Frisco 42' Flat Car is now on sale...

Can't wait to get mine.

Bob Hoover (friscofriend) said that the yellow and the side lettering was perfect and he is real picky. He must have received his already. Glad to hear that.

If you have not ordered yours yet, I recommend you save some $$ and get at least one. These things were as ubiquitous as the 40' box with the "Ship IT on the Frisco!" logo. They were everywhere on the Frisco.

 

Ordered two for me today. I remember seeing some around here in MOW service long after the big green took over. I think I have shots of a couple.

John Chambers

 

Am anxiously awaiting release of the kit version; I prefer to "roll my own."

I intend to order at least two. One of them will be built into a loaded coil car like the one featured elsewhere on the forum.

 

Mike !

The flat cars arrived yesterday and they look great. I like the yellow color (slightly faded, I think) which should weather well. Also like the razor sharp lettering. Think I will stick with the new deck color for the time being. Not a bad shade of tan that represents wood fairly well.

The cars may be a little light, forgot to weigh them last night. No matter as I can add weight to the underside of the car. I use the automotive weights from NAPA that have he two sided tape on them. They need to be cut down a little to fit in between the cross members.

What is the next project? Billboard 52' gondolas? PCF Reefers (222xxx, 333xxx series)? 1400/1700 series cabooses? 50' plug door box cars?

 

In my honest opinion the wood decks make the car! A side by side comparative picture is almost astonishing. Sure the plastic is OK, but the real ones had wood and that is mostly what the eye sees.

 

Intermountain does have the shell for the ACF 2 Bay Centerflow and if it is the car that I am thinking of they did produce it back in their kit only days and it had the old roofwalks that were not photo etched. Also, someone, either Intermountain or Athearn is nw making an Airslide hopper that may be a possibility.
The best idea for the modern era modeler is Rick's yellow boxcar but as he mentioned no one has yet to make a die for it. Another thought that I have always had would be to get Kadee to make a modern version of the 40' PS1 with the short ladders, no roofwalk, and large coonskin.

 

A few thoughts on cars that are already in the market . . . .

1. Ertl Dbl Sheathed Box Car - The Ertl car body is pretty nice and would be my preference over the Accurail car. I have never heard of anyone dealing with Ertl but I am sure the tool is sitting on a shelf somewhere is China. We SLSF modelers of the 40s/50s need a lot of these. Six to ten road numbers is a good start OR six road numbers and an unnumbered.

2. Proto 2000 52' gondola in FRISCO billboard lettering - The car has been released before but not in this paint scheme. Modelers in the 60s and 70s will need a bunch of these cars.

3. Athearn 40' Vans - Not sure that the current (and former A-Line/Milepost Hobbies) van is an exact Frisco prototype BUT two or three paint schemes would be FANTASTIC not to mention modelers of other railroads would need these as well. Not just for Frisco modelers. I think this would have a large appeal, especially if we did
a. Pigs Are Beautiful
b. White van, red herald
c. "Ship IT on the Frisco" reefers
And did them all in two numbers, maybe an unnumbered. Please do not consider the old Athearn Van with all the grabs on the front. Bad protoype for us Frisco nerds.

4. The new Athearn Boom Truck in yellow with a red Frisco coonskin on the door. I saw these yesterday and almost got a Rock Island version. Not sure of the prototype, just really liked them.

5. Exact Rail makes a low side 4427 covered hopper that (I think) is the same hopper in the SLSF 813xx series. I really need my book for this one but if someone could check, I think the Exact Rail car is the Frisco car. These might be a little pricey BUT we only go around once in life so let's live. SIX NUMBERS FOR ME !!!!!! Pass the peanut butter. . . .

OK that is all for now.

 

I think I still have several of these in kit form and they had etched metal roofwalks . . .