Tichy Drop Bottom Gondola Prototype?

[garethashenden]

Does anyone know the prototype used for Tichy's drop bottom gondola kit? Or close prototypes?

https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/n_freight-car-kits/p/2706/Default.aspx

[Mark5]

It appears to be the same prototype as the Intermountain "General Service Gondola": https://www.intermountain-railway.com/n/html/68103.htm

Mark (Spookshow) has info on it - the IM model is a built up version of the Tichy (former Demi-Trains) model. 

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

[thomasjmdavis]

I believe it is an SP G-50-23. Built (believe it or not) in 1949 (note improved dreadnought ends and AB brakes) . IIRC, UP, and D&RGW (and I have a note that says WP, but not sure if it was a steel or composite) had clones or purchased some used from SP.  No doubt other railroads had some that were similar.  If my notes are correct, Rock Island and Soo had similar cars, but with Howe instead of Pratt pattern (that is, the RI and Soo are ///\\\ instead of \\\///).  Tichy makes decals for most or all of the correct roadnames.

Given Tichy's "old fashioned" modular construction, the kits are also useful starting places for kitbashing other drop bottom gons, since they have the correct floor and underframe (although no doors on the underside with brake gear more or less i the right place)- so a good starting point, even if you need to scratch sides.

https://nightowlmodeler.blogspot.com/p/sp-freight-cars-gondolas.html and scroll down

[garethashenden]

I had no idea they were that new. Thanks for that.

[thomasjmdavis]

I had no idea they were that new. Thanks for that.

Here are some other options in 40' composite drop bottom ("general service" gons-
Fine N Scale "Caswell" Gondola (primarily ATSF, not sure who else may have used "Caswell" doors and hardware). But the side pattern is fairly common for early 1900s gondolas). Resin and brass kit.
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/finecaswell.html

Intermountain USRA 40' gondola. The USRA cars were widely used, and "clones" were made well into the 1920s.  The most widely used of the various options.  Lasted in MoW well into the 50s.  Many were rebuilt by simply replacing the wood with steel sheet- simple to do if you can find one of these in undec kit form because the wood sides are separate parts from the frame.
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/imusragond.html

The Roco/Atlas/Walthers/??, and most recently, a Bachmann copy.  Ignore the 1956 build date in the Spookshow photo- in the 70s, manufacturers did not pay much attention to lettering details.  My belief is that most of the cars of this design were WWII era "war emergency", although similar cars were constructed during the depression to save costs.  Downside to all of these is that, as was practice when they were designed, these have the common Roco boxcar underframe, no modeling of the drop bottom.
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/atlasroco40obgond.html
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/bach42obgond.html

One other option, if looking for something 1900 or earlier, or for MoW- Fine N Scale makes gondola sides to fit their truss rod boxcar.  Not drop bottom, but it makes an believable early car or in MoW service.  Or as a "trash gon" at a railyard into the 50s.
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/atlasroco40obgond.html
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/bach42obgond.html

MTL and Trainworx make more modern, steel, drop bottom gons.