OK here are some quick shot's of a PRR gondola about 4 hours after the Z scale monster box showed on my doorstep. It is hard to tell, but the car is lowered by half of the bolster height. I cut some end details off, relocated the brakewheel, and made a end sill out of strip styrene. The MT car is labeled a G22 which is really a 47' USRA car. Mine is still 50', but it has the flavor now. I also extended down the center of the frame so it was seen better in the side view like the prototype. The real thing: http://prr.railfan.net/photos/PRR_353064_G22B_MLC1939.jpg
Christ, you modification are very subdle. I use a regular gondolar to use as a comparison , then you really start noticing the work you did. Very nice work. Yes, please share with us your weathering technique.
I agree, wow! It has a much different look then the out of the box car. It looks like you are using chalks to weather. I love how the ribbing and rivets stand out. Good job! Rob Kluz
Umm - you don't happen to own a laser also, then you and Robert Ray could duke it out on West Coast vs. Almost East Coast. The weathering is really nice. ...don
Excellent job Chris! You set a new standard that we all must adhere to now! I did not have any gondola's until just this Friday when I got 3 from Randy, and now they all need to be chopped! Love that Lowrider look! Welcome to Trainboard Don! -Robert
Thanks guys! Maybe this will better show how is all put together: I removed the ribs on the 4 corners of the car. Added a small pad to mount the coupler, the filed a small recess for the styrene end sills to sit in. After all that I took the stirrups and cut them into 3 pieces, thowing away the middle piece and gluing each end with the step in place on either side of the coupler. I marked the bolster about half way up and cut if off, then cut off the ends of the frame and drilled "wheelwells" For the weathering I kept it real simple. I painted the trucks and couplers grimy black, the wheels are a custom mix of a few different colors. I washed the car once with India ink and alcohol, this left the whole car a foggy white like the car had been previously dullcoted. So I gave it a cote of dullcote and the white fog went away. Then a drybrushed on some dirt colored cheap craft store paint. I see I need to repaint the trucks and overcoat them with dullcote since I see the paint is already rubbing off. Not trying to out-do anyone and really there are tons of things that make this car "wrong", but I figured in Z scale the idea would be to get the overall correct look, same with the color and weathering. Now I need a Hays Brother load for it.
Oh, BTW that brake wheel is MT N scale item I had laying around. It is what i used on this car. Since it is an older n scale brake wheel it looks OK for Z scale. I have a 40' boxcar also, but I don't think it will need to be lowered. Just like in N scale, it's the flatcars and gondolas that ride too high.
I've always thought that the gondolas from MTL rode a little too high! Thanks for sharing your technique, It really does make the car look a LOT better! Outstanding job!! - Phil
hi chris, i've seen your n scale efforts for years, and knew you would bring good ideas to Z (plus have a lot of fun yourself). really nice job on the gon, and thanks for the good pictures too. dave f.
Vey subtle changes, but it has great impact on the overall appearance. Is the coupler just an MTL with the trip pin removed? Maybe I missed it, but did you have to remount the coupler so it was at the standard height? Randy
Yeah I cut off the trip pins, just like I do in N scale. If I want to UN-couple cars I just use a rix-pic and do it by hand. The stock coupler mounted to the metal frame. I cut the end of the frame off and mounted it to the body with some of the body filed away. The height came out right. The couplers are also set back into the body further than stock so the distance between cars will be less. I did this with some boxcars too... pic's are coming. If I had another gondola I would show a stock one next to it.
this is brilliant! and inspiration to us all I am enjoying this thread and particularly pictures. just one question: pardon my ignorance what is rix-pic and how does it work thanks Chris
Chris, I found this to show a photo of it: http://www.onlinetrains.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=628-24&Category_Code=PTA You just stick it down in between the couplers and twist it. It is basically like a small flat head screwdriver and you can un-couple the cars without derailing them. BTW, cool name ; ) Chris
Christ k, you can also use any thin stick to uncouple the cars. Some people use bamboo sticks that are use to make beef skewers. [ March 13, 2006, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: shamoo737 ]
Well keeping the ball rolling, cars number 2 and 3 for me. This one should show the closer coupling: If you un-screw the coupler from the metal frame you will have the threaded coupler hole and a square-ish hole behind it. I drilled and tapped a new #90 hole in-between the 2 holes. It is a tight space. Like has been mentioned the weathering is subdued. That's what I was after, all my cars get weathering, but no one single car is an award winner. I think that 3 foot rule (or whatever you call it) comes more into play the smaller you go.
Chris, The 3 foot rule definitely does not apply here. It's more like the 3 inch rule. These are honestly some of the best cars I've seen in Z scale! (And the photos are great as well, nice and sharp). The photo showing the roofs is great (even if the point of it was to show the neato close coupling). Can you describe your weathering technique for the roofs as it appears it might be a slightly different method than for the gondola. I see some highlighting that looks like bar metal, I think. Thanks, Randy
