Help on maker of early tank car, please.

[HHS]

Good Day,
Like many, have a soft spot for early O scale 2R. Picked this tank car up at a local all scale train show.
There are no marking on any of the parts. The Niagara Alkali is hand lettered, but the other data is decal.
I am thinking this was kit built, as the paint is so-so, and the decals are poorly applied.
The trucks look to be Lobaugh, but not sure.
The car is not brass, but all metal. It also sits much higher than my other cars, and it may be 17/64 scale.
Any event, enjoy the pictures.
Thanks in advance.
Hugh Sinn

[bob turner]

Most likely Mini-Scale, with Lobaugh trucks.

[Carey Williams]

Very nice tank car....
Mi Loco and Mini Scale I believe both share the same technology when building a car ...two halves so the car is split down the middle.
Below is a Mi Loco tank ... Mini Scale would be the same add some rivets and a pound or two
I check my other tanks and sorry
No matches ... could it be a Megow ? Very unique piece ... good score!
Cheers Carey

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[HHS]

Bob, Carey,
Thank You for your replies.
I have looked closely for a seam on the tank, but there is no evidence of one.
And no cast in markings on the frame.
It will be just nice vintage tank car to go with the other vintage cars.

Hugh

[CMorrill]

The seam on the tank has been very skillfully matched and cleaned off. However, it is visible at the dome flange and tank bands in one of the close-up photos.

Charlie

[ScaleCraft]

I don't think so. Parting lines of bolt together halves is one thing, casting lines of one piece showing untrimmed points at tight bends like dome is another.

Rivets. The unpainted unit has none. Sides, ends, dome flange.

Frame running boards. Looks like unpainted cast unit has running boards part of end frame sections. Painted model has brass inserts.

How heavy is it?

[bob turner]

I did not know they were cast in halves. Like Carey I have one of each. The Min-I-Scale version is cast lead alloy with rivets. They are otherwise almost identical. There may be minor frame differences.

[E7]

Here ya go Bob! METAL

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-LIONEL-285 ... SwHEhZ8Kk3

[rex desilets]

Geez---plastic domes that don't fit and gross handrails.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Geez---plastic domes that don't fit and gross handrails.

Lionel......

But the trucks and couplers would be good salvage were the price an order of magnitude less,

[E7]

Geez---plastic domes that don't fit and gross handrails.

Seller says the car is metal, plastic or not, the domes look like they fit to me. Gross hand rails.....better a little thick than bent all to Hades!

[rex desilets]

I bought on ebay a supply of those domes. They are plastic, despite the seller's fondest hope.
On the hand rails-oh, I don't mind them being a bit large. It's the wire hangers and that the rails don't wrap around the car ends. There may be a prototype for this but I haven't seen it. Maybe Bob can help.

[bob turner]

Nope. Best I can tell you is we hope K&S resumes production of .032 brass. You can use small cotter pins for the posts.

If you like Lionel, try the #715 for good dIe cast, or the Williams repro for brass.

[R.K. Maroon]

As to the original question, there are a lot of similarities between the mystery tank car and the Mi-Loco shown by Carey. Specifically:

-- The dome has a "lid" that overhangs the dome.
-- The center caps are similar
-- The dome footboards are cast in
-- The two straps on each side of the dome intersect the dome footboard in the same location.

Also, the mystery car is larger than most, indicating 17/64, so that tilts toward Mi-Loco or Min-I-Scale. The Mi-Locos did not have rivets, but we know that Min-I-Scale models did. Finally, the coupler looks very much like a Min-i-Scale coupler. I vote Min-I-Scale. The car should weigh well over one pound. My Min-I-Scale box cars weigh over two. I think Charlie is correct -- the split line has been expertly hidden.

Jim

[Carey Williams]

Hello all
Yes for Mini -Scale
I do not have a Mini - Scale tank ... but I have their hopper and box car...
solid stud to receive trucks, cast pins to restrict coupler swing ( note hopper has them removed)
I think Congress Tool & Die who cast the Mini -Scale line used a Zamac formula same as they used for their carburetors .

Good find

Cheers Carey

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