Stoney Smith Difco Side Dump Cars

[Sokramiketes]

Was able to spend a few good hours behind the workbench today.  Last week a 4-pack of Stoney Smith's Difco side dump cars showed up.  I thought it was going to be a quick project, but things in Z get out of hand quick...  After cutting away the end platforms because they interfered with coupler boxes, I decided to draw replacements for etching instead.  So these are lacking platforms and steps for the time being.  No matter, lots of decals to do.

I need a small string of these as BNSF's Miller River pit west of Skykomish loads very large boulders in these.  Strings of loaded cars sit at Gold Bar. 

I'm getting used to modeling variations since AZL likes to make me buy 4-packs of cars as well.  So here's what I've chosen for prototypes:


BNSF 902843 by fleandca, on Flickr

This one is a stock Stoney Smith car.  For the freshly repainted BNSF cars I'm using Pollyscale Special Oxide Red.  Decals for all cars are a mix of N and HO Microscale sets.  The BNSF is sublettering from an HO patch-job set.  Numbers are for HO number boards on same sheet.  The small herald is a reflective dot from an N scale ATSF reefer set.  Misc instructions are from an N scale BNSF well car set.  Load data from WCL Z scale flat car decals.  Yellow reflectors from stripe set.  I'm using Full Throttle trucks and couplers.   


BNSF 902598 by fleandca, on Flickr

Stock but with an added styrene plate.  Prototype lettering variation from the first car.  I may still go back and change the unloading device under the car on these first two.

RRPictureArchives: http://railbaron.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=335598

The cool thing about BNSF is the variety of BN and Santa Fe equipment still on the rails.  This has the added plate, and is lettered for an ex-ATSF car.  ATSF and roadnumber are from Microscale RR Roman alphabet set.  The RR Roman just makes the car look ancient compared to the fresh BNSF cars.  Paint is Pollyscale Light Freight Car Red.


BN 964717 by fleandca, on Flickr

And finally for some more variety, I modeled a shorter BN car.  I shortened the floor and ends and added scratchbuilt styrene sides. Paint is Pollyscale Zinc Chromate Primer.  BN and roadnumber are from a Microscale Gothic alphabet set.  This is a great, stocky car.  It'll look mean with a couple boulders in it. 

Couple notes about the Shapeways cars.  Overall the product is nice.  I didn't notice an less resolution in this batch of FUD versus the supposedly higher resolution ESM White Tower.  I don't know if Shapeways is using better contractors or not.  Several steps were broken off the cars in the package, since they just toss them in a ziploc. But it didn't matter anyway since trucks and couplers won't fit with the end platforms on.  In fact, body mounting isn't even an option.  That's a problem with Stoney Smith's design though.  Some etched end platforms with integral steps and railings will look better than anything Shapeways can produce anyway, so it's not a deal breaker. 

[Sokramiketes]

[Ian MacMillan]

Not bad looking at all for FUD.

The cars came out pretty nice.

[ztrack]

Very nicely done!

I am looking forward to seeing them with the end ladder though. 

Rob

[mcjaco]

I like em!

[Chris333]

Rob wants stirrups!  LOL   Hello aftermarket?   

[Sokramiketes]

I had to compromise... I mean... Oh ok, I was lazy.   

[GaryHinshaw]

These look good.  Is there room for a weight, or is the load going to be the weight?

[Sokramiketes]

These look good.  Is there room for a weight, or is the load going to be the weight?

The big rocks will have to do.  I can probably put some sheet brass in the floor first without it looking out of place. 

These would be a good candidate for lost wax brass like the WCL flatcar kit.

[ztrack]

Yup Skibbe's after market stirrup line. I think there is something to this. 

Rob

[Sokramiketes]

Yup Skibbe's after market stirrup line. I think there is something to this. 

Rob

Sent to etchers this past week.

[Sokramiketes]

Stoney Smith Designed, Shapeways produced, and I filed the ends flat for body mounted couplers, took about 1/8" off the bolsters, plated over the windows, and added seams to the cupola roof.  Decals are a combination of Microscale N scale sets.  The BN logos are from a twinstack set, the roadname from an E8/E9 set, and lettering sets for the numbers.  I have a need for better Z scale lube plates.  Grab irons and probably rebuilt end railings to come.

This caboose sat in Wenatchee in 2008.  Lindsay Korst photo.

[Philip H]

Funny, but I have photos from 2008 of two similar cabeese in Seattle with fresh paint a BN Swoosh logo.

[Sokramiketes]

Funny, but I have photos from 2008 of two similar cabeese in Seattle with fresh paint a BN Swoosh logo.

They did freshen up the paint on a bunch.  The pink snow dozer in that photo has also been painted.  They added a GN logo of Rocky to it as a neat touch. 

I'm concentrating on 2007-2008.  I took two trips to the area during that time and have the best feel for overall traffic patterns and rollingstock in use for that timeframe.  Plus the SD40-2's were still prevalent.

[mcjaco]

Nice work on the caboose Mike.  Looking forward to this layout when you get it started. Love the BNSF through that area.

And SD40-2's are yummy.