I am posting this thread for 2 reasons: 1. To show case the amassing job Rick McClellan did putting these hoppers together. 2. To compare them to the RTR version of the car. Some things I noticed: All the detailing Rick put on was right on with the RTR car. The boxes look like these were an earlier release. The kits are a little liter shade of gray, and solid color, the RTR car is darker with the hopper bottom part black. Pictures below.
Nice work! Those are fun kits to build, especially compared to the NSC 4650cf cylindrical hopper kits. I'd like to see Intermountain come out with one of these Pullman cars in green with white SLSF reporting marks. I wouldn't mind doing a couple for myself, but I have no idea where I'd get the white decals.
I am in the beginning stages of repainting a bunch of these from Green to Grey Frisco cars. I have found that using baking soda and an Paasche air eraser will take the white ink off the sides of these cars and not hurt the plastic details. But it takes the reporting marks and all of pretty slick, and its cheap, with no hazmat, then simply wash the car with soap and water prime it, then painted them Grey Trying to locate the FRISCO font on the sides. I come pretty close but have not found that font yet. Perhaps one of you know where I can get it. Thanks, Tom Holley
I'm glad I ran across this thread today. I have done some poking around since and found this article by Ken Edmier: http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/162/11738/august-2003-page-20 He indicates that he used an Oddballs set along with Microscale UP style lettering for the reporting marks. I did some digging around on the Microscale site and found the same lettering set available in white, so I guess it is possible to do the plain green hoppers after all. All you'd need is a basic white lettering set for a PS 4750 and a sheet of the white UP style alphabet. I may have to do a couple of these now!
Thanks Bob, I have emailed him waiting on his reply, Tom Stolte has been great to help me in the past a few times with decal issues. I have done the work of making the decal artwork but cannot find that particular font for the sides of these grain cars. I have gotten very close but If I am going thru all this, I would like to do it as close to right as I can. Just that one stinkin font, if someone knows the name of the font maybe I can google it. Regards Tom Holley
