Turn of the Century Varnish

[garethashenden]

I'm really surprised with this era being so popular the manufacturers don't make these sorts of coaches.

Passenger cars are always passed over.

[Specter3]

Ed.

Yes both bashed cars have a bit of a hump. The coach is only noticable once you see the large picture. I am going to adjust it. The Frankencar is just friction fit at the moment and will  need some serious fitting before it is secured. I know now that I will shoot a pic and look at it on the big screen before I finalize the fittment.

Baron: I keep hoping with the release of the nice Atlas 4-4-0 that interest will pick up in the era and we will see some more releases from the era.

Thanks for the help!

Ryan

[jmlaboda]

"I'm really surprised with this era being so popular the manufacturers don't make these sorts of coaches."

Passenger cars overall have been overlooked when companies consider making models but considering that heavyweights are more in line with what folks would use (second only to lightweight cars) there is no surprise that more is not done with the early passenger cars.  Only two companies actively doing heavyweights right now, though there is hope that Hornby will yet jump into the fray, but even in larger scales the wood open-platform cars are not all that abundant, unless you want to resort to craftsman kits.

[bbussey]

I'm really surprised with this era being so popular the manufacturers don't make these sorts of coaches.

Because it's an era from over a century ago; most existing modelers don't model that era; and most new modelers are interested in prototypes they were/are exposed to in real life.

The third point is actually the case with most modelers.

[mmagliaro]

Because it's an era from over a century ago; most existing modelers don't model that era; and most new modelers are interested in prototypes they were/are exposed to in real life.

The third point is actually the case with most modelers.

Actually, a lot of the early wooden passenger equipment hung on into the 1940s and even the early 1950s, so you don't
need to be modeling 100 years ago to need these cars.  For my own personal situation, I am still Jonesing for
some single-window heavyweight coaches, and some wood "palace" type cars, because the SP&S was still running
some of those into the late 40s and they would look good behind my recent passenger steam projects.

I do, however, completely agree with your premise.
It was "a long time ago" and many new modelers aren't
going to be as interested in what they never saw in real life.

[bbussey]

I could use a wood ex-diner crew car myself, for NH wire train service.  But there aren't enough of us out there to warrant spending thousands on tooling for plastic models of these prototypes.  So kitbashing/scratchbuilding are the best options.

[nkalanaga]

Most wooden cars, especially the longer ones, had a "humpback" appearance, at least when new or well maintained..  To allow for stretching metal and shrinking end sills, the trussrods were overtightened a little.  Swaybacked cars indicated serious neglect, as the trussrods were relatively easy to tighten, using the turnbuckles in the middle and the large nuts on the ends.

[jmlaboda]

I know that I will end up building some wood cars from parts taken from the old MDC Overland line, with vertical board parts of the sides and ends being replaced with Evergreen scribed styrene.  While none would remain in revenue service (not without resheathing with steel) some will definitely be in MofW service, which will make for some interesting repurposing.  No clear plan on when such cars might start to be built but it is my hope that soon such will be started, first from the design stage and then moving on to actual construction.