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BN Hoppers (435000-435024 and 435100-435114)

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  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,251 posts
BN Hoppers (435000-435024 and 435100-435114)
Posted by FRRYKid on Thursday, June 14, 2018 9:32 PM

OK, forum friends yet another need for assistance from the group with the two series of car mentioned. I have the three Walthers cars that were produced for those number series. Problem: They are the wrong color. They were produced in cascade green. The color according to this picture appears to be gray. http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=bn435027&o=bn (Yes, this site is a non-membership site.)

I have found a couple of other images of these cars that show these cars in active service. (From a membership site.) My questions are these: 1) What is the correct gray for these cars? 2) In HO scale what is/are the correct decal set(s)? 3) What is the best trucks for these cars? (The stock trucks are solid bearing rather than the roller bearing that is correct.)

As usual, thank you for any assistance that can be provided.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
  • 10,616 posts
Posted by dehusman on Thursday, June 14, 2018 10:29 PM

Don't have any idea, but you have to look for green cars, the BN could have easily repainted some of the grey cars to green.

There are pix of 440000 and 450000 series cars in green.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
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Posted by NHTX on Friday, June 15, 2018 2:01 AM

    From what I could find, BN painted most of their older, smaller capacity covered hoppers grey with black lettering, but, you never say never when you are dealing with a railroad.  Since we no longer have Floquil, I prefer Testors enamels.  One thing I refuse to obsess over is an exact color match because I weather everything so what's the point?  Also, who can pinpoint the exact color of the car in the photo when it was newly applied?  For covered hoppers (AAR class LO) I am very happy with Testors 1730, flat gull gray FS36440, for aircraft.  For decals, Microscale set 87-252 is for BN grey LOs, but it might not be a bad idea the have set 87-1335 for Western Fruit Express/Burlington Northern Fruit Express reefers if you need different sized heralds or large Burlington Northern lettering.  For trucks, I'd consider Athearn Genesis G4599 70ton roller bearing trucks with 33 inch wheels.  One thing about freight cars and their trucks.  They are not married to each other.  There's no law that requires every car in a series to have the same trucks, as long as the capacity of the truck is sufficient for the capacity stencilled on the car.  Since you have three cars, one of the may have been re-trucked with Athearn Genesis G4598s to add interest to these cars.  I hope this helps!

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,251 posts
Posted by FRRYKid on Friday, June 15, 2018 7:30 PM

dehusman

Don't have any idea, but you have to look for green cars, the BN could have easily repainted some of the grey cars to green.

There are pix of 440000 and 450000 series cars in green.

I have been unable to find any evidence of these series of cars being painted in green.

The referenced series are not the same type of car as the ones that I have.

NHTX

    From what I could find, BN painted most of their older, smaller capacity covered hoppers grey with black lettering, but, you never say never when you are dealing with a railroad.  Since we no longer have Floquil, I prefer Testors enamels.  One thing I refuse to obsess over is an exact color match because I weather everything so what's the point?  Also, who can pinpoint the exact color of the car in the photo when it was newly applied?  For covered hoppers (AAR class LO) I am very happy with Testors 1730, flat gull gray FS36440, for aircraft.  For decals, Microscale set 87-252 is for BN grey LOs, but it might not be a bad idea the have set 87-1335 for Western Fruit Express/Burlington Northern Fruit Express reefers if you need different sized heralds or large Burlington Northern lettering. 

I won't be doing much weathering as the service date shown on the picture that I have is in the range that I model. I will be keeping those suggestions in mind as I start to find all these needed parts. However...

NHTX

For trucks, I'd consider Athearn Genesis G4599 70ton roller bearing trucks with 33 inch wheels.  One thing about freight cars and their trucks.  They are not married to each other.  There's no law that requires every car in a series to have the same trucks, as long as the capacity of the truck is sufficient for the capacity stencilled on the car.  Since you have three cars, one of the may have been re-trucked with Athearn Genesis G4598s to add interest to these cars.  I hope this helps!

One of the pictures of these cars that I have shows that the capacity of these cars is 197000 lbs. If I'm not mistaken, that would lead me to think that they should be riding on 100 ton trucks and 36" wheels. (No solid bearing truck that I'm aware of had that capacity.)

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Saturday, June 16, 2018 1:56 AM

   I amend my suggestion on trucks to Athearn Genesis 4597 or Kadee 569 or 1569 (code 88 wheelsets).  I was going from the capacity of the car pictured in your post.  If the Testors 1730 flat gull grey is too light, you might take a look at Testors 1726 light sea grey.  BN painted some of their LOs a slightly darker grey with a brownish look to it.

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,251 posts
Posted by FRRYKid on Saturday, June 16, 2018 8:05 PM

NHTX

For decals, Microscale set 87-252 is for BN grey LOs, but it might not be a bad idea the have set 87-1335 for Western Fruit Express/Burlington Northern Fruit Express reefers if you need different sized heralds or large Burlington Northern lettering. 

I finally took the opportunity to research those sets. From looking at the pictures online, I will need both sets. (Probably 2 of both.) The 1355 set has the proper split lettering while the 252 doesn't. I can't read the weight decals but I can always improvise if needed. (It wouldn't be the first projecct I've improvised with the decals.)

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Saturday, June 16, 2018 9:23 PM

FRRYKid
 
NHTX

For decals, Microscale set 87-252 is for BN grey LOs, but it might not be a bad idea the have set 87-1335 for Western Fruit Express/Burlington Northern Fruit Express reefers if you need different sized heralds or large Burlington Northern lettering. 

 

(It wouldn't be the first projecct I've improvised with the decals.)

 Microscale also makes a lot of data sets that may also be of interest to you.  Its refreshing to find someone who isn't afraid of decals and individualizes his rolling stock.  I model cars I have photographed during the 1980s.  Enjoy your project!

    

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,251 posts
Posted by FRRYKid on Sunday, June 17, 2018 6:11 PM

I discovered that I have a 193 set that should meet the need for the dimensional data. (As I recall, it was something that was purchased in error, but now it seems to have come into need.)

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.

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