Bachmann USRA 55T hoppers hitting the shelves...

[garethashenden]

What era are these? How long did they last?

[pjm20]

What era are these? How long did they last?

http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/441/32199/may-1995-page-5

These cars are essential to any layout from 1920-1960.

[bbussey]

Got mine today.  The detail inside and on the bottom is pretty good as well.  The weights are the inner slopes, but they have rivet and plating relief so they don't appear as thick as they actually are.  The coal loads are marginal but they adequately will fill-in until Hay Brothers comes up with an improved substitute.  My Pennsy car had some "extra detail" in the form of powder-laced fingerprints on the outside and inside, but they were removed easily.  The five Clinchfield cars look very nice, and the railroad name is spelled properly (unlike the pilot model) though mine are ticketed for re-deco to New Haven.  The Pennsy car would be outstanding if the deco scheme was consistent.  The top half of the deco is SK (with incorrect font as well) and the bottom half is CK.  But nothing that can't be fixed with some  91% Isopropyl alcohol and Microscale decals.

[sizemore]

Got mine today.  The detail inside and on the bottom is pretty good as well.  The weights are the inner slopes, but they have rivet and plating relief so they don't appear as thick as they actually are.  The coal loads are marginal but they adequately will fill-in until Hay Brothers comes up with an improved substitute.  My Pennsy car had some "extra detail" in the form of powder-laced fingerprints on the outside and inside, but they were removed easily.  The five Clinchfield cars look very nice, and the railroad name is spelled properly (unlike the pilot model) though mine are ticketed for re-deco to New Haven.  The Pennsy car would be outstanding if the deco scheme was consistent.  The top half of the deco is SK (with incorrect font as well) and the bottom half is CK.  But nothing that can't be fixed with some  91% Isopropyl alcohol and Microscale decals.

Dont forget to mention there is a "detail" pack in the packing blister with the Rapidos, I believe it is the internal rib braces.

The S.

[garethashenden]

These are the same cars right?
I was just going through some of my grandfather's pictures. This is 1970.

[bbussey]

No.  The three WM cars are the prototype the Atlas twin ribbed hopper is based on.

[wcfn100]

No.  The three WM cars are the prototype the Atlas twin ribbed hopper is based on.

Not enough panels on the Atlas car.

Jason

[sizemore]

No.  The three WM cars are the prototype the Atlas twin ribbed hopper is based on.

I think you mean 55T Fishbelly hoppers? I could be wrong but I don't think the Atlas 55T Fishbelly was a double ribbed hopper.

Without my freight car book handy those look like the 66T cars that many a 55T was converted to add to their capacity. You'd have to kitbash a panel to the Atlas 55T cars.

The S.

[bbussey]

I stand corrected.

[Specter3]

Brian

Do you have decals for those NH cars you want to do?

I saw on Bowser's Facebook page a response to a plea for more GLa cars that would seem to indicate another run in 2014.  Any inside info on those?

[unittrain]

Received a B&O one today and it is quite nice hope Bachmann keeps it up they are vastly improving!

[Jim Costello]

 Micro scale decals has a new set '60-1436'  that will do the hoppers,40'box and the PS-2 covered hoppers for New Haven

Jim

[bbussey]

Brian

Do you have decals for those NH cars you want to do?

I saw on Bowser's Facebook page a response to a plea for more GLa cars that would seem to indicate another run in 2014.  Any inside info on those?

The latest Microscale NH release easily will provide all of the necessary hopper decos.  I picked up ten sets so I'm all set in that regard.

Haven't heard anything from Lee English regarding potential N scale GLa reissues, but I would think he would offer the Pennsy schemes first.  Those are the ones that he's asked about the most.  Anyone attending the Springfield show next month can ask him in person, as you're most likely to get an accurate timeframe then.

[OldEastRR]

I worked with MicroScale to get that NH decal set, but little did I know the Bachmann hopper would be an exact NH prototype. The hopper decals are the most complete, even include the class name. I wanted those decals for my MTL hoppers but obviously the Bachmann are the way to go. If only they'd make the couplers smaller....

[peteski]

If only they'd make the couplers smaller....

They super-sized it! Just like it is done by the fast-food eateries.  Must be a trend...