctive feature of this car type.  And now that you've bashed one, Atlas is sure to release an RTR version!   

 Frank

[up1950s]

Haven't really looked it over after the prime 2 hours ago . All the major elements I am looking for have been added for the UP F-70-2 . Still working on the F-85 as well .

[up1950s]

The 85' UP F-70-2 is done , still working on the TTX F-85

[Dave V]

Richie,

That's some very fine work you've done there!

[sirenwerks]

Yeah, very nice Richie! Now that you're cranking them out, maybe a manufacturer will catch on and release them for the rest of us.

[up1950s]

Thanks , it would be nice to see the forgotten era of early piggybacks covered in models . I would be nice if the 75' , 85' , Clejan , Flexi-Vans , and whatever else was covered exclusively in a book dedicated to 1955 to 1960 era , the birth of specialty TOFC and Autorack rack equipment . Finding good photos from all angles is impossible , at least for me . I would pay good money for such a book . I hope for releases to fill out a small fleet , and with that maybe more trailers in appropriate paint will be made . My crude model could use the company of some proper models . 

[Mark5]

Very nice stuff Ritchie!

I agree that even up through the 1970s intermodal is a black hole.

Mark

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's very cool.

Richie, your work continues to inspire me to pick up the razor saw.