Bought a bunch of trucks, wheel sets, and couplers off of eBay to build some cars. My outdoor layout will have a saw mill and a mine where my shay and climax’s will run but I didn’t have any flat cars for the milled lumber and no gondolas for the ore. I already made a bunch of log cars off of GR magazine plans and I prefer the look of the handmade cars so I dec to use a plan set and make up 4 flats, 3 gondolas. Because I’ve been an RC plane modeler for over 40 years, I’ve got quite a collection of modeling tools and supplies. My dremel table saw is the best TS made in my opinion and ripping 1/2” thick hard wood is easy and precise. I have a box of dimensional bass wood and a box of popular. I happen to have a few 3’ lengths of 1/4x4” boards that were perfect for the main body and then have a bunch of 3/16 and 1/4”sq stock along with other strip wood and planks. For the flats I’ll be using bass wood strips for the deck and the gondolas, the decks will be balsa hardened with CA. The gondola sides are also made from bass wood.
I’m not a purist as many are here and it doesn’t bother me if the trucks aren’t right for the model as my railroad will be more for running pleasures that purity. To each their own. The gondolas will have body mounted Bachmann knuckle couplers set at a height to match my new climax. The flats will have truck mounted hook and loops to match the height of my early climax loco which is a lot lower than the new version. Luckily I purchased from Bachmann the last two metal climax replacement trucks they had so it will be up and running again soon.
I will be adding Ozarks miniature hand wheels and brake parts. I added the body brace rods per the plans. Still have to build the gondola sides and finish them all off but they are coming along. I made up jigs, cut up all the pieces at once, then assembled all the flats with WP glue and my pin nailer. Used some Rustoleum red oxide primer to paint them and still have some trucks to paint yet. Should be a couple good looking consists.
Being a modeler myself, great job, I would do the same thing if I wanted a string of cars that look much better then factory builds.
trainman
Ted,
What issue of GR was that article in?
Thanks…
Those look very nice, Ted. I like the idea of building up a bunch at once. (Of course, now you need some lettering!)
Bob Wenger said:
Ted,
What issue of GR was that article in?
Thanks…
It was a long, long time ago. Ted Stinson (who died a few years ago) did them, and I usually find them here:
https://grw.trains.com/tags/drawings#2
I don’t see the flatcar - Ah, maybe this is it?
https://grw.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/how-to/construction-and-landscaping/flatcar_webextra.pdf
If anyone is interested, I have done a set of drawings based on the Ted Stinson drawings. Mine are much more detailed and provide a suggested parts list. See here : http://www.gscalejunkie.com/GRPS.html
I forgot to mention these are for 1:20.3 Scale
Bob Wenger said:
Ted,
What issue of GR was that article in?
Thanks…
Not sure of the exact issue but the date is 2004 and its plan set 67. Bob cope’s plans are way more detailed if your looking for that. Using these plans it’s easy enough to make the cars with some detail if that works for the modeler.
Bruce Chandler said:
Those look very nice, Ted. I like the idea of building up a bunch at once. (Of course, now you need some lettering!)
What or where is a good choice for lettering transfers? With the RC plane hobby we using a company called Callie Graphics for both decals and stencils. I imagine for our trains water transfers would be used. This is new to me so i could use some advice.
Thanks for the info.
What or where is a good choice for lettering transfers?
For simple lettering on a flatcar, you can use Woodland Scenics dry transfer letters.
https://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/category/DecalLetters
The railroad that ran through my area was originally called the Old Colony Rail Road so I think I might just letter the cars with the O.C.R.R. I have unmarked climaxes, one shay, and a LGB mogul that I will be repainting that I will probably mark the same way. I can’t find any logo or drum head designs only the OCRR in any picture or drawing.
It came my way as well …
It’s still around Now the Bay Colony …
That’s a good looking station. Where is it located?
Easton , Massachusetts (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Sean McGillicuddy said:
Easton , Massachusetts (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
How far from Arkham? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)
There were two stations in Dartmouth and both were small, quaint buildings which should look really good on a garden layout. One had a small yard with a siding that should also look good on my layout. One had a nice extended platform with a railing that should really add some character to the sce.