Postwar items you can't have enough of?

[Jumijo]

The great thing about hoppers and gons is that you can load them up with heavy stuff. The old style wheels also offer more resistance. That means you can pull a shorter train, but a steamer needs more voltage to pull it, increasing its smoke output. If you have a small layout like mine, that's a good thing. Long trains don't look very good on a short layout. Looks like a snake chasing its tail!

Jim

[Anonymous]

I can't get enough of the 3459 and 3469 dump cars. Those puppies look awesome and work beautifullly. I have 3 - I want to see a train of 10 or 20 rolling on my pike! Then just pull them across an activated UCS track and dump 'em all one after the other! Go back for more. Woohoo![:D]

Old 2037

[Dr. John]

I have several of the Lehigh Valley hoppers in various colors, a few 6462 gondolas and Sunoco tank cars. I guess my favorite PW item is the 6464 boxcar. I always keep an eye open for them at train shows, ebay, etc.

[phillyreading]

I like the post-war Lehigh Valley quad hoppers, I fill mine with black aquarium stones & use the same aquarium stones around my layout as simulated coal from my steam locomotives that have lost coal from the tender. I have around 19 Lehigh Valley hoppers both 6476 & 6436, also a few NYC 6462 & 6162 gondolas. What I like about the post war cars is that the wheels turn separately from each other and not connected by an axle and with the engines there is no electronics to fry.
Lee Fritz

[jlrocks]

I agree with the post-war collecting. I am just getting started again and have not been to many train shows as yet. I grew up in South Dakota and the Milwaukee Road was our main line. I think that road is hard to find is it not? BTY--Frank--What an awesome layout.

[Jumijo]

How is it standing now, Frank? For some reason, I just assumed you secured it to the wall with double-sided tape.

Sounds like a lot of detail yet to be added. Can't wait to see the finished structure. You're a real craftsman, Frank. More than once, your modeling has inspired me. You're doing it again.

Jim

[Frank53]

thanks Jim.

I still have a great deal of detail work to do on it. Filling in some mifit cracks, leveling it and getting it to stand, building a sturdy base, etc.

I've selected the paint colors and am anxious to paint it. After painting, I have to do the detail painting - the window frames will all be a color, the window insets will all be painted concrete, the horizontal bars will all be painted an accent color, and the rock work beneath the loading dock level needs to be done - not to mention the mortar lines.

I've made the signage, but then I also have to make all of the light boxes for illuminating different sets of windows and run all the light work. The roof sign will be illuminated, and I have to build a roof, probably from foamcore.

I also have to build a loading dock - 2.5" wide x 29" long. This will be made from wood strips - one at a time - four to an inch - 116 total.

Then, Mrs is going to make some sillohuettes for some windows, and I have to individually cut the acetate for teh 147 windows. The ones without sillouhettes will have mylar spray glued to teh back of the acetate and applying one by one with scotch cloudy tape for more opacity.

Soooo, while it looks like it's far a long - there is a long way to go.

[Jumijo]

I'm with you guys. I love postwar rolling stock. The gondolas and the hoppers are my favorites. I was at a show a little over a week ago and bought a bunch of these for $5 each. I passed on a Reading hopper and a non-whistle SF tender, but don't ask me why. I could have redone the tender as a B&M. Like Frank, I'd like to gather up some Lehigh Valley hoppers. I'd fill them with aquarium filter charcoal. It makes perfect scale coal.

Frank, that factory/warehouse structure is just incredible. and it looks right at home behind that excellent retaining wall. Great job!

Jim

[Frank53]

Well, now I know why it is getting harder to find mupltiples of post war freight - you bought them all!





I am trying to do the same thing with obviously Pennsy, New York Central orange operating freight cars, and New Haven in all color schemes, Lehigh Valley Hoppers and NYC Gondolas mixing the different available colors.



I am also trying to pick up some post war green railway express agency freight.

[Munster518]

For me as a postwar Fanatic, I find myself buying doubles, triples of certain items example: 6465 Tank cars, 6462 NYC gondolas, and recenlty I can't help myself in buying bunches of the 6356 NYC stockcars. I guess my plan is to have a nice looking postwar freight with all the same rolling stock. I always thought postwar trains look great with all of the same type of cars behind them. Does anyone else feel the same way, or am I the only one, thanks[:D][8D][:)].

John