Cool industrial loads for those flats and gondolas

[Cajonpassfan]

Just a heads up: Multiscale Digital is having a blowout clearance sale on their fine line of industrial models. Apparently, they will no longer produce the 3D printed items and focus on design only. While supplies last, there is a "threefer" sale going on; I just received six items for the price of two and they threw in an extra large lathe as a bonus, see pic below. These will make cool loads.
Just Google the company name. And yes, these come in multiple scales...

I have no connection to this outfit other than being a happy customer. My recent order was shipped the next day.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Welĺ for some reason the photo will not upload just goggle the company name
Otto

Oh never mind, it finally went. Nice stuff imho

[TrainCat2]

Just tried to place an order and the cart went in circles. After payment, the cart went to shipping and then sent me back to payment because the shipping was free. Went through several circles and closed the page.

[Cajonpassfan]

Hmm, that's odd. Having read this, I ordered three other items, for the price of one, with free shipping. Piece of cake.
Sorry you're having trouble.
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

My recent order of three for one got here today, in just a couple of days. Cool stuff, see below. They even threw in two other items, whatever the black prints are...
I need to start making loads.
Otto

[milw156]

Really impressed with the items I ordered, SOOOOO much better than Shapeways. Saddened by a note included that stated their designs would soon be available thru Shapeways. Get them while you can, they are superb!

[Cajonpassfan]

Really impressed with the items I ordered, SOOOOO much better than Shapeways. Saddened by a note included that stated their designs would soon be available thru Shapeways. Get them while you can, they are superb!

Glad you got some, that's why I posted it in the first place, to share the joy

So I've had this MT Pennsy depressed center flat for a many years, sitting in a box. I had lowered it and body mounted the couplers and also put FVM wheels on it, but never weathered it or found a proper load for it.
One of the MD transformers seems like a perfect load for it so now I'm looking for pics or ideas on how to paint and secure the transformer and weather the car.

Advice or suggestions appreciated.
Thanks, Otto

[dem34]

Bit of easy line through the lugs on the Transformer. The divots on the curve the depression are where the attachment points for the cables are. So measure out what you need, then make 8 strands that can start at the car, loop the lugs then get back where they started. You can also cheap out, quick research makes it look like in some cases there was some kind of attachment underneath that isn't easily in view.

[Cajonpassfan]

Yes, that was my first thought also but then I wondered what would keep the load from shifting a bit laterally. Wouldn't there have to be some diagonal tie downs as well? A proto photo of similar loads would be helpful... nothing like seeing the real thing. Same with colors...
Otto

[thomasjmdavis]

Yes, that was my first thought also but then I wondered what would keep the load from shifting a bit laterally. Wouldn't there have to be some diagonal tie downs as well? A proto photo of similar loads would be helpful... nothing like seeing the real thing. Same with colors...
Otto

I'm not sure whether these are cars in shipment, or just beauty shots of loads, but not as much cabling as I would have thought.  Maybe they bolt down to the deck of the car?
https://www.nyctransitforums.com/topic/35078-ttx-12-axle-flat-car-945k-gross/
https://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-2138306/pennsylvania-prr-f29-47000-depressed-center-flat-car-3x5-photo.html

[mu26aeh]

Glad you got some, that's why I posted it in the first place, to share the joy

So I've had this MT Pennsy depressed center flat for a many years, sitting in a box. I had lowered it and body mounted the couplers and also put FVM wheels on it, but never weathered it or found a proper load for it.
One of the MD transformers seems like a perfect load for it so now I'm looking for pics or ideas on how to paint and secure the transformer and weather the car.

Advice or suggestions appreciated.
Thanks, Otto

Here's one very similar that was delivered to a power station near Gettysburg, PA a few years ago.  A cable on each corner of the transformer to roughly the center of the truck/flat deck.

[samusi01]

If you get a good look at the curved sections leading down to the main load area, often as not they are marked "DO NOT WELD IN THIS AREA".

-Edit to clarify- I don't think this necessarily means they weld the load itself to the deck (although this could happen) but small blocks can be attached to the deck to help prevent shifting.

Side note, @Cajonpassfan , how did you go about lowering it?

[Simon D.]

If you can find a copy at a reasonable price, Prototype Cyclopaedia No 20 is a brilliant source of info on securing freight loads.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks guys, this is very helpful. So it looks like the transformers would have been plain Jane grey? Would that be true for older generation transformers as well? And the color evening photo (thanks @mu26aeh) does appear to have a pair of cables running diagonally/crosswise as I suspected.
Fun stuff,
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

...

Side note, @Cajonpassfan , how did you go about lowering it?

Well, I just ground off most of the thickness of the round nubs cast into the floor until only about .005 was remaining. This lowers the car a little. Any more and one would have to mill out the end beam and mounting plate to keep the coupler sonably accurate. Even so, the coupler rides slightly too low; hopefully it won't be a problem.
Otto