CR X-72 boxcars

[fredmoehrle]

Gent's
I've got the Aug12 RMC that has a nice article on the CR/PC X-72 boxcars.
I've got a slug of the old Life Like cars I'm ready to start repainting, and I am wondering if other roads had these also.
I seem to recall someone doing one in EL a ways back, and I've seen references to Chessie having a similar car.
Is there a good source on this car?

Fred

[cv_acr]

IIRC WP had identical cars and that was about it for original owners AFAIK.

A large number of the PC/Conrail cars went to CN.

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/search.pl?display=short&keywords=CN+416243-416475
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/search.pl?display=short&keywords=CN+416481-416566

[bbussey]

PC, CR, WP, and CN.  PC and WP acquired them as-built.  CR inherited the PC fleet.  CN acquired a chunk if not all of the surviving CR fleet.  UP inherited the surviving WP fleet but they remained in WP livery and reporting marks.  None were built for or acquired by EL or Chessie.

I don't know whether CSX or NS inherited any of the CR fleet or whether CN acquired all of them, but I have not seen any photographic documentation of the cars in CSX or NS livery.

[fredmoehrle]

Thanks gent's.
I find it interesting that Life Like painted these in every scheme but the prototype! 
I did see a Bev Bel WP unit, might have to pick that up, didn't know it was prototypical.
I've gotten BAR, UP, SOU, EL, C&O (Chessie) and a couple others.
I going to keep the Bev Bel Central of Georgia car, that 50' blimp is just too fun! 

[lock4244]

I find it interesting that Life Like painted these in every scheme but the prototype! 

I'd say more like not surprised at all 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Now that Walthers owns the tooling, we can be sure these will never be released in Conrail.

I painted a bunch several years ago. They are fairly good looking models if detailed and painted correctly. Microscale has a decal set available for these cars. unfortunately, this only covers the medium logo size and not the large can opener of the early repaints. The set that features the large logo has been discontinued several years ago. It is easier finding a Northeast Decals set with the large logo if that is what you are looking for. I think I might have a few extra set stashed away.

[bbussey]

Now that Walthers owns the tooling, we can be sure these will never be released in Conrail...

Unless someone else has secured access to the tooling for a future project. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Bryan, I could use a few more like these:

[bbussey]

Need the extended draft gear of a cushioned underframe.   And metal wheels!!  Nice ride height though.  Looks like you thinned the stirrups also.

[fredmoehrle]

I've got about 8 of these cars stashed away, (not counting the CoG or the fleet of BAR's I'm keeping).
I'd like to do a couple in PC, a couple patched CR, and a few CR.
I think I've got some of the Northwest sets, do they come with the black markings also?
I've am looking for a source of prototype photos.
The RMC article mentioned an old RMJ that had an article, but I haven't had a chance to pull that box.
I've got the new CR set on order, (with the NYC & PRR graffite.  ) might be time to start hounding Micro Scale about the old set again.  Been looking at flee markets.

[bbussey]

The CRHS has a bunch of pics on their site if I remember correctly.  Also, X72 pics are fairly prolific on the usual railroad photography sites.

[Philip H]

Can someone remind me again which Lifelike cars these are?

[bbussey]

The Evans boxcar.  Life-Like released them in roads that never had them.  Bev-Bel released them in PC and CR, but the schemes were not accurate.  Daniel has pics up-thread of models properly decorated for CR.  Mark has the product info here:

http://www.spookshow.net/freight/llhicube.html

[ljudice]

I think they all appeared once in a run from "N Hobby Distributing" - sold by BLW in the 1990's.   

However I recall there being issues with the CR schemes on those.  I think they also came in CN and WP.

- Lou

[ai5629]

Here is my two cents on Conrail / Penn Central X72's.  I like to replace the stirrups with MTL stock car stirrups and the brake wheel with an MTL miner brake wheel.  The mold mark in the center of the roof needs cleaned up too.  As far as decals go, MS 60-1096 covers PC painted cars and most of the Conrail "roller jobs / paint outs".  The only thing you would need for the "roller jobs" not on 60-1096 is the "CR".  For medium logo Hollidaysburg (P62 7-78 to 1-80) painted Conrail cars, I use several sets.  Demi data comes from 60-1094, but you will have to piece the reweigh dates.  The medium sized "wheels-on-rail" part of the logo I get from 60-862. The "Conrail" part of the logo I get from 60-627, it just looks right to me.  The "Conrail" included with the 60-862 is too small IMO.  Alternatively, MS 60-1046 could be used for both (though I never tried it).  For reporting marks, I like MS 60-862.  MS 60-1046 could be used, but this is not my first choice.  For Hollidaysburg (P62 7-76 to 7-78) large logo cars, my first choice for the complete logo is the Oddballs Conrail 86' boxcar set (60-913), but he is taking people's money and not sending them decals currently.  My second choice is MS 60-161, which is available again (I just ordered and received three sets last week).  Demi data and road number choices are the same as the medium logo cars.  You could also use 60-161 for the reporting marks.  Finally, I like to replace the underframe with an Atlas FGE.  You have to shorten it a little to fit, and file down the sides down some.  I hope this helps.  Thanks.

Jeff