Freight car projects

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Reefers are a lot more fun:









Clover House dry transfers are even more fun!

[gregj410]

UP only used them for a handful of years, but they are unique in their build and size. These Beaver Creek cars are the only ones I found to be truly scale. There was an article in one of the magazines decades ago for converting a reefer to an express boxcar and the modeler did a great job. The express boxcars are shorter than a standard boxcar.

The came in many paint schemes from 1939 to 1955 when they were pretty much retired from passenger service. Years later UP came out with newer and longer express boxcars, but being a steam and transition era modeler they had no interest for me.

Well I can’t say I’m into scale fidelity however I can certainly appreciate fine models. I think I like that gray livery just as much. What were some of the other paint schemes that you mentioned?

[up148]

The 1st of the early express boxcars came out in 1939 when the UP was trying to capture all the express freight. Here is a link to an HO model on resource rails. Very attention getting paint scheme.

https://resourcedrails.com/products/ho- ... fp-no-9100

[sarge]

Reefers are a lot more fun:

Their much younger siblings here:



Weaver PFE mechanical, lowered to correct height, Kadee 70t roller bearing trucks, a bit of a weather...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

This started out as a plain wood box with a RR roof and nothing else....





Some ancient decals and bottle of Floquil to finish it followed by a rattle can of Matte Clear in the driveway. I do get some interesting looks from the neighbors,

[gregj410]

Forgot about that one. I can’t say I’m a fan and I believe I had/have that in the K line 3 rail version. Pricey in the HO version. Wow!

[up148]

Yeah, when they came out in the mid 90's there were $169 dealer cost for the O scale.....about $200 retail. I've seen them bring as much as $450 if museum quality, but have settled back down in the $300 range. I doubt mine are worth any more than high $100's in present condition. But, they are the only correct UP express boxcars available.

[bob turner]

Confusing. I thought you were talking about Martin's Banana car - which is beautiful. I would go for a more conventional door and ice hatch arrangement, but love the orange and the lettering.

[up148]

I'm not sure either Bob, but thought it was addressing the express boxcars. I've always loved the PFE Reefers in orange and everyone ran them. Actually, there are some pretty remarkable reefers in all colors from that era. Everything was so dirty and gray around steam engines that the colored paint schemes of the late 20's and up, really stood out and caught the eye (as intended) of possible shippers. Great era for railfanning modelers.

[bob turner]

I have a string of PFE reefers that are a pleasing shade of orange - not orange like this one



Rather, closer to Grande Gold with just a hint of red. Lobaugh PFE came in this color, yet I have no idea what it is called. I may have to mix it to duplicate. I think I have five cars this color, and sent one to Art about a half decade ago. Art and I agree it is a special color.

I think I have the PFE book - but meantime, anybody got any hints for me? I just got a Scalecraft and a Westbrook in the mail, and will shoot white primer on both in anticipation of finding the right color. The Athearn PFE is way too orange.

[sarge]

Bob, I'd approach it by mixing, myself, especially since you have Lobaugh sides to compare. Not having the material to hand, I'd try one of two approaches, one starting with your Grande gold and adding red a bit at a time to get the orange, having a few drops of white to hand in case it needs to be turned a bit "cold" and a couple of blue if it needs that odd olive cast that some reefer oranges have. The other would be to have an orange that's too orange, then lighten with either yellow to get a warm colour or white to get a colder one. The second would give you more leeway, I think.

I'd also suggest priming in light grey rather than white. The grey is more neutral behind yellow and orange.

I admit I mix colours by eye and probably do it all wrong, but I usually get there. It all started in my youth matching paint for the doors and ends to match printed sides in All-nation and Athearn kits, which all seem to have no consistency of boxcar colour whatsoever...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have a string of PFE reefers that are a pleasing shade of orange - not orange like this one

Just straight Reefer Orange.

[Dennis Holler]

I have that pfe book at home can take a look at what ever you are after and send you some photos. I also have a box full of the Lobaugh, and some Faber pfe reefers. Remember they did that chrome kind of yellow on the early ones then the later orange. I think a lot of my Scalecraft PFE cars are yellow as well. Will have to dig some out. I am in a perpetual mess state lately though with ceiling tiles down for re balencing a few wiring circuits in the house and being in the middle of replacing a bunch of shelves in the train room.

[Dennis Holler]

This Lobaugh PFE reefer looks a bit better in the photo than in person, not sure if it was factory built or not.



I'm reluctant to do much with these other than maybe try and clean them a little.

[Dennis Holler]

Here is the Lobaugh versus Faber comparison since we can assume Merle punched both sets of parts.

Not sure if these are the shades of Yellow/ Orange Bob was after or not but I always liked the earlier Yellow PFE cars, but I thought they evolved from Yellow to the early Orange shades in the 20's.... Guess I need to get that PFE book out and read it again lol.

Also interesting to note that the Faber ice hatches and ends are slightly different than the Lobaugh cars.