Heavyweight passenger cars

@Kevin Cook posted:

Hey SANTIAGOP23,

Which PSC Baggage Car did you start with to make your Western Pacific 136?  What modifications did you make?

Kevin

Kevin,

my starting point was a PSC Harriman 60’ baggage car. Trainz is selling one, at a ridiculous price though, in case you’re interested. Furthermore, Protocraft has decals specifically for this and other WP cars. Those weren’t available when I did my car, so I had to put together various dry transfers sets to get it done.

Santiago,

did you change one of the Baggage Doors?  One seems smaller than the other. Or is that just the photo making one look smaller?

Kevin.

@Purplepapa posted:

May I offer one of mine.I built this years ago when I was wanting something different and unique to me.

Wow so very nice! All those rivets! Whew. Good show 👍👍

Kevin, I did not modify the doors, though they remained incorrect. I hate to quote myself but here is a link to an article I did for OSR, hopefully it can help illustrate most of what I did with the car.

https://magazine.oscaleresource.com/books/efel/#p=2

@Keystoned Ed posted:

John - PSMC listed in Catalog 1 kit 3305, a model of John Ringling's private business  car.  The window arrangement on the sides is very different from ATSF's Chico.  PSMC also listed interior kits for the car.  If you want to build a business car one route to consider would be to use Joe Fischer's approach to fabricating heavyweight car sides.  In a two part series in 1949 Model Railroader Joe describes in detail how to scratch builds car sides from laminates of Strathmore board.

Another alternative would be to consider Overland Models brass Ferdinand Magellan (the President's car) as a starting point.  A few years ago I purchased one on eBay from Bill Davis at a huge discount off MSRP.  Apparently OMI had a excess inventory of the model in both 2 and 3 rail versions. The one below is detailed for the Truman era.  A Regan era POTUS car was also offered.

Oh how LUCKY YOU ARE! At this point any 3 rail model I would buy!

To revive one of my favorite threads…I finally got my hands on a Lake series 10-1-2 for my Expo… these Dae Ha pieces are just the best.

Roger’s recently imported 2410s…

The American Standard cars were a little pricey back in the day I thought, but they are a steal today for such nice kits.  I have a whole Crescent Limited train of them to build up.

My recently completed 10-1-2… Wasatch trucks, real glass pane windows and full interior. Paint is TCP, lettering is Clover House Transfers…

Santiagop23   I have some heavyweight cars but nowhere as nice as these. I have several more kits to do and my reluctance is the difficulty of getting the correct trucks with 3 rail pickups. Is there a vendor that offers such pieces and in a variety of some sort?  Your cars look very very real, nice job.

I only do 2 rail, Bill. Not sure how to help. Sorry.

Different angle...

@Bill Park posted:

Santiagop23   I have some heavyweight cars but nowhere as nice as these. I have several more kits to do and my reluctance is the difficulty of getting the correct trucks with 3 rail pickups. Is there a vendor that offers such pieces and in a variety of some sort?  Your cars look very very real, nice job.

Try Lionel parts, Atlas O ] since they took over MTH premier line heavyweights, and Mth parts for 6 wheel trucks.

Looks great Santiago!

@Purplepapa posted:

I just found this thread. So many beautiful models. May I offer one of mine.I built this years ago when I was wanting something different and unique to me.

This is an extraordinary model (amongst all the other jewels in this thread)  Was this originally a Pomona Valley car kit? Amazingly good good build/finish regardless but also uber-rare in any case.

Wow!!!

atlpete,

I scratch built this car using the Fischer method of several laminated layers for each side.This method was described in September & October issues of Model Railroader article, IIRC

Thank you for your kind words.

Leon

@Purplepapa posted:

atlpete,

I scratch built this car using the Fischer method of several laminated layers for each side.This method was described in a 1948  Model Railroader article, IIRC

Thank you for your kind words.

Leon

Absolutely phenomenal work Leon. Scratch in its pure form, provenance, beautiful.

@Purplepapa posted:

atlpete,

I scratch built this car using the Fischer method of several laminated layers for each side.This method was described in September & October issues of Model Railroader article, IIRC

Thank you for your kind words.

Leon

Exceptional craftsmanship - articles were in the 1949 September & October issues of Model Railroader - those I kept for reference.

@Keystoned Ed posted:

There were a series of posts on Walthers and JC heavyweight passenger car kits under the Atwater/All Nation locomotive thread  and I thought folks new to O scale 2 rail might be interested in learning about some of the fine older models that can be found at O scale shows and swap meets.

As far as heavyweight passenger cars kits, in my opinion the highest standard was set by Ralph Brown's American Standard  Car Company.  His side rivet detail,  belt rail, window sash representations were orders of magnitude better than the stamped steel sides by Walthers or JC.  As best as I can tell from my incomplete collection of old ASC catalogs, Ralph designed and produced kits for at least 56 different prototypes.  He also produced a wide selection of streamline car kits in O scale under the American Lightweight Car Company brand.  Due to health issues the ASC line was sold to an individual in Knoxville TN who intended to continue production under the Pullman Scale Car Manufacturing Co. brand.     PSCMC Catalog 1 dated 1995 listed  59 kits including 3 one piece resin body kits.  While I've seen hundreds of ASC kits and built up models at O scale show, I've not seen a PSCMC kit.  Attempts by a friend to order catalogs, kits and parts from the PSCMC's Knoxville P.O. box address were unsuccessful. Below are three examples of built up ASC kits -

The first is a PRR M70 RPO.  The one piece sides are cast in urethane, the floor and roof are wood.  Trucks are PRR prototype from PSC.

Below is an ASC PRR P70 air conditioned coach built by Ted Stepek.  The kit came with a urethane roof and sides and rides on Walthers trucks.   Back in the 1980's correct curved PRR passenger car steps were not yet available so it was offered using Walthers castings.  Some day when I may replace the steps and trucks with brass ones from PSC.  Meanwhile I enjoy running it as is.

Next up is ASC's very nice model of a Pullman plan 3992 13 chair parlor buffet lounge.  It is interesting to note that Ralph Brown used prototype Pullman floor plan numbers for his ASC kit numbers.  ASC and the later PCMC catalogs featured drawings of the car sides and interior seating/partition arrangements.  Most kits were available in as built non-air configuration, or with air duct and related underbody details for the air conditioning upgrades applied to many heavyweights starting in the mid-1930's.  Most Pullman built parlor cars had clearstory roof decks that were wider than used on sleeping cars.  AC roof ducts retrofitted to the parlor cars had steeper and sharply angled contours, making the cars easier to identify in old films/videos. I have around 10 PSMC kits which excellent.  David Duncan was doing several things to improve the line but had a lot going on and sold the company to Scale City Designs who also bought Keli Line.  The last time I looked Scale City was taking orders for kits.  David Duncan told me that when he bought the company from Ralph Brown he figured that Ralph was charging less for the kits than what it cost to put all the parts in the box.