Some advice would be helpful. We are looking at producing some significant parts to change a 40' box car into unusual [and although produced in N scale in the past, is now very rarely on sale] box car. The available donor car would need to have a good pre-WWII chassis, and a removable roof, with walkway [although a crude removable walkway would be reworked in an etch as part of the kit]. The sides [and perhaps the ends] of the car should be easily removed or cut away, leaving the chassis, sills and roof and, probably, the ends of the car ready to accept the N Scale Kits parts. What are the views on the best rtr car [or parhaps a readily available kit] to be used as a donor vehicle. Obviously cost is a factor, as the N Scale Kits parts would add to the cost - and the whole car would need to be repainted. I look forward to hearing suggestions. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Like truss rod chassis? Or standard drop sill? Because if the latter, the Intermountain 1937 AAR kit car would be the best bet as it meets every criterion you have outlined. I'm excited to see what you have in store...
I would think about the undecorated cars from MicroTrains, Good detailed underframe, working doors, removable parts, and available spare parts from them. They used to have those in prewar wood sides and then there are the outside braced single sheath wood cars. I also believe these have a thinner walled body than a lot of cars making a milling of the body easier. The removable roof part is something I haven't seen in awhile except on the old DimiTrains kits now Tichy Trains.
Thanks for the ideas so far...a car with a standard drop sill is what I am looking for. I am trying to assess the availability of the IM and the Tichy car kits - as these do seem to be a good start. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Peter, Intermountain is currently listing the undecorated 1937 in kit form on their website as "reserve now". You might want to consider an arrangement with them so that you could provide the "core" along with your parts. That way, customers would not find themselves trying to hunt cars at the big auction site, or having to tear up $25+ decorated cars (I have never tried to disassemble a RTR IM car, but assume the roof is glued on, as it is when you assemble one of their kits). http://www.intermountain-railway.com/n/nkit.htm I think our friend Mr Stahl is correct- I don't think Tichy ever made a boxcar in N (other than as a MoW with windows), but in any case, the only thing still being marketed under the label is the work train. Their gondolas are now on the Intermountain undec product list above. Their page- http://www.intermountain-railway.com/distrib/tichy/tichyn.htm Best regards, and best of luck with your project. Tom D
I need to correct myself. Still no boxcar, but Tichy is still maintaining a catalog of car kits separate from the one on the IM site- so the gondolas are still available, as are the individual MoW cars. https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/n_freight-car-kits/Default.aspx Apologies Tom D
I have reached out to both companies, to see what their response is. The TichyTrain MoW cars may well be suitable, as the sides, altered for MoW use, would not be used by a modeler as part of the built amended N Scale Kits car, as currently proposed [but not yet designed!]. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
I have had replies from both companies - thank you guys. It would seem that Don Tichy's kits [that are in good supply for what I anticipate] are the better option. The IM kits will be an inverted box with integrated sides - the car is moving up the production schedule but not available yet. Removing the sides for the conversion would make the N Scale Kit amended car much less stable. Don is sending me a couple of his kits to experiment on - so more news in the Fall Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com