Norfolk Southern 53' Bulkhead Flat

Taking advantage of the sunny day to take a couple pictures, I found this flat car I made last year. I cannot remember if I took any pictures of it, so here it is:


That access hole next to the reporting number is for the AB valve, and I thought it was an interesting feature to add to an otherwise boring flat car:


The interesting Bulkhead end braces also caught my eye when looking at flatcars to do, as well as the cast steel underframe, which is why the board bolt pattern is cigar shaped on the deck.

 

Looks gret Robert, but I think it would look better if it was in CSX blue.

 

Robert, I am starting to work on my flat.

 

Cool John! I don't remember painting up a CSXT one yet, after having made the decals. I got the paint, but have not done one yet.

Let me know if the instructions work OK for you, or if anything needs to be changed in them to make it easier to assemble. Also, what do you think of the peel & stick parts?

 

Robert, the peel & stick parts are great. They sure make it easy to assemble. I though the centerbeams were great, but the flats are even better. Very well engineered. Over all its a very easy kit to assemble. Maybe because I build the centerbeams before. I went back to the tread about the color of the flats. Since there was no consensus, I disided to go with dark blue, and weather it with a wash of black, and thanks for the kit. I really enjoy building it.

 

Robert, I finish assembling the flat car. Except for one minor mistake, it went pretty well. I made the brake wires a little too high, and it snag the wheels. After assembling it, I did some tight radius testing. It went pretty well. Now, I have to apply the decals.

 

You can bend the brake wires inwards towards the centerline of the car to get more turning radius. I can't wait to see it with decals and paint!

 

Robert, I am looking at MTL's new flat car. It looks great, but I think it would look even better if you replace the plastic, and put in some of that peel & stick wood.