BNSF 82' Trinity Reefer?

[ednadolski]

What did they make the roofs on these reefers from?  I'm guessing some kind of fiberglass.  Are they really that smooth? This is the clearest pic I could find (most pics are washed out because of the bright color) but I can't really see any seams or much other detail, other than the bolt heads along the perimeter.



Ed

[ednadolski]

Did a bit more digging.... These make it look to me like there are actually some kind or panel lines, evidently lining up with the seams on the sides.  The third pic with the rust pretty much shoots down my idea of the fiberglass tho





This one however was of absolutely no help whatsoever....


Ed

[James Costello]

Man, how badly do we need a model of these in N...

[GaryHinshaw]

Man, how badly do we need a model of these in N...

Yep, these have been on my top 5 list since at least 2012.  (Happily, everything else on that list has been produced or announced in the intervening years.)

[James Costello]

Yep, these have been on my top 5 list since at least 2012.  (Happily, everything else on that list has been produced or announced in the intervening years.)

Yeah, your list has made some good progress - and I suspect more again in 2020.

Mine isn't too bad either, Top 1 & 2 freight cars done https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=26855.msg274905#msg274905

[nkalanaga]

Ed:  I liked the first picture in your second post, with the "Wireless Controlled Unit" label on the reefer unit.  I wonder if anyone tried to hack one of them?

[ednadolski]

I suspect more again in 2020.

Sign me up!   But until then:


Looks to me like these could be kitbashed from a pair of the 64'  ExactRail or BLMA reefers. Some parts could be tricky tho:

 - scratchbuild the correct roof
 - the top sill would need to be milled out to match the prototype.
 - correct the side ladders (on the brakewheel end)
 - correctly locate the wheel wells
 - correctly locate the paned seams (the 0.005" on these may be handy).

Not terrible, but not trivial either. Thoughts?

Ed

[ednadolski]

The third pic with the rust pretty much shoots down my idea of the fiberglass tho

Hmm, according to this the roof actually is molded fiberglass:

https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/ways-of-shipping/equipment/pdf/Refrigerated_Boxcar.pdf


Ed

[Missaberoad]

The rust could be from the rivits holding the roof to the crossbraces...