Model of this boxcar?

[nkalanaga]

The canal is dry because they've closed the gates on the dam upstream.  Some of the rock walls needed work, and it was easier to drain the canal than to do stonework underwater.  It'll be full again "tomorrow".

Don't laugh, that's a common event with irrigation canals, especially in areas with burrowing animals.

[garethashenden]

I have begun this project. Starting with the Atlas 50' Precision Design boxcar, I cut out the sides keeping the ends and roof. New sides were made from two layers of 0.020" styrene. The back one is a plain rectangle, the front one has a cut out for the plug door. 9' wide, 9'6" high. The plug door framing was built from 0.020" x 0.030" strip. Brass wire was used for the bars. The sill is 0.040" x 0.060" with the ends shaped to match the prototype. Need to add the lower door rail, then on to the other side...

[eja]

Serious modeling going on here ...  keep those of us less skill informed of your progress.

[garethashenden]

This model has now made its way to the paintbooth, I'll photograph it once its dry. Then decals and weathering. The decals are from Highball Graphics and do two cars per set. Unfortunately the other car is different. From a decal perspective the biggest difference is that the logo is slightly larger and an outline, rather than solid green.

My thoughts are now turning to how to model this other class of boxcar. Built by ACF in 1970, they're perfect for my 1971 era. However, they have waffle sides. This makes them interesting to model, but harder to find a stand in. I think starting with an Atlas ACF boxcar and making new sides is, again, the best option. I'm not sure how big the waffles are though. Its a 9' door and a 50' boxcar, so that's approximately 2.5' per panel including the post. So are the waffles 2'x9"? Something like that I think, but I'm not sure. Thoughts?

[nscalbitz]

...

My thoughts are now turning to how to model this other class of boxcar. Built by ACF in 1970,.... So are the waffles 2'x9"? Something like that I think, but I'm not sure. Thoughts?

Go ask the guru Jim Eager et al over on MFCL or BABY BOOMER FREIGHT CARS...
cheers

[cjm413]

This model has now made its way to the paintbooth, I'll photograph it once its dry. Then decals and weathering. The decals are from Highball Graphics and do two cars per set. Unfortunately the other car is different. From a decal perspective the biggest difference is that the logo is slightly larger and an outline, rather than solid green.

My thoughts are now turning to how to model this other class of boxcar. Built by ACF in 1970, they're perfect for my 1971 era. However, they have waffle sides. This makes them interesting to model, but harder to find a stand in. I think starting with an Atlas ACF boxcar and making new sides is, again, the best option. I'm not sure how big the waffles are though. Its a 9' door and a 50' boxcar, so that's approximately 2.5' per panel including the post. So are the waffles 2'x9"? Something like that I think, but I'm not sure. Thoughts?

The ACF X-post Precision Design may not be tall enough - note this is a Plate C car with slightly different ends (corrugation instead of rib at the top, also a small rib above it).

Depending on how many compromises you are willing to make, the FVM 7 post car might be another option to consider:

-The FVM car also has the top rib rather than corrugation, but I recall the height may be a bit closer.

-FVM car has the correct number of ribs, but the spacing appears to be different (shorter end panels on FVM vs what appears to be evenly-spaced panels on the prototype.   The door on the prototype also looks a bit smaller (possibly 9') and the FVM car would need the ACF sill added

-FVM has X-panel roof rather than diagonal panel

[squirrelhunter]

Just a side note, but the plug door from the MTL FMC 50' rib side boxcar is a good choice to replace the sliding door on the Atlas ACF precision design boxcar. I think it is a 10' door, but the difference between 10' in N and 9' is .075 inch.

This is an Atlas precision design car is added an MTL plug door to. I should have made sure it was more flush with the side of the car, but this was something of an experiment/learning experience. Still need to renumber it to the correct number series.

Not trying to dissuade you from scratchbuilding a 9' plug door, just wanted to propose an alternative.

[wazzou]

It isn't difficult to scratchbuild plug doors or waffles for that matter.
You are obviously a very talented modeler so I have no doubt you can pull it off.
Here are a couple of examples of cars with both plug doors and waffles I have built.

[garethashenden]

I seem to have forgotten that there are two versions of the Atlas Precision Design boxcar. There is the (mostly) smooth side version that I used for the other car, but there is also a rid side version. It has six ribs either side of the door and a 10' (or maybe even 11') sliding door. If I were to remove the door and fit the correct 9' plug door, there would be space for the missing ribs. Not sure about the ends though, it has a rectangular top stiffener, where as the prototype has normal pointy ones.

Top to bottom FVM 7 post, Precision Design rib side, Precision Design smooth side:


The end:

[squirrelhunter]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't let the ends bother me, but the wrong number of ribs would make me nuts. 

ACF boxcars drive me crazy. Missouri Pacific exterior post 50' boxcars were almost entirely built by ACF and expect for 500 that are plate B versions of the Railbox ACF boxcar Atlas did in the trainman line, they are all like this- 7 post sides, or non terminating ends and plug doors on the 6 post body, or 8+8 plug/sliding door combos. Not bad enough to totally throw your hands up, but bad enough to slow you down trying to figure out the best way to attack the problem...

[cjm413]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't let the ends bother me, but the wrong number of ribs would make me nuts. 

ACF boxcars drive me crazy. Missouri Pacific exterior post 50' boxcars were almost entirely built by ACF and expect for 500 that are plate B versions of the Railbox ACF boxcar Atlas did in the trainman line, they are all like this- 7 post sides, or non terminating ends and plug doors on the 6 post body, or 8+8 plug/sliding door combos. Not bad enough to totally throw your hands up, but bad enough to slow you down trying to figure out the best way to attack the problem...

Bachmann makes an ACF X-post box with non-terminating ends, but off the top of my head, I don't know if it is based on the Plate B/5077 cuft car or Plate C/5300 cuft car.

Either way, it comes with the wrong X-panel roof....

[Missaberoad]

Bachmann makes an ACF X-post box with non-terminating ends, but off the top of my head, I don't know if it is based on the Plate B/5077 cuft car or Plate C/5300 cuft car.

Either way, it comes with the wrong X-panel roof....

It's based off the old Athearn "Railbox" car...

[cjm413]

It's based off the old Athearn "Railbox" car...

Did they copy the wrong dimensions in addition to the wrong X-panel roof?

[Missaberoad]

Did they copy the wrong dimensions in addition to the wrong X-panel roof?

In almost every detail... 

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[cjm413]

In almost every detail... 

(Attachment Link)

#Failbox