Mini-Scale and Mi Loco also made freight car kits in 17/64" scale. Here are two I had that accurately modeled their B&O prototypes.
This die cast four-bay offset-side hopper is by Mini-Scale and was made with three castings: two sides with hoppers and a bottom with end frames and inner sides for the hoppers. The "A" end is modeled by cutting off the brake step. Four big flat-head machine screws hold it together. Its original Mini Scale trucks are still under it, with their wheel sets modified for 2-rail. Quite heavy, it weighs just over 2 LBS! I installed Kadee 700 series couplers, but otherwise kept the model original. It is painted and lettered as the prototype was when the kit was issued. B&O had the largest fleet of these hoppers built in the 1920's and 30's. Their unique feature was having ladders at the car side ends, rather than grab irons which were used by other roads. The model's B&O number is of a prototype car displayed at Shippensburg PA.
The 1941 Lionel full 1/4"/ft scale die cast four-bay offset-side hopper also followed this B&O Class W-2 design with side ladders, as did the later K-Line clone of that Lionel car.
This Mi Loco 17/64" / ft scale cast aluminum three-bay off-set side hopper was built up with five castings - two ends, two sides and an underbody with the hoppers included. I got it as a partially assembled 'junker' in 2010. It's put together with twenty-eight 3/16" long 3-48 flat head machine screws. I needed more of them, and they were not all that easy to find. Some fellow O scale modelers were a big help with that. The screw heads are slightly counter sunk. I used automotive spot putty to cover them. It also has Kadee couplers and rides on Athearn trucks. It weighs about 1 LB but lacked rivet detail. I applied Archer decal rivets, but they do not show up well. It did not have any air brake equipment, so I installed a Scale City Designs hopper car AB brake casting. It well represents a B&O Class W-7 hopper and is finished with post-War lettering having the "Linking 13 Great States" B&O herald.
S. Islander
