Prototype for old Atlas whale tank car?

[Iain]

I have one I picked up for $2, is it worth me trying to update it?

[ryan_wilkerson]

I think I saw a thread somewhere that someone had upgraded to better wheels, trucks, couplers and brass railings.
Is it a GATX version (white with orange)? That's the only one that's based on a prototype http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/bynumber/gatx096500.htm
I have a Wanda that I'd like to trade for a GATX or maybe repaint some day.

[Mark5]

Some decent info here too:

http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g

Mark

[C855B]

The one and only prototype still exists and lives in St. Louis at the Museum of Transport: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3455978

Ignore the low prices on the A1G page for MIB - these are currently going for $60-75 on eBay. If you want to make a buck there you go.

I have two or three hoping to improve/restore. If you want to improve it as a model for yourself, like Ryan said, wheels, trucks and couplers are #1, and super-easy. Next is the thick roofwalk, not as easy. You'll have to figure out which detail kit(s) to use; I think I have a couple of GMM covered hopper kits set aside to splice but haven't done it yet. Ladders, too. Then the lettering from the factory was really fuzzy, so whenever I get the round-tuit I'll probably get decals printed for a repaint.

[nickelplate759]

The one and only prototype still exists and lives in St. Louis at the Museum of Transport: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3455978

Ignore the low prices on the A1G page for MIB - these are currently going for $60-75 on eBay. If you want to make a buck there you go.

I have two or three hoping to improve/restore. If you want to improve it as a model for yourself, like Ryan said, wheels, trucks and couplers are #1, and super-easy. Next is the thick roofwalk, not as easy. You'll have to figure out which detail kit(s) to use; I think I have a couple of GMM covered hopper kits set aside to splice but haven't done it yet. Ladders, too. Then the lettering from the factory was really fuzzy, so whenever I get the round-tuit I'll probably get decals printed for a repaint.

It's worth noting that the Atlas model omits the hatches on the lower sides and has hatches in both ends, and apparently a hatch only belongs on the non-brakewheel end. Also, at some point the end ladder arrangement was changed (builder's photo here: http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/bynumber/gatx096500.htm ). 

[cjm413]

Per A1G, "The trucks with the couplers are significantly longer than the "extended" trucks used on the hi-cube box cars, "Pig Palace" stock cars and auto racks. In fact, they are not used anywhere else. It's one reason why these cars are sought after-- if they're intact. Folks who buy the bodies only with the intent of just finding any old wheelsets to put under them are soon made aware of what a challenge they've taken on!"

The answer to this challenge may be to use brass tubing for both the coupler boxes and the starting point for new bolsters....

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=21980.0

[u18b]

Anybody know what happened to the molds for this car?

Originally made by Roco.

[cjm413]

Looking at the bolster on the right side of the photo in the link below, it appears the trucks may have offset kingpin holes like MTL roller bearing trucks...

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/photos/GATX_96500y.bmp

[Chris333]

Looking at the bolster on the right side of the photo in the link below, it appears the trucks may have offset kingpin holes like MTL roller bearing trucks...

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/photos/GATX_96500y.bmp

Looking at that photo and the high tension poles in the background. I wonder if this car was built at GATX in Masury OH:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.2078655,-80.5311168,227a,35y,90h,39.33t/data=!3m1!1e3

Wait. The other photo on that page shows a blast furnace in the background. That was Sharon Steel. So yeah the builder photos are at Masury, OH.
http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/railwhales/bynumber/gatx096500.htm

[C855B]

The prototype pics make me think (again) that maybe a modeler's approach to this car is to use the body as a core and build-up everything else around it. The A1G "details" are pretty crude.

[Iain]

So, it seems I meant "Jumbo", not "Whale".

[Iain]

And, looking at the A1G page for this car, it seems that it is not worth the effort.  Oh, well.

[Doug G.]

For some reason, I had the feeling you meant the jumbo tank car and not the 94 footer.

Doug

[ryan_wilkerson]

It was a fun exercise anyway

[nkalanaga]

No, if you meant the ordinary "Jumbo" tankcar, Atlas released a much better version a few years ago.  I have one, and one of the originals, and would recommend that you find the newer one if possible.

Gold Medal made a detailing kit for the original, do if you want new walks and railings, it shouldn't be too hard.

I also have one of the "Whales", found a few years back at a train show, and have never tried to upgrade it.  I doubt that the thing was ever seen in central Montana, and it was retired by my year of 1974.