Hey Y'all, S.A. & A.P. 30' Flat 504 joins the revenue service. Updated under the 1911 Safety Act, the car which originally featured mechanical outside truck brakes and Janey Couplers, now is equipped with K brakes, foot stirrups on the car's right ends to supplant the proper safety requirements. She's been weathered to show her age. Her deck is dirty and worn. I need to add some random NBW's and a few bent railroad spikes in her to make it look worn and used more. I'm undecided about her load, but I put some of the feed sack stacks on her. She needs 7 more pallets of 17 sacks each which makes 119 more for a total of 204 sacks for delivery. She can still haul 'em even after 20+ years of service. Not bad for the ol' gal, huh? Manny
Looks great Manny! That old stuff is cool, thanks for adding the safety appliances, there are a bunch of trainmen glad about that. These weathering chalks are interesting, I have some Brandon weathering chalks, but have not used them very much as yet, I can see that I need to learn some more about that part of weathering. All those sacks, Brother makes my back hurt just thinking about loading that car, never mind the others coupled to it.|-| Tom Holley
Hey Tom, Thanks for the compliments. Actually, those are not weathering chalks. Those are all DebenLLC's Weathering Stains. I'm getting more and more used to working with them. Some is wet brushed. Some is dry brushed. Some is cleaned up with an alcohol wash. All together it makes the decking and the car look dirty. Best of all, they are permanent and not affected by Dull Cote, which I still need to do. As for the sacks, yeah, I feel ya! Scale Structures Ltd., makes octagon holding plates for straps. I'm going to order some and then tie the sacks down once the car is fully loaded. Should be interesting stuff. I need to get a scale though. The car half loaded with sacks adds some weight to the car. No worries about derailments because of lack of weight, that's for sure. I have about 5 more to make, then it's switching up to 34' cars. These are a blast to make. Now that I got all the kinks out, I can do one a week easy for sure. Manny
Yea sure a video would be great for sure Manny. I would like to see that. One thing that I have used in the past for metal straps is drafting tape, or tape for making charts and such. You can buy them in different widths and colors, still have a drawer full of them, very sticky too so they work good for our applications|-||-| Tom Holley
Didn't think of that. I was going to use tightly wound thread for rope in the proper color. I guess I should really look at period tie downs and what-not before I add them. I'd like to be periodically correct if possible.
Breaking News: MANNY GOES JANNEY! ... and my back started to hurt again just looking at all those feed sacks. Wonder if I can file a class action law suit against you? I do have a question regarding couplers on vintage Golden Age equiment in HO scale. I checked out out the Kadee coupler pages and it seems to me that their HOn3 couplers might come closer to the size of Janney couplers used on the equipment from this era. Please feel free to Tar & Feather me if you feel this is a negitive complaint which is isn't. Just wondering. Beautiful work, beautiful models! Show us more, show us more, show us more!!! Joe Toth
Hmmm.... HOn3 couplers. Interesting thought. Please refer all claims to the proper institution. Union Pacific that is...LOL. Thanks for the compliments guys. I'm enjoying doing these. Starting another one today. You're not lazy Jim. Just taking a respite is all. What's new on the Zalma?
Manny, After what Union Pacific did to the model railroad industry a few years ago I would be scared cabooseless to file a claim with them. They might do more than just tar and feather me...strap me to a crosstie, drive spikes through my hands and feet...hmmm, seems like another guy got this treatment about 2000 years ago...do you reckon UP was behind that deal too? The chariots were standard gauge they claim... Joe Toth
I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Union Pacific was like the Romans'. Now if you talk about the Southern Pacific because of their ruthlessness, destructiveness, and possessiveness, that's a different story, but in any event, I am sure glad that God sent His Son to pay for my (all of our) sins!
Working on another flat right now. Already got the body built. Working on the safety appliances right now!
Just a little curious, the handbrake, what did you use? I need that type on a few of my cars. I haven't been able to find the whole thing. The brake wheel, I have found, the staff and the assembly on the car is needed. What do some of you use? William Jackson
It is hard, very hard, to send a son to war and even more so if you loose him. Indeed, the price that the Son of God paid for all of our sins is hard to comprehend at times and the love God has for all human beings, past, present and future as well. No disrespect was intended for my comments regarding being spiked to a tie although I do deserve to be! Why did SP call themselves Friendly? Joe Toth
Hello William, The hand brake wheel assembly is Tichy 3003. It comes with four (4) brake wheels, flat car assemblies, and enough Phosphorus Bronze wire for the staffs. The staff's on the S.A. & A.P. are a scale 30", which equates to just a hair above 5/16". I hope this helps you and everyone else. Manny
Anyone who knows a little bit about the Southern Pacific and is unbiased knows of their corporate recklessness, greed, destructive behaviors, and ill treatment of their employees, especially those acquired through hostile acquisitions. That's all I've got to say about the SP. Manny
Flat Car 522 in progress. Decking done. Body done. Bolsters drilled, filled, tapped, installed. Needle beams will queenposts fitted. Now to start the safety appliances. Manny
Tichy, ok that's a lot of help. I will order a few. Great looking car, I have not built very many cars. Really, just starting in trying to build the really detailed cars Bill Jackson
You're welcome Bill. Tichy products are great! I really enjoy them. Check out Plano Model Products for different cut lever options (mostly newer cars). The advice I can offer you is have an HO Scale ruler, life size photograph to scale with, these two web-sites: Scale Calculator Decimal Inch Fractions Converter a note pad, or use notepad on your PC to record your measurements, a cold beverage of your choice, good music of your choice, relax, and have fun. Once you start building your own cars, and see how fun it is, you'll be hard pressed to buy a R-T-R, or leave a R-T-R alone! Manny
This is a good thread. I just looked at Tichy on the Walthers site. Several types, just what I was looking for. Please post your progress on this car. I am going to do some MOW tie down cars. I just got the Frisco/Katy book, what a treasure, the Burro crane (RL-038) was one that I was assigned to, just about the time of the photo. Pictured is the American Crane DL-919, I was assigned to the DL-920. I ran the Jordan Ditcher JD-003 many many miles. I will stay tuned to this thread. Bill Jackson
