Walthers Ballast Hoppers... Any Good?

[Kisatchie]

Does anyone have any experience with these Walthers ballast hoppers?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271166874086?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

They seem inexpensive in this auction, but is it, "you get what you pay for"?


Hmm... I have 62 of 'em...

[milw156]

they are not up to the standards that have recently been set, but they do fill a niche, and don't look too bad from a couple of feet. price seems pretty good, got mine several years ago and can't begin to remember what I paid for them. Hays Bros makes loads for them, and with the diffco's provide for MOW possibilities not otherwise available. They are reasonably heavy, and can receive body mounted couplers without too much challenge. Can't say that mine have much run time, tho...Go for it!
Rick

[PacRail]

I had some but after I changed the couplers to Micro-Trains 1035s they never would stay up straight and wobbled when I ran them.  Does anyone have a fix for the coupler issue without body mounting the couplers?

[craigolio1]

I agree that the detail is not what it should be.  I paid about $50 for the three pack years ago when they first came out.  It was a rip off but they were the only thing close to what I needed.

The biggest issues I have with them are the rapido couplers, over sized ladders and stirups, the brake gear blobs molded into the metal and the lack of fine detail on the trucks.  I modified mine extensively to match a prototype which included removing all of the rivets and adding new wire ladders, grabs, stirrups, trucks, z scale couplers, low profile wheels etc. 

At the very least, an upgrade to MT trucks and couplers will go a long way.

Craig

[craigolio1]

Just saw your post.  I drilled out the holes, filled them, put in styrene tubing, and used BLMA trucks.  They ride just fine.

Craig

[Catt]

If it were me I would spend the money and a little time to spruce them up.I already own 6 of them and a little scraping with a fresh #11 makes a big difference in those thick ladders and stirrups.

[Denver Road Doug]

I'm in the process of upgrading a unit train full of them, so I guess I see some potential.   I have 24 of them stripped and in varying stages of upgrade.  I also have another 24 I bought (from that same auction...he had over 30 3-packs at one point) in case I get the new stirrups done...figure while I'm at it, ya know?

I'll admit they aren't great, but they look the part.  The aforementioned mods match up with what I'm doing although I haven't  realized that major surgery would be needed for BLMA trucks.   The holdup for me right now is I want to get some appropriate stirrups etched and I haven't had time to get the artwork ready and/or investigate the process further.   

The other thing to consider is...there probably won't be another commercial ballast car done, ever.   They are pretty road-specific, and I think we'll see Shapeways win that battle especially once the resolution and other issues get resolved.   Of course, as soon as I say that....cue BLMA.   

[jmlaboda]

Something else to consider is era when talking about these cars.  The hopper doors were sold by Morrison Knudsen in the 70s and 80s (still available but I do not know through who now) and the design of the car is roughly from the early-70s era.  They can be dressed up but for me it will be the Atlas Harts Selective hoppers (possibly cut down in length to represent 50T cars) but that is largely because it was what the Southern Railway had before they started rostering the 100-ton cars.  The car would be correct for a 100-ton car, if the details were worked on.

[Kisatchie]

Something else to consider is era when talking about these cars.  The hopper doors were sold by Morrison Knudsen in the 70s and 80s (still available but I do not know through who now) and the design of the car is roughly from the early-70s era....

I'm glad you mentioned that. I'm going to model 1971, so I think I'll hold off buying these cars.

Does anyone know what time frame the Atlas ballast hoppers are from?


Hmm... I looked the cars
up on the Atlas site. They
were built from 1940 to
1953...

[mplsjct]

Pretty much echo what has been mentioned already, I body mounted couplers on the six cars I own, takes a while as the body is made of metal. I suggested to Walthers a rerun of these via their website, hopefully they're on their way.   

[jmlaboda]

"Does anyone know what time frame the Atlas ballast hoppers are from?"

All of Southern's 70-ton cars were built by ACF in 1947.  The shorter 50-ton cars were built by ACF in 1928.

Hopefully other folks can provide built info for other roads that had them.

[Catt]

My cars have plastic bodies,everything underneath except for the chutes are metal though.I think they look pretty good .detailing is decent and these are from the very first run.

[nkalanaga]

The GN's "Atlas style" cars were built in 1953, the NP's from 1940 to 1949, including some War Emergency composite cars in 1943, and the MILW's in 1929.  Yes, the MILW cars were 70 ton cars, and look about the same as the rest.  These things have been around a LONG time, and can probably still be found in MOW service. 

[reinhardtjh]

Here are some more in Santa Fe scheme

   http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walthers-Ballast-Hopper-3-Pack-Santa-Fe-932-38703-USED-Excellent-Condition-/141130492374

[mplsjct]

My cars have plastic bodies,everything underneath except for the chutes are metal though.I think they look pretty good .detailing is decent and these are from the very first run.

Yes, plastic bodies, metal underframes, my mistake.