PC/CR X-79

[Ike the BN Freak]

So asked ESM on their facebook page, didn't seem interested...however, does anyone have any ideas how I could either kitbash or what car would make a good stand in for an X-79?

http://www.railyardmodels.com/penncentralx79.html

Remember seeing these as Kellogg cars while growing up in Omaha/Offutt AFB area.

Or maybe one of you guys that does shapeways...

[FrankCampagna]

Sounds like a car that would be seen on many railroads, despite the limited number of road names on the prototype. 

[fredmoehrle]

Now Railyardmodels is shutting down too I see.
At least he's gone to work for IMRC.
Maybe email him at the RYM address and ask if these might be seen in injected molding plastic from IMRC, plus in N scale.  Most of them are unique from what I see.

[fredmoehrle]

Maybe the Athearn 60' PS rib side double plug door auto box car would make a good stand in, or bases for kit bashing.
I was going to attach the photo from the Athearn website, but I can't figure out how to.
There's a thread on it somewhere, but anyway, the undec is out of stock at Athearn.

[GaryHinshaw]

http://www.athearn.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=60%27+Box&CatID=TNRF

[Philip H]

That ATheran car looks like it needs a new roof and door stops on plates, but otherwise would be a more then acceptable stand it.  The door surface hardware looks a tad off too, but in N scale it's definitely good to go by the Three Foot Rule.

[bbussey]

The easiest way to kitbash one is to acquire the following components:

• MTL 60' excess-height boxcar, double plug door, undec (if not height-challenged)
• WOT upcoming PC&F 50' boxcar, double plug door, undec (if MTL car is height-challenged)
• TWX 86' Thrall auto parts boxcar body, any style, undec (possibly available directly from TWX)
• MTL 60' excess-height boxcar floor/underframe parts
• Athearn or ExactRail 50' X-roofs (at least two, possibly available directly from ATH/EXR)
• Evergreen styrene sheets and strips.

Salvage the doors from the MTL or WOT body, make castings if multiples required.
Fabricate new sides from styrene, incorporating the Trainworx doors.
Splice the roofs together to get the proper length
Salvage the ends from the TWX body, reshape the top edge to match roof contour, make castings if multiples required.
Assemble the body.
Use MTL floor/underframe, modify bolsters to lower ride height.
Make castings of the assembled body if multiples are desired.
Add stand-alone details (available from various manufacturers).

[ArtinCA]

Kitbash??? Are you out of your mind?? 

Sorry, couldn't resist..  It would be an interesting project.

[Philip H]

@ Bryan,
How's that less work then starting with the Athearn car?  I am sure in my deluded world I"ve missed something, but inquiring minds want to know.

[fredmoehrle]

In looking at both cars (Ath & RYM) the major differences to me are;
The roof.
The doors.
The door stops.
I'll have to look at one of my Athearns at home tonight, that goofy square photo with the 3/4 tilted view and a dark car make it hard to see the details of the end.

Any body know the measurements of the Ath cars doors and the X-79 doors.
The Athearn car has a plastic underframe, so lowering the ride height should be fairly easy, so should body mounting couplers.

EDIT:
Another difference I see is that the ATH car has a high mounted brake wheel, while the A end of the car has short ladders.
If one wanted to they could get a second shell and cut & past it on the end and add low brake wheel details.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think the Athearn car is short by a few feet and low by several inches. It would also need still work.

[bbussey]

@Philip - Always start with models that have exact features of the prototype.  A ready-to-run car is simply assembled components, so all existing models are a treasure-trove of detail parts.

The X79 is a Thrall car.  The MTL and WOT doors appear to be an exact match (provided the MTL doors are not compressed).  The TWX ends are exact provided you peak the flat top and possibly remove the top rib.  The Athearn/ExactRail X-roof is a separate component and is the correct stamping.  The rest of the car is either flat sheet or channel.

I probably wouldn't even use the MTL floor/underframe.  Much easier to use an Evergreen .040" thick slatted styrene floor and a brass/steel weight on top.  Then the bolsters can be fashioned at the correct height as needed.  The MTL plastic underframe parts still could be used to save time.

Stirrups from BLMA's detail set or, if you prefer, MTL plastic stirrups.  End ladder assemblies from Atlas' Precision 50' boxcar (they sell the end ladders as detail parts).  Minor brakewheel from MTL.  Side ladder rungs from wire.  What else is there?

Modifying that Athearn car would be a LOT more work and still would not look like the prototype when done.  They way I described it, the only features you have to fabricate are the car sides.  Everything else is pieces to a puzzle, provided all the mating surfaces are true. A milling machine would guarantee that in less time, but careful trimming with a bastard file works equally well.

[TrainReign]

The easiest way to kitbash one is to acquire the following components:

• MTL 60' excess-height boxcar, double plug door, undec (if not height-challenged)
• WOT upcoming PC&F 50' boxcar, double plug door, undec (if MTL car is height-challenged)
• TWX 86' Thrall auto parts boxcar body, any style, undec (possibly available directly from TWX)
• MTL 60' excess-height boxcar floor/underframe parts
• Athearn or ExactRail 50' X-roofs (at least two, possibly available directly from ATH/EXR)
• Evergreen styrene sheets and strips.

Salvage the doors from the MTL or WOT body, make castings if multiples required.
Fabricate new sides from styrene, incorporating the Trainworx doors.
Splice the roofs together to get the proper length
Salvage the ends from the TWX body, reshape the top edge to match roof contour, make castings if multiples required.
Assemble the body.
Use MTL floor/underframe, modify bolsters to lower ride height.
Make castings of the assembled body if multiples are desired.
Add stand-alone details (available from various manufacturers).

You missed a step.

Place finished item in a jewel case with ESM inserts and sell. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

This looks like an interesting project. I think I might tackle it after the FGE car.
(BTW bryan, I sent you an email about that project)

Anyone know if the RYM drawings are scale?
http://home.comcast.net/~nh370/RYM/Kit101/Diagram_101.2.jpg

[bbussey]

This looks like an interesting project. I think I might tackle it after the FGE car.
(BTW bryan, I sent you an email about that project)
Anyone know if the RYM drawings are scale?
http://home.comcast.net/~nh370/RYM/Kit101/Diagram_101.2.jpg

It should be.  I'd verify everything against an ORER to be certain.

You missed a step.

Place finished item in a jewel case with ESM inserts and sell. 

No ... that's why there is a "model" in model railroading.