Good Evening, Starting a new thread here. Chris Gobert an I have been researching the 40-foot Frisco Refrigerator Lines (FRL) cars, with the goal of producing a decal set and selecting a good model or scratch build. This thread will contain my, and possibly Chris's, attempts at a build and hopefully collect some input from the Frisco Nation. As with the several FRISCO System and FRISCO billboard cars, if we are satisfied with the outcome, we will have decal sets printed by Precision Design Company and make them available to the group.
My first attempt will be to modify this Atlas model, using it as a base. I purchased this model from Mark Twain Hobbies in St. Louis. I will pull off some of the safety equipment, and move the stirrups by the doors. Tahoe Model Works offers ACF arch bar trucks, on order. It will need a different, truss-rod underframe. There is a related tutorial available from a mini-kit offering of Resin Car Works. Link to related tutorial is below. http://resincarworks.com/extras/instructions_mini-kit2-01_FGEXrb.pdf Short of scratch building, the car should serve as a pretty good stand-in when modified. Wish us luck, Bob T.
Looks like a fun build. I am surprised the refrigerators do not include a coonskin on the side somewhere.
Apparently, the rebuilds did. This one will represent the earliest scheme, though. I think I can print most of the decals myself for that version.
Over the past couple nights, I removed ladders, the lettering, and heralds (mostly) from the Atlas car. Who is lucky now!? I added the Tahoe Model Works archbar trucks as well. In a rare instance of things going my way, I examined the underbody of the car and the center steel beam and brakes came right off. It would have been nice if the slots lined right up with prototype's 7-foot spacing between cross-beams for the queen-posts, but they are about 10-feet apart. I am debating the trade out for an Accurail underbody or just modifying this one. Stay tuned. Bob T.
This weekend, I added the grab irons (and rivets) on one side to work on the spacing. I used the BLMA jig that has a ~18-inch spacing and some fine wire 18-inch grabs. Need to go back and fill a couple of holes that were mis-starts. I masked just the side and used liquid mask on the hinges and black below the doors (globs there still in photo). The paint is "insignia white" from Tamiya, which has just a hint of gray. The underframe mod is started and I made a single truss rod (of the 6 needed) to check the fit and dimensions. I think there is enough clearance to have the connection closer to the bolsters. Often there is a trade there with the dimensions of the scale model and clearances. The final truss rods will be made of a jewelry makers line vs the 0.125 wire that is shown here. Just getting a feel for layout. The brake rigging will go in first (K-brake) and then will get them all strung. Time to use the measurements for decal dimensions.... Take Care All, -Bob T.
A little more progress. Had some time yesterday evening and this morning to string up the truss rods, install (if you squint and don't think about the physics too hard) a K-Brake rigging, and prime up the underframe. I will need to lift up the car on the bolsters with a washer (sitting kind of low). Over the next few days, I'll install the 10^3 ladder grabs, paint the sides and get some draft decals on this baby. I'll show it in some (other) forums where I can be informed of my mistakes and then make a better one.... LoL. Oh yeah and couplers and replace the air lines. Take care all, -Bob T.
Inspired by the Hindsight 20/20 presentations this weekend, I am going to push ahead on this FRL project. Thanks to all who helped me find data last week, and I could use a little more expertise from the group. It is a bash of a later Atlas refrigerator car with a modified underframe and ladder grabs replacing ladders on the available model. Not going to be a prize winner, but I will follow up from what I learned here. The car still needs some clean up of details before I go to PDC for a custom decal set, but I will need at least a PLAUSIBLE set of lettering by the doors. I guessed the left of the door is an ACF logo of some sort, I have no idea of what is to the right. Post No Advertisements? A patent label of some sort? The far end of the side is car dimensions, I am pretty sure. I am not quite sure what would be on the end above the coupler. If you have something comparable or experience you could lend, it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.
OK, a partial answer thanks to Christopher Gobert. The lettering above the coupler reads: N.Y. AIR BRAKE METAL BRAKE BEAM CARDWELL FRICTION DRAFT GEAR SIMPLEX COUPLER SHANK 5X7 YOKE ATTACHMENTS
On the same photograph of FRL 433 the build date appears to be 2 4 1912 and is situated like this: FRL 433 CAP'Y 60000 MAG WT 45600 2 4 2012 Notes: This build date would correspond to what we know from the 1925 employees magazine article about delivery of these units (1912 and 1913). Second, note that MAG could be MAD or MAO but it is hard to tell and none of these makes sense to me. I would think it would be MAX but that is not what I see. Third, note that on the builders photograph of FRL 1010 this number appears to be 45100. But on the photograph of FRL 433 it is pretty clearly 45600. The square block you see to the left of the door on the builders photograph of FRL 1010 appears to have a circle with an X in it. Like @ or (c) but a circle with an x. Below that is the builders name and it reads like this: American Car & Foundry Co. Builder Chicago, Ill I am not certain it is Chicago but it is clearly Illinois. To the right of the door appears to be the standard safety appliance inscription but I am still working on that and on the dimensional data to the far right.
The dimensional data at the far lower right end might say: HGT AT EAVES 12FT 3 7/8IN WTH AT EAVES 9FT 8 3/4IN LGH INSIDE 33FT 0IN WTH INSIDE 8FT 4IN BETWEEN ICE BUNKERS 2062 CUFT But damn it's hard to read.
Thanks @Jim James ! Chris has hunted down details for the lettering details. As soon as I am home, I'll work up an improved set (these are not locked down in the photo). @Chris Gobert , any chance you can estimate the letter height, or the dimension of the block of letters? I assume they are some sort of roman font. I think that the lettering under the weight might be MRC Wt (Merchandise Weight) . I have seen this on other cars (not FRL, though).
MRC WT makes sense. It looks more like MAC WT though. I was not familiar with the abbreviation. Note that the T in WT appears to be capitalized. Yes the letters are a roman font. Afraid I would not be able to estimate height or dimension. But below I attach a site of AC&F builders photos for your perusal, you might be able to find something comparable. Be careful, it is addicting. https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/26299195578/in/album-72157649155982802/
Maybe it is "MAD WT" for Madison, Ill. The gondolas built in Detroit say "DET WT". Thoughts, @Chris Gobert
