Thanks for all your responses guys. I live in Central Mississippi and we don't have many (if any) swap meets. However I am willing to travel (Hey Rioad Trip!!!)
Also I may just try to modify some older smaller hoppers (should be fun) ..... KCS runs by my house and they just built a new classification and intermodal yard, so I see hundreds of these cars pass full and empty every day. I can't believe some manufacturer hasn't picked up on this.....
I'll keep looking at ebay but not for 40 bucks, and plan a road trip or two. Visits to out of town hobby shops have proven fruitful as well. Got one there for the original $17.95 price. Maybe some historical society will offer some. L&N, ACL, Seaboard, Southern and KCS historical societies, are you listening? hint? hint?
I found myself in a bit of a war with some other bidders for those hoppers several years ago. They arent made anymore that I know of and I had to drop out of the savage bidding at 60 dollars for 5, the auction closed at about 150- if memory serves. Vicious little sniper war that was settled within 35 seconds of auction end. I was in in at 20 dollars and out at 60 dollars with 18 seconds to go. To see it at 150- and all done 4 page refreshes later.
whew.
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
Go to the better swap meets and you'll see folks selling stuff from the recent (and distant) past at much more reasonable prices. As for Ebay, that wood chip hopper is still cheaper than the corn flake shaped (somewhat) like the State of Illinois that sold, if memory serves, for four figures!
Dave Nelson
Can't help you much in the area of the hoppers, but I feel the same way about the log cars, skeleton or beam style. I can't believe how much they sell for and how fast they get scarfed up. If there are any model company reps in the audience, take note. I think this is an indicator of how few there are available for reasonable$$ kit or RTR purchase. Perhaps a business opportunity??
Good luck.
I like the 7000 cu ft woodchip hoppers, the ones produced by Walthers in 2003. They are somewhat outside my era (1945 - 1959). they were'nt produced until '71 or '74. I even like the older Hoppers that railroads modified with higher sides and end panels. Of course I missed them then (they were on my wish list) A lot of people have them advertized on their websites and don't realize that they are sold out. I've looked everywhere. I've been trying to get a few off ebay but the price keeps going to high. They sold originally for $17 and change, $34 something for a 2 pack. The last one (single car) I bid on and lost sold for $40.00.
If you don't believe me check out the link. I wish walthers would make them again. I don't care for the more modern ones. (EC shops, LBF). Any thoughts? Think I cound get 2 older smaller hoppers and and cut the top 1 1/2 inches off one and put in the top of the other like the one in the second link? Or could i fake it with an athearn 5 bay rapid discharge hopper?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEBTOX:IT&item=160220636504&_trksid=p3984.cTODAY.m238.lVI
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=280210858877&_trksid=p3984.cWAT.m240.lVI