65' PRIDE Gondolas

[kalbert]

You guys are generally pretty good about helping figure out what a guy should start with to build something you can't just buy. How about these? My information says they are 65 footers built or rebuilt with bulkheads in the late '60s for crushed automobiles. Any suggestions for a starting point or am I going to be doing my first scratch build?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=80153
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1858163

[C855B]

The Athearn 65' mill gon looks like the perfect starting place.

[kalbert]

Whoa, yea it does! Those didn't occur to me at all. Thanks for pointing it out.

[wcfn100]

Well considering there's only two options, the Athearn is the better one to start with.

The biggest downside is that the Athearn is all metal.  This could make the drop ends a little harder to remove.  Also, the Athearn model is very rivet happy on the sides.  The wall braces don't have alternating rivets, they're sort of doubled up.  Not sure if that's proto or just lazy design work.  If nothing else maybe take out the straight line of rivets along the floor line. 

Here's a good end shot.



Cool project.

Jason

[kalbert]

Oddballs lists decals for this. Should I try my luck?

[Philip H]

Of course. Then write it up for n scale magazine.

[Kisatchie]

Oddballs lists decals for this. Should I try my luck?

I've read that Oddballs isn't shipping decals that have been ordered. Does anyone have a recent experience with Oddballs?


Hmm... no...

[kalbert]

The Oddball topic comes up from time to time, it seems that most people cry foul when it does, and a hand full of people claim to have talked to the guy a few days ago and things are fine. I've no experience directly with Oddball so I'll reserve my opinion to just what I know.

I used a set recently (http://mopac1.tripod.com/112.gif). The quality was good, they applied like any other decal I've used. They were not screen print quality, but they aren't screen printed so that was expected. I purchased them 3rd hand from the 'bay so I have no clue how old they were or how long it took whoever ordered them to get them.

I certainly will inquire with Oddball before submitting an order out of the blue. Good communication is a two way street you know.

An article you say? I suppose maybe I could give it a shot. It would mostly depend on ability to find more information about the pride program and getting clearance for photos.

[GaryHinshaw]

Oddballs lists decals for this. Should I try my luck?

I have ordered from Oddball before with no issues, but that was a few years ago.  The quality of the black & white printing was fine, but the yellow printing was seriously half-toned, and barely better than nothing.  The smallest type was just a jumble of dots.   Here is an example:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27716.msg286052#msg286052

-Gary