So, there really was a company named "Metalon". I bought a cylindrical hopper from OSR's traction columnist at a long-ago Fall Trolley Extravaganza, who opined that it was built by that company (although I always thought it was spelled with a double 'L' for some reason).
Closer to on-topic. I recall the late Roger Arcara sometimes displayed kitbashed open autoracks on his table at the White Plains, NY WTTA train shows. These were also made from Lionel N&W auto carriers spliced lengthwise and width-wise. I distinctly remember his cars used strips of steel carton strapping to extend the stock couplers so the trucks could remain in a prototypical position. No info on where they ended up after his passing.
---PCJ
