Measurements over pulling faces or coupler lengths are usually off by a foot or so in HO scale because of the size and mounting of couplers for operational reliability.
If you can find a measurement to buffers, that's going to be easier to replicate.
The truck center-to-center is another good measurement. Sometimes there will also be a truck center to end of car measurement as well.
Eric
More photos here:
https://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2010/02/CPRHWBusinessCars.pdf
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=692704
BATMANHow long would this car be, is it measured from the trucks or car ends or coupler ends?
Your print shows "coupled" length. Presumably, the length with the buffers, thus the diaphragms, compressed. In many cases I see measurements of cars expressed as "between pulling faces" which would, of course, be the inside face of the coupler knuckle. Other times "over buffer plate" but this would be with the car standing and the buffer springs extended (there's really only 2-3 inches of spring compression at each diaphragm and buffer plate).
Regards, Ed
Good stuff, thanks guys. How long would this car be, is it measured from the trucks or car ends or coupler ends?
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
It's certainly not an exact match, and somebody's sure to chime in to point out the faults in the Rivarossi cars, but their heavyweight observation car could be a good starting point. New England Rail Services offers parts to change the windows on Rivarossi cars, some of which should be available through Walthers.The car itself, pre-owned, is usually easy to find at train shows, and can be had for ten bucks or less. Mine is pretty-much stock except for the paint and lettering, although I did plate-over a few of the windows...
Wayne
I have a penchant for running quite a few business cars on my layout. I like the ability to run them behind freights or passenger trains on occasion. There is a dire shortage of decent business cars in HO. With brass prices in the lower ranges, some business cars can be had for a reasonable cost, yet others will remain pretty dear.
IMG_5028_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
This is a Pecos River Santa Fe business car. I found it for a bit under $200 if I recall. I painted and lettered it as a "foobie" Big Four car.
Big4_business-car4 by Edmund, on Flickr
A model that is pretty prolific is the NKP Car Co. PRR Z74 business car. It can be found in the $100 range and they are a good stand-in for just about any railroad's HW car.
PRR_Z74-7505 by Edmund, on Flickr
I'm still in the process of lettering and detailing this car.
I begged Walthers to produce a U.S. No. 1 Ferdinand Magellan car but, so far, none are on the horizon. Overland made a few back in the late 1990s and they command a pretty hefty price:
IMG_8227_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
I'd really like to model the Conrail "OCS" cars and many of those are modernized heavyweight business cars. A bit of kit-bashing will have to be done to accomplish this. You might squeek by using a Walthers HW observation car and moodify the roof to give it a modernized profile. I believe Union Station Models has some roof ends and car parts available.
I have Business Car HO as one of my eBay "Saved Searches".
Good Luck, Ed
Here's another link and picture of the Van Horne.
Scroll down to the car.
Mike.
My You Tube
I would like to get a car in HO that is close to this one, note the round roof and back porch. Anyone direct me to a brand that is close?