This one is for the GN modeleres of the group. If someone were to model any of the cars of the 27000-27799 series (using the Tichy 10085 set), what would be the best car in HO scale to use as a base? (example http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/gn/gn27670d19.jpg) My thinking would be an Athearn 40' BB box, but if anyone has better ideas let me know. Thank you as usual for reading my post and for any assistance that can be provided.
Tichy makes a model of that car...
...which represents a USRA single sheathed boxcar, like this one (also a Tichy kit)....
....after it was re-sheathed with steel.
The main giveaway is the short lengths of the external bracing of the original car, which show at the bottom of the steel sheathing.The Athearn Blue Box car could be acceptable for the re-done version, but it doesn't have that tell-tale bracing and its ends don't match those used on the USRA cars, which were similar to those on this car...
I believe that Atlas offers a r-t-r version of the rebuilt car.
Wayne
FRRYkid, in my files is an article by Jim Sandrin that appeared in the October 1995 issue of Mainline Modeler magazine, on building a rebuilt GN boxcar of the 27000-27799 series. Mr. Sandrin used what was known in 1995 as an Athearn 5230 double sheathed wood boxcar kit, replacing the ends with Detalis Associates 6235 4/5 dreadnaught ends and building six panel sides from sheet styrene. The sides are the deal breakers as far as using Tichy or Atlas cars which have only four panels instead of six. Also, the Tichy cars have flat panel roofs while GN used a raised panel "Murphy" roof. GN St. Cloud shops took cars originally built in 1937-1942 and rebuilt them in 1960-61. There were still 647 of them working for BN in grain traffic in 1974.
doctorwayne Tichy makes a model of that car... ...which represents a USRA single sheathed boxcar, like this one (also a Tichy kit).... ....after it was re-sheathed with steel. The main giveaway is the short lengths of the external bracing of the original car, which show at the bottom of the steel sheathing.
The main giveaway is the short lengths of the external bracing of the original car, which show at the bottom of the steel sheathing.
Would this be the undecorated version of the first car? https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/ho_freight-car-kits/p/4028/Default.aspx
NHTX FRRYkid, in my files is an article by Jim Sandrin that appeared in the October 1995 issue of Mainline Modeler magazine, on building a rebuilt GN boxcar of the 27000-27799 series. Mr. Sandrin used what was known in 1995 as an Athearn 5230 double sheathed wood boxcar kit, replacing the ends with Detalis Associates 6235 4/5 dreadnaught ends and building six panel sides from sheet styrene.
FRRYkid, in my files is an article by Jim Sandrin that appeared in the October 1995 issue of Mainline Modeler magazine, on building a rebuilt GN boxcar of the 27000-27799 series. Mr. Sandrin used what was known in 1995 as an Athearn 5230 double sheathed wood boxcar kit, replacing the ends with Detalis Associates 6235 4/5 dreadnaught ends and building six panel sides from sheet styrene.
I might have to find a copy of that Mainline Modeler magazine.
might have an extra copy , if not i can scan the artical and send it to you . here is a link to photo of a 277** http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/gn/gn27737g06.jpg .
FRRYKidWould this be the undecorated version of the first car? https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/ho_freight-car-kits/p/4028/Default.aspx
As far as I know, all of Tichy's cars are available only as undecorated kits, and yes, that undecorated kit is similar to the one which I used for the CNR car.
However, after reading NHTX's post, I went back and realised that the photo in your first link was not of a re-built USRA boxcar, but rather a later car, built in the late '30s and early '40s. The Tichy sides are correct for a re-built USRA boxcar, but not for the six-panel GN car, and the Tichy ends on the re-built car are 1-5-5-5 Youngstown ends, an older design different from those on the GN car. However, Tichy's re-built car does have a raised panel Murphy-style roof.
I found several photos of GN double sheathed boxcars (wood sheathing) that show a similar pattern of truss ends below the sheathing, and while they were also built in the same 1937-42 timeframe mentioned by NHTX, the number series was from 45000 to 52999, a total of 8,000 cars. Other than the wood sheathing, the dimensions are similar to those of the 1937 AAR cars, even though they're based on the 1925 ARA design for double sheathed boxcars.
As NHTX mentions, you could use the Athearn model of the double sheathed wood car, changing the ends and use .010" sheet styrene to add the six panels on both sides of the doors. That would also allow you to get rid of the oversize door tracks needed for working doors.
I am having a time finding the needed Athearn car. Does anyone know if there are any other manufacturers' cars that would fit the bill (that aren't outrageously priced)?
I'll watch for that Athearn car at my LHS, as they often get estate lots, and such cars are usually under $10.00. Are you planning on doing just a single car, or do you want more than one?
I don't have an LHS where I am. (Most of my hobby purchases are IHS - Internet Hobby Shop.) I have a search setup on a certain auction site, however. Given that these cars were basically grain cars, i was only thinking about one as I have plenty of grain cars in one form or another.
I'll let you know if I find one.
The Great Northern Historical Society sold exclusive models of some of these cars. It is an Intermountain 12 panel car. I have 27064 in my collection. It is not accurate, the roof, ends and side sills are incorrect. The roof and ends can be replaced with Intermountain 1937 AAR parts. That is easy with Intermountain because the ends and roofs are separate pieces. The side sills could be fixed with styrene. The only issue then is that because GN rebuilt the originals from a truss side car, the panel sides sit proud of the ends and roof. This could be fixed also if you wanted to move the side of the car out slightly.
Lee
if you are not a rivet counter Athearn kit #1223 is a GN car # 27024 , the only thing its a 5 panal side not 6.think i have one in box of 40 ft boxes will dig it out to check paint. should look like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Great-Northern-40-Box-Car-Athearn/113099991207?hash=item1a5548e8a7:g:ay4AAOSwDrVbAeBg i think.