Let's get LOADED!!!.....

[CambriaArea51]

Were the "fingers" custom made for the car or did they come with the car purchased? Curious....

The flatcar came with the fingers.

 

[Alcomotive]

The flatcar came with the fingers.

Ok thank you!

 

[Alcomotive]

The flatcar came with the fingers.

What manufacturer??

 

[CambriaArea51]

What manufacturer??

Scale Trains. The flatcar with the pipe is Scale Train also.

 

[Alcomotive]

Scale Trains. The flatcar with the pipe is Scale Train also.

Do you have a picture of the box or rather the end of the box that has the info for model number etc?

 

[CambriaArea51]

Here are both, BTW I got the last one.

Just kidding, but I couldn't find any more of the finger racks. I hope they run them again.

 

[Alcomotive]

Here are both, BTW I got the last one. View attachment 150819Just kidding, but I couldn't find any more of the finger racks. I hope they run them again. View attachment 150820

Thank you Tom!

 

[gjslsffan]

I am very impressed with the modeling efforts pictured on this thread. Some really great modeling.

Had this older (plastic) Walthers 8 axle drop-deck flat. I wanted to modify it to resemble the Kasgro Rail (KRL) 38181. I stretched the load deck from 20' to 38' to match the prototype, turns out the other dimensions match too, 68' over the end sills, and 92' over the strikers. I filled the deck voids with lead shot and glued them in with CA. The biggest challenges was trying to get some the piping in to match the plumbing on the ends. Used some IM trucks w 36" wheels that lowered to car a bunch, looks way better. I made the decals with my old ALPS printer, man, that thing is getting harder to use, only thing I can get it to print on is WIN98!

Now mostly Red you can see how much longer the load deck is than the original Walthers model.

The prototype image.

My model before being "loaded". The flex hoses between the span bolsters and car is the insulated lining of light bulb leads. Also the trainline hose is wrapped around under the ends to reflect the prototype using the same insulating leads. Coupler cut bars are Plano.

And now loaded. I made this car to be unloaded, only thing is, it might take as long to unload the model as it would the real one. All one has to do is push the pins out of the scratch built clevises, and lift the transformer off. But pushing those rods out aint gonna be all that easy, I used Moly lube to hold them in place, they are just small. Below it is in the ready tracks waiting for an outbound train. That transformer is an abused Kibri or similar kit, I chucked in the mill, removed the ends and lower sections and then rebuilt. Anyways another project almost done.

And finally here it heads out behind the power on an eastbound manifest drag.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Outstanding modeling Tom.

 

[gjslsffan]

Outstanding modeling Tom.

Thank you Sir!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

That inspired me to order a depressed center 340 ton flat car from RailFanModels.
Pretty pricey, but I want it.

 

[gjslsffan]

Thanks for showing that Ken. I had never heard of Railfan Models. https://www.railfanmodels.com/products/
they have some very unique cars dont they. I can see myself owning a couple of their kits too.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

This isn't loaded but it's focal point is the stainless steel cables stowed after the centerbeam flat is unloaded and ready to roll.

 

[Alcomotive]

This isn't loaded but it's focal point is the stainless steel cables stowed after the centerbeam flat is unloaded and ready to roll.

View attachment 151466

I like that! Very nice detail addition

 

[gjslsffan]

I have been by, and pulled many hundreds of these center beams. You have captured a less modeled and unique aspect of these cars. Very well modeled Sir.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Thank you. That's pretty much what I was tryin to do, capture the lesser noticed detail.

 

[MikeGTW]

That inspired me to order a depressed center 340 ton flat car from RailFanModels.
Pretty pricey, but I want it.

View attachment 150877

This is close to that one

 

[Vince-RA]

Good timing, I've been making attempts at unfinished granite blocks for loads this week. My son stopped doing cub scouts so I cut up pieces of an old pinewood derby car basswood blank. Not totally satisfied with the color (gray with a light gray chalk overcoat...Barre, Vermont granite is much lighter in color) or the drill marks (drilled holes with a small bit and made the cuts over them...too many wood fibers, need a way to get cleaner cuts) but pretty good for a start I think. The cribbing is glued to the bottom of the "stones", and in cases of the bigger ones I have embedded old pinewood weights since the flat cars I built are very very light. Hopefully I can refine the technique a bit and make some better "specimen" stones, but I think these are still good enough to be solid background props. Really love the scale chain (A-line, 15 links per inch) - definitely will be ordering more of this!

 

[TLOC]

I am very impressed with the modeling efforts pictured on this thread. Some really great modeling.

Had this older (plastic) Walthers 8 axle drop-deck flat. I wanted to modify it to resemble the Kasgro Rail (KRL) 38181. I stretched the load deck from 20' to 38' to match the prototype, turns out the other dimensions match too, 68' over the end sills, and 92' over the strikers. I filled the deck voids with lead shot and glued them in with CA. The biggest challenges was trying to get some the piping in to match the plumbing on the ends. Used some IM trucks w 36" wheels that lowered to car a bunch, looks way better. I made the decals with my old ALPS printer, man, that thing is getting harder to use, only thing I can get it to print on is WIN98!
View attachment 150828

View attachment 150829

View attachment 150830

Now mostly Red you can see how much longer the load deck is than the original Walthers model.
View attachment 150831

The prototype image.
View attachment 150832

My model before being "loaded". The flex hoses between the span bolsters and car is the insulated lining of light bulb leads. Also the trainline hose is wrapped around under the ends to reflect the prototype using the same insulating leads. Coupler cut bars are Plano.
View attachment 150833

And now loaded. I made this car to be unloaded, only thing is, it might take as long to unload the model as it would the real one. All one has to do is push the pins out of the scratch built clevises, and lift the transformer off. But pushing those rods out aint gonna be all that easy, I used Moly lube to hold them in place, they are just small. Below it is in the ready tracks waiting for an outbound train. That transformer is an abused Kibri or similar kit, I chucked in the mill, removed the ends and lower sections and then rebuilt. Anyways another project almost done.View attachment 150834

And finally here it heads out behind the power on an eastbound manifest drag.
View attachment 150836

This is a great car and load, well done

 

[TLOC]

Good timing, I've been making attempts at unfinished granite blocks for loads this week. My son stopped doing cub scouts so I cut up pieces of an old pinewood derby car basswood blank. Not totally satisfied with the color (gray with a light gray chalk overcoat...Barre, Vermont granite is much lighter in color) or the drill marks (drilled holes with a small bit and made the cuts over them...too many wood fibers, need a way to get cleaner cuts) but pretty good for a start I think. The cribbing is glued to the bottom of the "stones", and in cases of the bigger ones I have embedded old pinewood weights since the flat cars I built are very very light. Hopefully I can refine the technique a bit and make some better "specimen" stones, but I think these are still good enough to be solid background props. Really love the scale chain (A-line, 15 links per inch) - definitely will be ordering more of this!


View attachment 151553View attachment 151554View attachment 151555View attachment 151556View attachment 151557

Nicely done