I am looking for a suggestion on a book or website that will have some directions or tips on building your own prototype HO hoppers.
Can someone please give me some suggestions?
Not sure of the prototype or era you're after, but there was a 2-article series in Model Railroading in Feb & March 1996 that described how to scratchbuild Ortner 3-bay rapid discharge hoppers. Here are links to the online articles:
http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/414/30362/february-1996-page-32
http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/415/30454/march-1996-page-44
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
KCNWI am looking for a suggestion on a book or website that will have some directions or tips on building your own prototype HO hoppers.
Are we talking open hoppers or covered hoppers?
I don't remember any such information out there for open hoppers, but that's not to say there isn't. I have seen a couple articles where they might have plans for hoppers, and maybe some information as to possible stand-in models.
For covered hoppers, I remember some magazine articles where slicing and dicing of existing models was described.
If I may ask, are you interested in some specific prototype for which you cannot find an available, reasonably accurate model?
On Amazon I was able to purchase a book, "How To Build 20 Railroad Models" by Frank Taylor. It has a great article on hopper car construction. It was published by Kalmbach with an original copyright date of 1941; my copy is a 1953 reprint. You might try Amazon or your local library. Good luck!
Partial list of Model Railroader Magazine articles from search of 75 Year DVD.
How to Build Hopper Cars - June 1939 - construction article
Hopper Cars -March 1945 - Survey of open lopper car types
ACF Covered Hopper - August 1952 - plan
Airslide Covered Hopper - January 1961 - construction article
Alcan tank-hopper car - February 1962 - plan
Lets Build an Alcan Hopper - May 1962 - construction article
Building an Early Steel Hopper Car - May 1963 - construction article
30 ton Timber Ore Car - February 1966 - construction article
Articulated Hopper Car - March 1967 - plan & photos
Genesee & Wyoming Salt Car - February 1968 - construction article
Pullman-Standard 125 ton Covered Hopper Car - February 1974 - plan
Riveted Steel Covered Hopper Car - August 1975 - construction article
The Sterlingworth Steel Hopper Car - January 1978 - construction article
Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car part 1 - November 1978 - construction article
Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car part 2 - December 1978 - construction article
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
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