Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Capt. GrimekWhat is specifically (step by step) involved with shortening 85' passenger cars, turning them into 60'ers? Is it merely cutting 20' out of the middle (In general) and repainting? Do other changes need to be made to trucks, diaphrams, couplers, etc.? Is a razor saw all that's needed (aside from sanding/grinding/smoothing the cut edges)? Does anyone know of an article where shortening Walther's passenger cars has been outliined? Thanks.
I now the pros will ahve far more info than i. But, in theory, yes, it's just cutting. In reality though, one needs to remove the underbody detail, cut the frame, interior, and support structure, and then cut the walls to get the proper window patterns. Coach-coch is pretty straightforward, but if you're shortning an RPO, a sleeper, or smething, you may need to cut the walls into pieces consisting of as single window in order to get what you want. ALso, there's the chassis truss, which is sloped on the ends, this really needs to stay in tact.
Then, piece the car back together, adjsut the underbody stuffs, paint, run, and be pleased! I've meddled with the idea for making Oscar/Pikers.
-Morgan
OK, I'm missing something. why not just buy the Rivarossi 60-footers and be done with it?
Capt. GrimekWhat is specifically (step by step) involved with shortening 85' passenger cars, turning them into 60'ers?
Is it merely cutting 20' out of the middle (In general) and repainting?
Do other changes need to be made to trucks, diaphrams, couplers, etc.?
Is a razor saw all that's needed (aside from sanding/grinding/smoothing the cut edges)?
My experience was shortening combine cars in attempt to make some Santa Fe cabbage. I started with an old Rivarossi (AHM) combine, a Bachmann combine, and ummm ummm a Rivarossi coach among others.
I started by finding floor plans and pictures of the car I wanted to get the "look of". Then cut up accordingly. Here are three examples. You can see the cuts and fills were different for each one. One should also note that despite the window work, I probably spent more time getting the roof vents and under floor tanks right than I spent on the sides of the cars.
Unfortunately I don't seem to find any photos of the finished cars. They look good though.
And as the prior posted noted here is a Rivarossi 60' that I converted to six axle trucks:The easiest conversion of all.
I can't recall offhand any articles on shortening Walthers passenger cars. Most articles about cutting up passenger cars that I've seen were from many years ago when folks took Athearn "shorty" cars and spliced two together to make a full-size Pullman, Diner or Obs car.
Unless you're dead set on making drastic cuts to Walthers cars, I'd maybe look at the Rivarossi/Walthers 60' cars, Athearn passenger cars (which are all 72' or shorter), the old MDC / Roundhouse 60' Harriman cars, or Con-cor 72' smooth-side cars.
The Walthers cars have a split metal weight between the bottom of the car and the floor. This also provides electrical pick-up between the ends. Might be hard on a razor saw. Check the instruction sheets.
Captain, I am guess you want to make a prototypical car right? If not, try the 70 foot Con-Cor cars, I have a few and with some work not a bad car.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Hi!
Unless you consider yourself a really good "kitbasher", don't do it! In my opinion, you would be much better off in picking up a bunch of Athearn (light or heavyweight) kits off of Ebay (there probably aren't many at the hobby shops) and upgrading them with KDs, diaghprams, wheelsets, lights, window tint, decaling and weathering. I did a heavyweight set of 13 cars a few years ago, and really enjoy them.
Cutting up Walthers full length cars is a major job, not the least of which is getting the thing perfectly straight when you are finished. As indicated earlier, there is an awful lot to this and it is a major job.
"Twer I were you", I would go the Athearn route and put the Walther's cars up for sale on Ebay (assuming I didn't want them). That would finance most - if not all - of the upgrades for the "shorty" cars.
For what its worth -
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Ever hear the old saying "The great one's make it look easy" that applies here, some guys are highly skilled model builders who make the most monumental tasks seem like child's play. Well it ain't so. You have a lot of things to consider if you were to attempt doing what your thinking of doing. I would be concerned with the strength of the now modified car body as well as aligning every thing perfectly plus you also have to modify and interior and make sure everything lines up etc. As mentioned there has to be someone that makes them. I am looking at an old set of Rivarossi smooth side cars sitting on a shelf in front of my computer that measure 70' If it were me I would be satisfied with the extra 10' and call it done knowing my own kit-bashing abilities.
In my other hobby, we have a phrase. I can't use the exact language, but in essence, it says "Don't be a wimp, cut that stuff up!"
(regarding trucks)