I bought a string of these Pullman heavyweight passenger cars (HO scale) earlier this year. However, some of the cars are missing some of the vents along the roof (the triangular "boxes" you see here). I can't quite figure out from the Walthers catalog or website if any of their parts are the right ones. Can anyone identify any manufacturer of the part and a part number?
Thanks!
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Branchline Trains kit? Branchline is no more but someone else carries their parts. Atlas?
Victor A. Baird
www.erstwhilepublications.com
That looks like it might be an old Walthers wood and metal kit? Or, maybe JC Silversides. At any rate, if it is, and those are cast metal vents, good luck. Bethlehem Car Works/Kit Bits (http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/Products/Kit_Bits/index.html#Car Sides, Ends, Doors, Roofs, & Windows) has some garland vents that might work, although they are more detailed than the old Walthers cast ones. Alternatively, are any of the vents loose enough that you can remove them from the roof (maybe with some gentle prying?) If so, you can use Aquriam Sealant/Silicon Caulk to make a mold of the part, and then cast replacements using five minute epoxy.
Glue the vent onto a piece of wax paper with super glue. Coat it with silicon spray. Cover it with the silicon glue. Wait for it to dry (I usually wait a week just to be sure). Gently remove the part from the mold. Mix up some epoxy gently to avoid air bubbles, place into the mold using a toothpick, working it into all the corners, and turn the mold upside down onto a piece of wax paper. Let the epoxy cure for an hour, and remove the new part.
In case you are concerned about copy-write, since these parts are no longer available, and the copies are for personal use, there should not be an issue.
Greg
[quote user="Oakhurst Railroad Engineer"]
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Thanks. I think they may be old Walthers kits. These are the 2 vents that look closest but are not exact matches:
http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/Products/Kit_Bits/images/item_256.jpg
http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/Products/Kit_Bits/images/74-Garland%20Arch%20Roof%20Vent-Metal.jpg
I think I'll buy one of each and try them out. Since I'm replacing some random ones that apparently have fallen off and been lost, the mismatch is going to show.
I've never tried making molds and casting, but that is definitely possible. How about 3-D printing? Or are these parts just too small?
Oakhurst Railroad EngineerI think I'll buy one of each and try them out. Since I'm replacing some random ones that apparently have fallen off and been lost, the mismatch is going to show.
Why not choose the car which has the most vents missing, then strip-off the remainder and use them to re-equip the other cars? You can then use the slightly different new ones to complete the donour car.
Wayne
Good idea Wayne. I'll give it a try. Success depends on how hard it is to snap them off.