ESM Gondola

[sirenwerks]

Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?

[Chris333]

How about fixing up the composite gons?


Just carved the openings to the right size with an exacto.

[JoeD]

This is one of the cars I am looking at.  Maybe loose the floor and make it part of the underframe to thin it down and snap in place.  that would make room for the larger openings and better looking interiors.  Makes a huge difference Chris.

Joe

[Chris333]

Yeah cutting it open that far did come up level with the floor so the whole under frame had to go. I whipped up the center frame from styrene and laid a piece of tungsten welding rod down the center. There are a few frame members that run out to the body (more styrene)

If MT came up with a new gondola frame to lower them. You could just bevel the sides to open up the composite hopper. Or just paint it black.

[bbussey]

This is one of the cars I am looking at.  Maybe loose the floor and make it part of the underframe to thin it down and snap in place...

That is how the G26 was designed.  The floor/underframe is one diecast piece with the sides/ends built around it.  The drop end functionality and construction is the same as the MTL gons - hinges slide into grooves and are held in place by the floor/underframe.  The coupler box is part of both the floor/underframe and the plastic end yokes so that the end yokes weren't compromised anymore than necessary and the drop ends could still function while having the car stand at the proper height.

[Ian MacMillan]

How about a shot of the ESM gon?

[bbussey]

Shots are in this earlier thread:
ESM - Pennsy G26 pre-production proofs pics
Page 1, Page 3

[amato1969]

Right on, Lee -- and it's a dead ringer for the Lehigh Valley 52-footers!

Is it a real match?  The MTL car is only a 50' car, scruntched to fit the boxcar underframe at the time.  A Dremel and a few hours can fix the ride height, but the length is an itch you can't scratch.

OK, OK, it may be a few scale feet short, but the rib pattern and side sill are spot on.  To me, I'll gladly lower the car and live with the squished length. 

  Frank

[SecretWeapon]

After seeing these cars in person, I can honestly say they look real good!!!!!!!

[wm3798]

Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?

ACI's started being applied in 1967, which is the bottom edge of my layout's era...  I guess I'll have to pull out the decals!

Lee

[Ryan87]

Hey Lee, did you Dremel the ACI plate right off that gon?

ACI's started being applied in 1967, which is the bottom edge of my layout's era...  I guess I'll have to pull out the decals!
Lee

They were not mandatory until 1970 however so cars could still be seen missing them...

[wm3798]

Cool! With a build date of 63, I can put the decals away!

Thanks for letting me off the hook...

Lee

[Mark5]

Cool! With a build date of 63, I can put the decals away!

Thanks for letting me off the hook...

Lee

I'm pretty sure they were added to all interchange cars, and locos, regardless of build date.

(hook back on!)

I'm still on the fence about doing all this ACI crap for my 1974 layout.

Mark

[Dave V]

I've been adding ACI labels to everything in service prior to 1977 for my 1980 era.  It's a pain, but it just looks better.  Athearn has been pretty cool about adding them to appropriate cars, although it looks like the upcoming covered hoppers may not have them on cars that should.  We'll see.

[Mark5]

I've been adding ACI labels to everything in service prior to 1977 for my 1980 era. 

Looks like in 1980 you are off the hook on locos, as all the Conrail locos tagged in 1980 that I've seen are sans ACI.

Here's one stenciled CR in 1977 still with it from an earlier scheme:

http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/equip/cr2289b.jpg