Best Of ACL MEC low side gondola , interest ? ESM please read .

[u18b]

I'll be getting one.  Not sure about the ACL, but I know the SCL paint made it all the way to CSX.

Who knows.... I might even feature it in an article I have in mind......  Hmmmm....
 

[bbussey]

Definitely ready for a half dozen, if there are extra decal sheets available would you consider selling those separate?

There will be extra decal sets and they will be available for purchase through the website.

[bbussey]

Nevermind. Too many ribs:
http://www.wrighttrak.com/attachments/File/SEABOARD_LOWSIDE_GONDOLA__(instruction_sheets).pdf

I believe only ACL and MEC had the nine-panel-side gons.  All the low-side gons of the other roads had more ribs.

[pjm20]

I believe only ACL and MEC had the nine-panel-side gons.  All the low-side gons of the other roads had more ribs.

A quick search on alphabetroute.com netted these:

NYNH&H -
http://www.alphabetroute.com/nynhh/frtdgms/60000-60649.pdf
http://www.alphabetroute.com/nynhh/frtdgms/58000-58499.pdf

CNJ -
http://www.alphabetroute.com/cnj/1940FRTDGMS/88000-88499(2).pdf

I know the NYNH&H have drop bottom floors and the CNJ has a center sill, but they do have a 9 rib side. I also didn't include all the 9 rib wood sided gondolas I found. So 9 rib gondola are a little more common then people think.

[pjm20]

Found some more:

Michigan Central -


Southern -


N&W (N&WHS/V. Tech Library)-

G1

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=33153
G1a


G2

http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=5276
G11 (Dropbottom)


GJ


GJa


GJb


GJc


GU


GUb

Virginian Railway:
http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=15083
G5 (N&W G25)

[bbussey]

Nine panels on the side, which are eight-ribs.  Also, all but some of the N&W cars are not low-side gons.  The N&W class G2 and G3 would qualify if they had one fewer rib on the sides.

[pjm20]

Nine panels on the side, which are eight-ribs. 

Awesome, I can't read! 

[bbussey]

UPDATE  - The master layout of the decals have been plotted out in CorelDraw, and are just about ready to be output to PDF and sent in an RFQ to Microscale.  The car numbers have to be decided on for five of the six schemes.  The standard Microscale custom sheet size is 4¼" x 3½", the plastic box footprint is 5¾" x 1¾" and the minimum run is 250 pieces, so three projects are run on a sheet once to reduce costs  The other two decals are for future projects, but also must be finalized before sending the file off for quote.



Also — received word that the RP master fret of the car body parts has arrived at the casting contractor; procured a bulk quantity of BLMA 18" straight grab irons; and the trucks might be changed from ASF A-3 70t (BLMA) to Barber 50t (Atlas), as the Atlas trucks didn't exist when this project started, but the design is more era-appropriate for the model.  The bolster height for both trucks is identical.

Stages remaining:
• Rendering of rubber molds of ProJet master — in progress
• Rendering of polyurethane resin castings from rubber molds — in progress
• Procurement of OEM parts (trucks, couplers, body details, decals)
• Milling of brass floors
• Etching of the brass floor tops and brakebox
• Die-cutting of foam nests
• Printing of paper inserts
• Writing the online assembly instructions

Duration of project to date in actual time:  54 weeks
Total man-hours invested to date:  47
Total material cost expended to date:  $307
Projected unit MSRP based on current material cost:  $7.67

[bbussey]

MARCH UPDATE  - Progress is going to slow down again for the next few weeks.  Some refinements to the decal artwork.  The ACL Prismo rectangles have been added to the sheet.  The car numbers have yet to be determined, but they will be finalized this month.



The online assembly instructions have been roughed out.  The process has begun of seeking out multiple prototype photos for each of the schemes, and then contacting the photographers or the people who hold the rights and seeking permission to use the photos.

The procurement of OEM parts continues.  The trucks definitely will be the Barber 50-ton used on the Atlas PS-1 boxcar and are in production.  Their arrival with the fourth PS-1 appearance sometime during the 3rd quarter provides an end-date to release the kits.  The BLMA grab irons are in hand, as are the plastic capsules to hold all the little parts.  The lead time for the MTL parts is a couple of weeks (for ESM), so they will be among the last things ordered.  The decal artwork will be sent to Microscale probably in June.  The brass weights will be milled sometime over the summer, once the resin cast parts arrive and final measurements can be taken.  The clear plastic boxes will be coming with the ESM well cars in second quarter.  The etched parts will be procured over the summer.   And the foam nests and paper inserts have a short lead time and will be done in the final days.

Stages remaining:
• Rendering of rubber molds of ProJet master — in progress
• Rendering of polyurethane resin castings from rubber molds — in progress
• Procurement of OEM parts (trucks, couplers, body details, decals)
• Milling of brass floors
• Etching of the brass floor tops and brakebox
• Die-cutting of foam nests
• Printing of paper inserts
• Writing the online assembly instructions — in progress

Duration of project to date in actual time:  56 weeks
Total man-hours invested to date:  50
Total material cost expended to date:  $307
Projected unit MSRP based on current material cost:  $7.67

[central.vermont]

MARCH UPDATE  - Progress is going to slow down again for the next few weeks.  Some refinements to the decal artwork.  The ACL Prismo rectangles have been added to the sheet.  The car numbers have yet to be determined, but they will be finalized this month.

Brian,
Looking good so far and can't wait to get these. One suggestion though, is there any chance you could spread out this decal sheet somehow? It looks very crowded which makes it very hard to cut out what you need. I realize you are trying to keep costs down but I would rather see the decals done on two sheets. One for MEC and the other for ACL. How much would this add to the kit? I'm sure it wouldn't be a deal breaker for it and I'm sure others would appreciate this as well.

Jon

[bbussey]

Jon,

Because the yield is so large due to Microscale's minimum quantity requirements, as with the KV Caboose there will be two sheets per kit.  To spread out the artwork over two sheets would be an added cost that would noticeably inflate the MSRP.

[peteski]

A sharp scalpel, Optivisor, and lots of strong lighting are excellent cure for crowded decal sheets. 

[bbussey]

MARCH UPDATE II - Had a little bit of a setback this week, as the master with the separation membranes included is deforming in the pressurized mold creation process.  So a new digital STL file of just the gondola parts has been sent to the contractor for a new set of ProJet masters, which will be molded the same way as the G32C gondola parts.  This will bump the project cost by roughly $50, but it needed to be done.  Here is the new solid model, without the runner and mold separation membrane.



And here is the graphical representation of the 46MB digital STL file that was sent to the contractor.



Also, the ACL/SAL Historical Society chimed in and pointed out that the SCL markings for the K7 were white, so the decal artwork has been changed accordingly.  The individual car numbers still have to be finalized.



Stages remaining:
• Rendering of new rapid prototype masters — in progress
• Rendering of rubber molds of ProJet master
• Rendering of polyurethane resin castings from rubber molds
• Procurement of OEM parts (trucks, couplers, body details, decals)
• Milling of brass floors
• Etching of the brass floor tops and brakebox
• Die-cutting of foam nests
• Printing of paper inserts
• Writing the online assembly instructions — tentatively done

Duration of project to date in actual time:  58 weeks
Total man-hours invested to date:  52
Total material cost expended to date:  $307
Projected unit MSRP based on current material cost:  $7.67

[CrazyLynx]

Thank you for the update, Bryan.  It is definitely an eye-opener to see a product evolution from concept to production, and all the challenges manufacturers encounter, big and small, as well as the impact on bottom line.

[davefoxx]

Also, the ACL/SAL Historical Society chimed in and pointed out that the SCL markings for the K7 were white, so the decal artwork has been changed accordingly.  The individual car numbers still have to be finalized.

I don't know if you contacted the ACL/SAL HS or they contacted you, but thanks for listening and making the proper changes.

DFF