Model Train Journal

Rest of the underbody installed.....in both cars.

The underbody wires/turnbuckles are there to strengthen the frame? Keep the car ends in place?

Very nice work. I think I might be a bit too ham-fisted to attempt something like that.

healey36 wrote:The underbody wires/turnbuckles are there to strengthen the frame? Keep the car ends in place?

Truss rods were for strengthening and keeping the cars from sagging & square; could adjust tension with turnbuckles the truss rods were anchored through the car ends.

Very nice work. I think I might be a bit too ham-fisted to attempt something like that.

Thanks! It's all a bit fiddly but beats the horror of a naked underbody,

Closing in on it. Still some details left. Contemplating a light over the side door. I love night time lighting

Very nice detail, Greg.

One Gon done......

Very nice gon; what did you use for the load? Kind of looks like cat litter or sweeping compound such as Speedi-Dri.

J. S. Bach wrote:Very nice gon; what did you use for the load? Kind of looks like cat litter or sweeping compound such as Speedi-Dri.

The leftovers of the ballast mix that's on my layout - Woodland Scenics.....

I have never bought any commercial ballast products so I did not recognize it.

J. S. Bach wrote:I have never bought any commercial ballast products so I did not recognize it.

Like I stated leftovers.......from a long time ago when the track went down......and unlike over on OGR where there's a ballast thread every other week.

Bit of blue foam, a bit of sheet lead, some painter's tape, leftover ballast, and some Woodland Scenics matte medium, and there's a load for a gondoal that way too light otherwise.

I had 2 of my real coal load gondolas at Strasburg for a few hours before they went home with someone else.

Next 2 I think I'll keep; these 2 maybe not.

They look good to me. I've bought lots of "ballast" over the years, but have never used any of it on the layout. I've used most of it for basing model figures for wargames.

Do you leave road-name assignment/serialization for the buyer?

healey36 wrote:They look good to me. I've bought lots of "ballast" over the years, but have never used any of it on the layout. I've used most of it for basing model figures for wargames.

I've used a fair amount of the leftover ballast for scenery and in loads to make it go away - since it was a mix of 3-4 types that I put in a container I'm sort of stuck with it, although maybe if I take it all to Strasburg in Aug it will go home with someone else............

Do you leave road-name assignment/serialization for the buyer?

Not for these cars; some stuff I leave painted and unlettered so as to let the new owner DIY job and put whatever they want on it.

Next 2 will be specific for lettering. In fact, the lettering will be a determining factor in their build.

And, now this one is done, too.

Another completed gondola car....

Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, the “Big Four”, learn something every day. Looks very sharp.