What is available for 35' trailers?

[nickelplate759]

The recent announcement of NKP trailer decals from K4s  has got me thinking about trailers.  An awful lot of the Nickel Plate's trailers were 35' long.    I don't see a lot of them available in N scale.  Here's what I've found so far.

Bachmann: offers a 52' piggy back with a nice outside-post 35' trailer.  Only problem is that they list for $52 each, and I want the trailer more than the flat car.
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=265_392_401_961

Bryan Bussey @bbussey  offers a good looking printed Fruehauf ribbed 35' trailer body through Shapeways (New Haven prototype of course) but it requires the cannibalization of a Trainworks trailer to complete.
https://www.shapeways.com/product/G9QN75ZE6/fruehauf-35-rsquo-ribbed-trailer-new-haven-trailiner

Ultimate N Scale (used to?) offer a variety of 35' and other trailers that were cast resin.  I've never seen one in real life.
Their web page is still active, but ancient (even tries to use Adobe Flash Player). Does anyone have any experience with these?
http://www.ultimatenscale.com/index.html

One addition

Classic Metal Works "Mini Metals" offered some trailers that I think are 35', although they don't really say.

[peteski]

Ultimate N Scale (used to?) offer a variety of 35' and other trailers that were cast resin.  I've never seen one in real life.
Their web page is still active, but ancient. Does anyone have any experience with these?
http://www.ultimatenscale.com/index.html

Yes, I have.  As the website mentions, Ultimate N Scale line of resin models was bought out by the military miniatures guy.  Several years ago I contacted him to see what was available, and as I recall he let me know that he was just selling off existing castings, but wasn't really planning on making new sets of molds for the N scale stuff.  I ended up buying bunch of his moving trailers and some other assorted items.  The actual communications and transaction were painless and drama-free.

That was probably 7 or 8 years ago (maybe longer). You might want to contact them and ask about the N scale stuff. 

If you go to one of the N scale listing pages like http://www.ultimatenscale.com/n-scale-trailers.html
It states:
Four digit kit numbers are original Ultimate-N-Scale items.
Original Ultimate-N-Scale kits will be sold only while current supplies last.
Two and three digit kit numbers are new or upgraded kits.

Again, best to contact them and ask for details.

[nickelplate759]

@peteski - were you satisfied with the quality of the castings?

[wazzou]

I've got bunches of them from when Chuck Short still owned the company.
The castings from then were quite good.
My only complaint is that most if not all of his offerings were larger than 1:160.  I'd say closer to 1:144.

[peteski]

@peteski - were you satisfied with the quality of the castings?

Yes, they were ok,  They were probably still original Ultimate N Scale stock.  The moving trailers are solid bricks of resin with wheels molded with the body.  They are open-mold castings with the resin poured on top.  There is separate roof, also open-mold-cast.  So both trailer and the roof have to be sanded flat before assembly.  Detail is ok too.

I haven't checked the dimensions, but I have heard that the models are not in 1:160 scale.  Not sure of all the models, or just some.

[Viperjim1]

I have a resin kit by Medford trains. And the package says 32-35’ trailer but there is only one in the pack and it seems unopened. I can check for sure tonight. And it says western Maryland. But I don’t know if that is the style as I don’t remember seeing decals.

[Kentuckian]

Royale Models has one. https://www.royalemodels.com/

See also Bachmann parts department. https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=752_753&products_id=12089

[wazzou]

The Bachmann ones are sold out, FYI.

[peteski]

I just looked through my stash of the Ultimate N Scale (under new ownership). vehicles.  Purchased in 2011. The moving trailers are clean castings, but I have one tanker truck where the cab, frame, and wheel castings are fine, but the tanker part has every surface covered with pinhole depressions.

[Viperjim1]

This is the one I have and printing is done on the trailer already.

[nickelplate759]

This is the one I have and printing is done on the trailer already.

Sadly, itt seems that the proprietor of Medford Trains passed away a couple of years ago, and the business expired along with him.  There's still a Facebook page.

[Viperjim1]

What about mini metals. I know they have some short trailers.

[cfritschle]

What about mini metals. I know they have some short trailers.

The CMW Fruehauf AeroVans are 32 scale feet long.

[Snark45]

Not sure if it helps you, but Wheels of Time sells 35-foot Fruehauf 16-rib containers...

Regards, harry

[nickelplate759]

So -- NKP had a lot of 32' and 35' ribbed-sided Freuhauf (I think) trailers.   Similar to the New Haven trailer that @bbussey offers a shell for through Shapeways, but of course with different lettering boards.   I'm not going use his trailer shell, because after the print and the Trainworx parts it's just too expensive for more than one or two, but I'd like to approximate the ribbed-sided look.  I thought about making new sides for something inexpensive (Con-Cor?  Atlas?), but am not sure what to make them out of.  I haven't been able to locate any appropriately ribbed plastic sheet material - any ideas?
 
Here's what a real one (32')  looked like.  I'm estimating the ribs are about 5" apart.