GARX 50' insulated boxcar (RB)

[nickelplate759]

Branchline - then - Atlas did a very nice HO model of the mid-1950's GARX insulated plug-door box car - the one with the horizontal rib.
I'd love one in N scale, but doubt it's going to be commercially available anytime soon.  The producers of new freight car styles are concentrating on much newer and more common cars.   I'm not going to learn CAD just to get one printed either.   But, I might try and kitbash something close.  I figure if it's close enough someone will come out with a commercial model of it!

Has anyone investigated doing a kitbash?  I figure the horizontal rib will have to be an added detail on top of some other sides.

Here's the car (from Atlas catalog art)



The roof and ends of the Micro-trains riveted side mechanical reefer look pretty close, but the sides and door aren't right at all. Definitely kitbashing to be done!

[nickelplate759]

I think the Micro-Trains mechanical reefer I have in mind  for the roof and ends is the 069 00 000 series car.  Don't think they have made it in a long time.

the PS-1 plug-door box might make a starting point for the sides, but would need some work (and rivets).

[Tom L]

I just finished one of these using a MT 50’ plug door. I used styrene strip to make the side sill straight and a .010 x .010 strip for the seam halfway up. It looks a bit heavy, I should have sanded it down a little. The decals are from K4.  I really like these cars, so when K4 recently released this decal set, I got a set for the undec MT car I already had.  I didn’t really pay attention to how accurate the roof or ends are, I was just going for overall effect so I could slap the decals on something. 

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Tom L
Wellington CO

[nickelplate759]

@Tom L that looks terrific!
Splendid job.


That's exactly the look I'm hoping for.

[DiggerDownUnder]

@Tom L where do you get .010 x .010 styrene strip from? I have seen references to it but not who makes it. TIA

[Tom L]

Plastruct, bought it a long time ago though.  A package lasts a long time

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Tom L
Wellington CO