New Bluford Shops "Dented" Gondolas

[thomasjmdavis]

Bonus on this is that it's actually 52'. 

If you want one of the "it's a good project" ones: https://conrail1285.square.site/product/-original-rapido-composite-gondola/112?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=M2PX4YCSGUBKRBTHKDXKU6R4

I have 2 of those ancient Arnold-Rapidos I started working on.  If things go as they usually do, as soon as I get the last ladder rung replaced and all the decals worked in around the bracing, Bluford or someone else will be mass producing them in an updated version.  It came as a shock to me, 40 (or whatever it was) years ago, when MTL brought out their model- that their's was too short.  It was the first time I had ever ordered something based on an announcement.  Went to the hobby shop, picked it up when it came in. Took it home, it looked great... until I noticed it was the same length as a 50' boxcar....  I was really disappointed at the time. 

Which reminds me... some while back (probably pre-tariff),  Craig dropped a hint that Bluford was considering a 14 panel gondola (at a realistic 52-53 feet).  Has anyone heard anymore about that possibility?

[nkalanaga]

BLMA (Atlas) makes the 14-panel cars in the correct length.  Drop-end version only, so far, but maybe Atlas will make a fixed-end version as well.

[thomasjmdavis]

The BLMA (I do have one, or maybe two) is a PRR G31- and I understand some other roads had copies,  I was hoping for something with a full 'fishbelly' rather than the 'hint' of one of the G31.  The Prairie Shadows is also a 52 foot gon, based on a Canadian prototype, also a partial fishbelly.

Both are nice, but what I "need" (which is to say, that I'd be willing to pay current prices for) would be a reasonable facsimile of an ATSF ga-68 or -69,  or something with a similar design that I could modify.  The ribs on these are a different cross section than the BLMA car.

The old MDC, now Athearn, gons are also 52', IIRC, but are too modern for my timeframe.

Saying all that, I know that I'm not the only modeler in the world.  And even if I never get what I want, I'd still like to see a broader selection of cars in N scale.

[nkalanaga]

True, the BLMA cars are a Pennsy design, and not suitable for many roads.  I agree that a car with a deeper fishbelly, and possibly higher sides, would be nice.

I have a similar issue with Bluford's cars, which hasn't stopped me from replacing my MT cars.  GN and CB&Q cars were all taller, similar to the MT cars.  In this case it's a choice between length or height.

Ideal would be for MicroTrains to retool their gons to be the right length, as the working drop ends are very handy for modeling long loads.  But that would be very expensive, and I doubt that enough people would replace their old ones to make it worthwhile.

[Mark5]

True, the BLMA cars are a Pennsy design, and not suitable for many roads. 

Not just Pennsy for these ACF gons:

From a post in the MFCL (Jim Eager) these also bought this design:

• ACL
• BS (Birmingham Southern)
• D&H
• DLW
• SN
• WP

And for starters the following roads got some 2nd hand:

• DTI
• C&NW
• WM (1970?)

Also, Wabash (of course)

[nkalanaga]

In this case I wasn't clear.  When I said "not suitable for many roads" I meant "there are many roads for which they're not suitable", not "there are only a few roads they are suitable for".

I should have been more clear.

[nkalanaga]

I just measured my old MDC gon, retired because it's too modern for me as well.  It's 51'8" inside, 3 7/8 actual inches.  52'6" is 3 15/16 actual, so it's 1/16 inch too short.  Interestingly, the Trainworx Thrall gons are the same inside length.  The MDC car is a little wider, but cast loads for the MDC/Athearn cars might fit the Trainworx gons with some sanding on the sides.

[bbussey]

Pretty sure that all of the schemes released on the BLMA ACF gondola are exact to the prototype.  Same for the Prairie Shadows ECC gondola.  So it's still possible to have "foreign" gondolas on a Santa Fe layout and be prototypical.  The MTL 65' mill gondola is ATSF GA-48 so that's pretty specific.

[nkalanaga]

And I hope the MTL 65' gon is one of the models they bring back soon.  Much nice than the Athearn model, and I have decals to replace three of my four Athearns.

The MDC/Athearn Railgon car is the same OUTSIDE length, over the top of the ends, as the BLMA and Bluford cars.  It appears that the shorter inside length is due to thicker end castings, not shortening the car overall.