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Hopper or Gondola, is there a difference?/My First Kitbash.

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  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Sunday, July 8, 2018 2:53 PM

Congratulation's on your first kit-bash !

Mistake's ??? Sure, but they make for a "One of a kind" car that 30 year's from now you will be proud to display on the mantle.

( who know's .... 30 year's from now a "collector" may pay big money for it. Stranger thing's have happened...)

Rust...... It's a good thing !

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, July 8, 2018 2:34 PM

Yep, that looks like a kitbash.  Congrats on getting it off the drawing table, Steven.  We all make mistakes.  And sometimes learning how to correct those mistakes is all part of the "fun" of the learning process.

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Sunday, July 8, 2018 2:22 PM

Heres some better pictures.

http://imgur.com/a/YYHZQDm

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, July 8, 2018 8:06 AM

NWP SWP
Now my biggest mistake was accidentally cutting the B ends off both cars so I have two brake wheels!

.

Yeah, I still do dumb things like that. 

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by "JaBear" on Sunday, July 8, 2018 5:47 AM
Well, well, fan me with a plate of soup!! To be honest I’d given up on you doing anything, apart from endless talk and wild schemes, long ago, so looking at what you’re finally achieving, well done. Thumbs Up

NWP SWP
Now my biggest mistake was accidentally cutting the B ends off both cars so I have two brake wheels

Yeah, that happens when you try things, “There are those that make mistakes, and there are those who do nothing.” At least you’ve identified your mistake and know not to repeat it, besides I’d bet that unless you point it out, most ffolkes won’t notice it.
 
Continue with the good work.
 
Cheers, the Bear.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, July 7, 2018 10:37 PM

Thanks Ed, I want to thank you all for the nonstop pushing, I probably wouldn't've gotten the project started, let's hope that I can start moving towards tackling some of the other ideas I've had! After I finish this one of course!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, July 7, 2018 10:18 PM

Steven,

I'm very proud of you.  

 

HOORAY!

 

Ed

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, July 7, 2018 10:07 PM

Yes, the car currently (minus couplers) measures 76 scale feet, I couldve cut it shorter to 73 sf but I thought longer looked better.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, July 7, 2018 9:42 PM

Looks pretty long.  Will you be able to operate it on your club layout?

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, July 7, 2018 9:41 PM

I have some more work to do with it, strengthening the underframe, 6 axle trucks, cover (I know the prototype didn't have any but I'm putting one on it for now) and some details.

Now my biggest mistake was accidentally cutting the B ends off both cars so I have two brake wheels!Bang HeadSigh

But I'm going to make another "better" one to make molds from to make resin versions to make a unit train of the things.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Saturday, July 7, 2018 9:35 PM

YAAAAAAAAAAAY! And there was much rejoicing! Are you done with it yet?

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, July 7, 2018 9:22 PM

After much anticipation, procrastination, and concentration, I present the first ever groundbreaking, earthshaking featured presentation, my first KITBASH!

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, July 5, 2018 9:44 PM

Should I attempt to get the spacing right on the braces?

At each end of the MDC cars the second stall at each end is wider than the rest.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, July 5, 2018 8:17 PM

We are bracing ourselves! Dinner

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by NWP SWP on Thursday, July 5, 2018 6:39 PM

Zona saw and miter box came in along with the scale ruler I ordered, still waiting on the styrene sheet.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 10:40 AM

If you have concerns about how to cut up the plastic bodies, the quick and cheap method is to photocopy or scan and print an image of the car side and then make the cuts on the paper copies.  Literally cut and paste.

I do this all the time with buildings, it is waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy quicker than making resin copies (I also do resin casting).

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by mobilman44 on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 8:28 AM

Well, may I be the 4th to agree!

Those of us that have built kits, kit bashed or scratchbuilt models started out pretty simple and basic, with typically each successive attempt better than the previous. 

I urge you to start slow, keep your expectations reasonable, and just DO IT.   

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 8:19 AM

tstage
 
SeeYou190
Well, this sounds like you are heading for another stalled project...

Seriously, get this one done. Get experience. Learn the tools. Maybe in ten more projects you will make something good enough to duplicate in resin. 

Totally agree, Kevin. 

Thirded. The guy at the club is encouraging you to add a higher degree of complexity to the project causing it to grow hair.  Based on all the past "too ambitious" idea's, if you let this one get too complex, it may end up in the dust bin of history of projects with high hopes but never completed.

Forget adding extra things to the project.  Just do the basic kit bash and follow it through to completion.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 7:46 AM

SeeYou190
Well, this sounds like you are heading for another stalled project...

Seriously, get this one done. Get experience. Learn the tools. Maybe in ten more projects you will make something good enough to duplicate in resin.

Totally agree, Kevin.

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 6:44 AM

NWP SWP
he wants me to wait and get with him to make resin castings of the part cars so I can mess up a few times and then once I make a single car I can use that as a master

.

Well, this sounds like you are heading for another stalled project, and this fellow is giving you bad advice.

.

Excitement is never as high for a new project as when you first get started. You need to make progress as fast as possible in the beginning. This sounds especially true for you and the way you are distracted by the next interesting thing that comes along.

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It is foolish to think your first kitbashwill be good enough to make masters from. So again, that sounds like bad advice for you.

.

I will say this one more time like everyone in here has told you. JUST DO IT!

.

Seriously, get this one done. Get experience. Learn the tools. Maybe in ten more projects you will make something good enough to duplicate in resin.

.

I cannot believe someone is encouraging you to stall a project.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 10:26 PM

And perhaps I can make resin copies of the car to have a unit train set.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 10:02 PM

"Messing up" is part of the fun and education of kitbashing, as you hone your skills and correct your "mistakes".  Just do it as you originally planned and have Rod give you pointers as you go along.  While learning about resin casting might be useful, it's a different medium than styrene.

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 9:24 PM

I talked to Rod at the club, he wants me to wait and get with him to make resin castings of the part cars so I can mess up a few times and then once I make a single car I can use that as a master to make more single piece cars.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by j. c. on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 7:15 PM

NWP SWP

The cars came in today, along with the squadron putty.

I've ordered Athearn Buckeyes and perhaps I can figure out how to replace the friction bearings with roller bearings.

 

 

 

https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Shop/tabid/91/c/trucks/p/3080/Default.aspx 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 6:34 PM

NWP SWP
I'll have to of course file down the rivets off the underframe.

.

Why?

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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Posted by NWP SWP on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 3:47 PM

The cars came in today, along with the squadron putty.

I've ordered Athearn Buckeyes and perhaps I can figure out how to replace the friction bearings with roller bearings.

And I bid on a pair of Athearn BB covered gondolas, I'm going to borrow the covers off them for now and I'm going to steal the underframe to bolster the thrall underframes, I'll have to of course file down the rivets off the underframe.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by wjstix on Sunday, July 1, 2018 11:11 PM

NWP SWP

So it's basically a difference in the bottom of the container.

 

 
No, it's really the entire interiors.
 
A gondola car is a rectangular open-topped box with a flat floor. It's all 90 degree angles. You could easily walk around inside an empty gondola, as it's flat inside.
 
 
"Hopper" is a very old (13th century) word for a container that is bigger on the top and narrows to a small bottom, meant to be emptied through the bottom. A hopper car's interior has two, three or four hoppers or 'bays' inside. Each bay has walls that slopes down at an angle towards the bottom doors where the product being carried (coal, rock, etc.) can be discharged. 
 
 
A drop-bottom gondola has doors built into the floor that are hinged towards the middle of the car so that when released the product in the car spills out to the side of the tracks (rather than straight down between the rails like a hopper car). Most likely, someone would have to get inside the car with a shovel to clear out the product from the center areas not by the doors. In the olden days, many small coal dealers preferred coal in drop-bottom gondolas, because the coal went to the side and was easier to remove manually or with a portable conveyor.
 
 
 
 
Stix
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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, June 30, 2018 6:47 PM

The tile was only 4 bucks and was the smoothest, not too big piece I could find.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, June 30, 2018 5:40 PM

Surface gauge:

Surface plate:

 

  

Going slightly fancy on the surface plate, I bought an aluminum one from The Train Shop in San Jose about a zillion years ago.  It's 1/2 inch thick, 10 1/2" x 12 1/2", and fully machined.  What's especially handy is that I cut two grooves in the plate at HO gage.  That makes it SO easy to measure up from rail height.

 

Ed

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Posted by NWP SWP on Saturday, June 30, 2018 4:23 PM

I just bought a 12x12 black granite polished tile, #1 xacto blades, 400 grit wetordry, and rustoleum Satin Hunt Club Green, that's the color Imma gonna paint it.

Steve

If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!

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