O scale models of 65 foot fishbelly mill gondola?

To the best of my memory, none has been mass produced, but I think some were done in brass.

Lobaugh, in the 1950s -brass kit.  Pretty spectacular when done correctly.  Most have been cut up pretty badly to accommodate Kadees.

Buy two AtlasO trainman 52'-6" gondola cars or Atlas Roco gondola cars that measure 13-1/8 inches, the 65' long gondola car measures 16-1/4 inches. The Roco gondola car has 13 sideposts, one at car centerline, cut lines will be slightly offcenter. The post has riveted mounting flanges to car side sheet, cut on this edge line.

Remove the trucks and underframe from the gondola cars. measure and record the inside dimension of the gondola body that the underframe is mounted to, cut both 52'-6" gondola cars in half near the centerline of the cars(6-9/16 inches), ideally a 3-1/8 inch segment from one half should be cut and center spliced to the two 6-9/16 half car segments, summing up the two 6-9/16 half car lengths plus the 3-1/8 inch center splice segment equals 16-1/4 in which scale at 65' long car. Note based on the centers of the car side posts this 3-1/8 segment may vary somewhat, the center to center distance or centerlines of the car side posts should be the same between the truck centers of the car.

Repeat this same procedure for the underframe of the car, the underframe splice should be less than 3-1/8 inches long, glue the four car body splice joints and two underframe splice joints using styrene plastic cement. If necessary you can apply four vertical styrene strips(Evergreen/Plastruct} as splice plates at the car body glued joints. Note all cut joints must be straight and perpendicular, no angularity.

Set car body aside to let the glue dry then install spliced underframe and trucks, repaint and decal as required.

They were made in brass , one online now for auction , keep in mind that kit bashing , the 65ft was a narrow body to snake thru the steel mill buildings , that's why it is called a mill gondola , an Atlas 52ft would not be the right width . I have seen 2 , 6462 Lionel gondola spliced to make one , looked pretty good .

A completely scratchbuilt O scale gondola has been built very similar to the PRR G26.

 

Dimensional data used to build this model is attached. Inside length is 65 feet 6 inches.

(This model has 19 ribs per side)

 

Prototype PRR photo is also shown.

 

 

Precision Scale (PSC) also made 65 foot brass mill gons.

• Unpainted
• Brake Wheel Detail Included
• Fold Down End Doors
• Original Box & Foam included

 

This brass model appears to have 21 side ribs.  Not the PRR version.