Winterquarters/Car Shops for circus and showtrains

[enjineerbill]

I was looking at the timber planks for the wagon tyres on the flat cars. Did you make them up yourself? If so what material did you use? I'm converting a number of Walthers 89' flats to ITTX machinery cars with chain tiedowns

Toot, I'm assuming you mean the long planks as shown in the white arrows. These in the photos so far are the stock Walthers plastic ones, they have long scribed lines to simulate the wooden planks that were used for wagon and equipment treads. I modify these by adding the 10' and 12' lengths by scribing cross lines into them. They will all be aged with acrylics for a better 'wood' look.

The 89' flats really didn't utilize these types of 'runners' as the cars went quickly from being loaded 'circus' style(ramps and rolled over car to car to position) to being loaded with cranes and various mobile lifters which set the cars in place. The Ringling trains and James E. Strates carnival train have steel decking on them in todays world.

Does this help?

 

[eric2448]

Those stock cars look great Johnny! How did you go about widening the slats?

 

[tootnkumin]

Thanks Johnny, Yes they were the runners I was refering to. Interesting, I'll check out Walthers, see if they're still available, I guess styrene would be the easiest to fab them from otherwise (haven't worked with that yet).

The centre car in my pic is a converted flush deck thats had the timbers and tiedown channels added to it and is usually used for overwidth loads (earthmoving equipment where the wheels/tyres or tracks overhang the edges). The 2 cars on either end of it appear to F89F's with the high sides and added centre tiedown channels and used for vehicles etc that will fit within.

 

[enjineerbill]

Those stock cars look great Johnny! How did you go about widening the slats?

Thanks Eric, yeah, I figured I was far enough along to let the cat out of the bag on the show being a 'fantasy' Ringling train. I'm building it in the hopes I can spark an interest in the circus to at least one of my very young grandsons. It will be my last build, sort of a legacy for them....

To widen the slats, I used micro files and sandpapers. Using the stamped mold lines as a guide. I'm toying with putting screen over the slats as some shows often did. It really knocks the look of the car out of the park.

Any progress with your show?

 

[enjineerbill]

Thanks Johnny, Yes they were the runners I was refering to. Interesting, I'll check out Walthers, see if they're still available, I guess styrene would be the easiest to fab them from otherwise (haven't worked with that yet).

The centre car in my pic is a converted flush deck thats had the timbers and tiedown channels added to it and is usually used for overwidth loads (earthmoving equipment where the wheels/tyres or tracks overhang the edges). The 2 cars on either end of it appear to F89F's with the high sides and added centre tiedown channels and used for vehicles etc that will fit within.

Toot, Walthers quit making these years ago, highly doubt(although I have NOT tried) they would have any backstock, but who knows? Let me know how you make out. Otherwise, maybe use some scribed styrene would give same results. A fellow circus model builder once found some 1/8th inch doll house flooring that worked well, maybe try that as well.....


A few years back, I built a modern show train(fantasy) using those 89' flats. Before painting I shave the center channels off to give the deck a smooth flat steel surface. These trains were loaded with ramps and utilized the end drop plates to create the runners from car to car.

The flats in your picture have those plates removed, much like these models show. I added the cross over plates before painting. I was behind the eight ball in this build for a client and sadly never took any photos before I shipped it off...have a good day.

 

[enjineerbill]

Chris, the main modifications came in the cast grabs being shaved, the horse car slats have been widened, see thru grills in the elephant car installed, shaved a little off the bolsters. Still need to add the stand pies in the horse car roofs for chains that lifted feed bin lids in the car. The will also have interiors and critters to occupy them.

BTW, I also added eyebolts along the side for tethering the critters during load in/out....

 

[eric2448]

Thanks Eric, yeah, I figured I was far enough along to let the cat out of the bag on the show being a 'fantasy' Ringling train. I'm building it in the hopes I can spark an interest in the circus to at least one of my very young grandsons. It will be my last build, sort of a legacy for them....

To widen the slats, I used micro files and sandpapers. Using the stamped mold lines as a guide. I'm toying with putting screen over the slats as some shows often did. It really knocks the look of the car out of the park.

Any progress with your show?

Wow, that must have taken some patience. I dont think I even have a thin enough micro file to attempt that with. I really like the look of what youre doing, it gives a modern look to those old style cars. Hope your grandson can appreciate your hard work. What are your plans for the flats and wagons?

My show is still in the shop. Its been a busy holiday season at work and I havent had much time to move things along. I did take delivery of 6 NOS undecorated flats and found someone to produce a set of decals for me, which I hope to get today. I hope I can get something done to move things forward soon. I made it a goal to get this project finished this year; we'll see how that goes.

 

[enjineerbill]

Wow, that must have taken some patience. I dont think I even have a thin enough micro file to attempt that with. I really like the look of what youre doing, it gives a modern look to those old style cars. Hope your grandson can appreciate your hard work. What are your plans for the flats and wagons?

My show is still in the shop. Its been a busy holiday season at work and I havent had much time to move things along. I did take delivery of 6 NOS undecorated flats and found someone to produce a set of decals for me, which I hope to get today. I hope I can get something done to move things forward soon. I made it a goal to get this project finished this year; we'll see how that goes.

Thanks Eric, that's really kind of the idea here. I've always considered myself a 'rogue' circus modeler

The coaches will be yellow with red roofs like the stocks. The exception will be that lettering will be the same as the stock but with blue banners, yellow letters and red numbers. Flat are a mix of Warren and Mt. Vernon, yellow with red letters. Wagons will be a mix of older and newer for the period with mechanical updates as appropriate.

Glad to hear things are moving along, If you want a good source of decals, Matt Welke from Baraboo, Wi., can do just about anything you need. His Ringling decals are nice and he has an alpine printer so white is not a problem. Tell him I sent you, no discount, just want him to know where the business is coming from

Post anything, anytime my friend!

 

[eric2448]

Glad to hear things are moving along, If you want a good source of decals, Matt Welke from Baraboo, Wi., can do just about anything you need. His Ringling decals are nice and he has an alpine printer so white is not a problem. Tell him I sent you, no discount, just want him to know where the business is coming from

Post anything, anytime my friend!

As a matter of fact, Matt is the one who did the decals. They look great!

 

[murfling]

Walthers Circus Train Accessories

Hello everybody;

I am asking on as many forums as I can if there exists a complete list of Circus Train Accessories that were made specifically for Walthers Great Circus Train.

I got the train when it was first issued, but never got any of the acessory pieces. Now, I got a bunch of them from someone on Ebay, and I want to work on collecting them all, but I need a list.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You

Jonathan

 

[enjineerbill]

Hello everybody;

I am asking on as many forums as I can if there exists a complete list of Circus Train Accessories that were made specifically for Walthers Great Circus Train.

I got the train when it was first issued, but never got any of the acessory pieces. Now, I got a bunch of them from someone on Ebay, and I want to work on collecting them all, but I need a list.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You

Jonathan

Jonathon, Not sure if it was in this thread or not, but a couple of other folk here were interested in the list as well. Not sure, where to start, other than guys who may have un-built collector sets, that's where the lists were distributed by Walthers, they came in the box with the different releases.

 

[enjineerbill]

On the workbench(kitchen table).....


Stocks are having details; chains, paint, ventilation, etc..,

The wagon is going to get lowered.

 

[eric2448]

Those are turning out really nice Johnny!

 

[eric2448]

Hello everybody;

I am asking on as many forums as I can if there exists a complete list of Circus Train Accessories that were made specifically for Walthers Great Circus Train.

I got the train when it was first issued, but never got any of the acessory pieces. Now, I got a bunch of them from someone on Ebay, and I want to work on collecting them all, but I need a list.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank You

Jonathan

Here is a list I have compiled based on what other forum members posted in a previous thread:

Walthers Great Circus Train Accessories

933-1360 Trunk Wagon

933-1361 Generator/Light Plant

933-1362 Canvas Wagon

933-1363 Ticket Wagon

933-1364 Chair Wagon

933-1365 Plank/Jack Wagon

933-1366 Wardrobe Wagon

933-1367 Hippo Cage

933-1368 Stake and Chain Wagon

933-1369 Pole Wagon

933-1370 Commissary Wagon

933-1371 Office Wagon

933-1372 CAT Tractor

933-1373 Concession Wagon #1

933-1374 Circus Sound Truck

933-1375 Circus Run Kit

933-1376 Concession Wagon #2 *Preiser

933-1377 Seat Wagon

933-1378 Storage Van

933-1379 Human Cannon Ball Truck

933-1380 Super Elephant Set

933-1381 Charging Tiger Tableau Wagon

933-1382 Gen/Baggage Wagon

933-1383 Rocket Car

933-1384 Lion's Bride Tableau Wagon

933-1385 Stake Driver

933-1386 Mother Goose Tableau Wagon

933-1387 Una-fon

933-1388 Baggage Wagon

933-1389 Equipment Wagon

933-1392 McCoy Plank Wagon

933-1393 McCoy Chair Wagon

933-1394 McCoy Light Plant

764-6 Calliope Wagon

764-7 Tableau Wagon

Jordan

360-232 1923 MACK Circus Truck

360-233 1921 Model T FORD Calliope Truck

360-234 Western Stage Coach

360-235 Horse Drawn Popcorn Wagon

Preiser

22100 Hagenbeck-Wallace Baggage Wagon

22101 Golmar Mirror ( Band ) Wagon ( You could get a seated Bavarian Band to ride it. )

22102 Hagenbeck Wallace white 2 Arch Cage Wagon

22103 Hagenbeck-Wallace red 3 Arch Cage Wagon

22150

22151

22152

22153 Each represented the same wagon with horses included.

-Eric

 

[enjineerbill]

^^^Very nice of you to lend a hand Eric, thank you! ^^^

And thank you for the kind comments

 

[enjineerbill]

Horse car mockup. I can't stand the sill steps that are cast. Gonna replace them for sure. The scenes are starting to 'get there'....

 

[enjineerbill]

Watch out, they spit....

 

[Gary B]

The scenes are starting to 'get there'....



Most of us would be happy if our scenes ever approached were you're at!

 

[enjineerbill]

The scenes are starting to 'get there'....



Most of us would be happy if our scenes ever approached were you're at!

Thanks Gary, just a circus fan having fun, glad to share....

 

[tootnkumin]

Watch out they spit!

Yeah, but look how well trained they are in comparison to the horses. They at least can wave their tails in unison.