This is the starting model. It looks nice, but there is always room for improvements. We need to convert to Micro-trains Couplers, get rid of that funky brakewheel, add some diamond placards, brake gear, add a little weathering, and kill that shine! Here is what I worked up based off pictures and measurements in the 1949-51 Car Builders Cyclopedia for a car that looks like this one. The construction is plywood with a Basswood air reservoir and a custom etched brass brakewheel. A quick shot of flat black krylon does wonders at hiding the wood. And the finished model. I dabbed red paint on the diamond placard with a needle, then scratched it with white to represent "flammable", powdered it with Bragdon's powders, and installed Bettendorf's. The car to the right is an MTL car, so you can see we did not add extra height.
Here we see the car next to an unmodified Marklin car. The height is a bit lower than the unmodified car. The couplers are truck mounted. I chose truck mounted because I already had the base drawings for the frame, so it was just to save a bit of time. Here is a shot of the underframe showing brake detail. I think it helps the overall appearance to justify the extra work. I am happy with the finished car, and I want some more Hooker cars, but some of the cars, like Bakers Chocolate, will get done in black GATX or UTLX. I still have to build 2 more for this set of cars, then I can see how close coupling is.
as always ... nicely done. I was wondering when someone was going to seriously tackle converting the odder Maarklin tank cars to tomething closer to normal
I have 3 of these cars with 6 more on the way, so I am converting them all to MTL's. Some will get repainted, and if I like the paint scheme I will just give them the business. Second car modified, here is the coupling distance: This car was the "Bakers Chocolate" which looks cool, but has no home on my layout, so I converted it into a GATX, following a number series found in the 1949-51 Car Builders Cyclopedia. I made a sheet with decals for 16 different car numbers, so I can convert a bunch of these cars, and have different numbers on each.
amaZing! Robert, you never stop amazing me with your talents. Awesome conversion of the Marklin Tank car! Wow! :lightning: Hobo Tim
You could of saved me sooo much time! I didn't know you where working on these yet. They look great, there was a GATX tankcar plant close to where I lived in Sharon PA, back when I was in middle school.
Great Job Robert! The Tankcars looks 10 times better then the original. Will you make the base available as a laserkit? I think lot of people out there are waiting for this (me too)
AMAZING! Hi Robert, That is one of the best Marklin to MTL conversions I've seen-but no surprise coming from you. If you make a kit-it will sell very well... I can just count all mine that need conversion....
