Before Full Throttle released their excellent Z scale hoppers I was told to wait for them and given a long list of roadnames they would do. Erie was one of them.
They started off with a rib side hopper:
Then a while later did offset sides:
I offered to research the prototype data for the Erie car and was told something like "I'm sure if they are doing that road name they know how" So I wait every month for the Erie to show up...did today:
http://www.zscalemonster.com/full_throttle/2000/ft-2015.htmFirst it's a rib side and Erie didn't have them, but they did have a few that were welded-29000-29999:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/frt/erie29247adb.jpgThey did have a bunch of offsets-24000-27499 (a lot)
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/frt/erie24000bdb.jpgAlso the Z scale car is numbered 22xxx? OK it could pass for a welded car if it was numbered 29xxx. And I even suggested this (this was before they released the offset)
The closest car I can find with a 22xxx number is this oldie:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/el/frt/erie22513adb.jpgWhy didn't they do the Erie road name on a offset hopper body? Arrggggggg :
Sadly I'm still gonna buy a few...