Home made log cars?

[dragenrider]

I was examining the frame of an HO 40ft box car when the thought occurred to me that if I did a little tinkering and added upright poles I'd have a dandy log car. Has anyone else made their own and how did it turn out? Can you post some pictures?

Also, I know that someone, somewhere makes the log bunks that you can place on a flat car to convert it to log hauling. Anyone know where I can get those?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like something that is possible to do. MDC/Roundhouse used to have in their "3 in 1" kits one that used their tank car metal chassis to make shorter log cars.

Details West makes (or used to make) metal log bunks for flat cars. I have a few of them, but they are not in the original package so I cannot give you the part number. Check the Walthers web site.

Bob Boudreau

[GN-Rick]

I use Tichy tank car underframes (available separately-at least they were)
to make my own skeleton cars. The advantage of these is that they come
with a complete K brake set-except for rods and piping. I don't (at the moment)
have any pics to post. Maybe later.

[jsoderq]

Mnay moons ago I made plenty, using brass standard shapes and copying the Kadee and Model Engineering Works sizes and styles. They worked really great, not too detailed but cheaper by far.

[dragenrider]

I found that Walthers does indeed have the Details West log bunks. Thanks!!

Good thoughts on your cars, folks. I figured some of you had made them.

[ARTHILL]

I have the Roundhouse skeletin cars. They are OK. I do not see much use of the flat cars deep in the woods so that is not an option for me.

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern


. . .
Details West makes (or used to make) metal log bunks for flat cars. I have a few of them, but they are not in the original package so I cannot give you the part number. Check the Walthers web site.
Bob Boudreau

Dragenrider,
Mr. Boudreau is correct. Details West Log Bunks LB171 are listed in the Walthers catalogue. The Details West URL is:
http://www.detailswest.com/
Their parts pages take a while to download on a dial up link, or I would have checked there.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[oleirish]

Here is an picture of my home made log cars,there made from caboose frames,steel wheels&KD couplers pull vary smooth![^][:D][:)]



JIM

[dragenrider]

oleirish, those look great! Caboose frames would be about the right size, too. What did you use for the upright poles on the sides?

I ordered the log bunks from my not-so-local hobby shop. Mark at One Track Mind in Little Rock got me a better price than anything else I could find on the Walthers site or any other Internet shop. I also sprung for some of those new "realistic logs" Walthers has put out.

By the way, what got me started on this was a Pentrex video I bought at GATS in Tulsa. It was about the last surviving logging railroad in Canada. Pretty neat! I like dieseled logging and short lines.

[oleirish]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dragenrider

oleirish, those look great! Caboose frames would be about the right size, too. What did you use for the upright poles on the sides?

I ordered the log bunks from my not-so-local hobby shop. Mark at One Track Mind in Little Rock got me a better price than anything else I could find on the Walthers site or any other Internet shop. I also sprung for some of those new "realistic logs" Walthers has put out.

By the way, what got me started on this was a Pentrex video I bought at GATS in Tulsa. It was about the last surviving logging railroad in Canada. Pretty neat! I like dieseled logging and short lines.

I used scrap U-Chanel styrene, for bunks ,then cut the logs from trees in my yard,I cut them at 35' (HO SCALE RULER),then got some HO scale chain from my LHS for tie downs.
JIM[:)]

[dragenrider]

Kool! [tup]

[Anonymous]

Here is a nice How To on some log cars from the 2Guyz site. I am a moderator over there and thought yall might like to see this. Ray worked this up for us, and I thought it came out really nice. He's quite talented. Hope yall enjoy.
http://2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pa=showpage/pid=38.html