I have built three of Central Valley Model Works http://www.cvmw.com/index.htm N.P. Stock Cars and 2 N.P. Flat Cars and find these to build into excellent models. The design of these kits are probably the easiest-highly detailed kits available. Design wise they are very well engineered and include all the brake details and underside details everyone seems to want, now-a-days. Price wise they are very reasonable with prices averaging around $13.00 for the stock cars and $10.00 for 2 Flat cars as one kit. These are not difficult kits; but, are also not "Shake-the-Box" to build kits. You will need to add trucks and of course, couplers and decals. The body of the stock cars, which are usually one component in simpler kits, is made up of two sides, two ends and a roof. Detail parts are added to the body and the undersides are two parts, the actual car floor and the steel frame, channels, bracing, bolsters and almost all the brake rods, bell cranks and piping, then the triple valve is glued to the floor/frame assembly. The fit of all parts is great and in a few hours’ time assembly is complete and it's time to paint, add decals and weather.
I did find it difficult to hide enough weight under the empty flat car to bring this car to NMRA standards. I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths for the 2nd car so that one's load brought it up to standards. Central Valley Model Works suggests these 41 foot flats were mostly used in MW during my era on the N.P., so that is what I have put them to use, doing.
Since I am an N.P. modeler, these cars are right in my "Wheel House", but N.P. cars would have been sighted on most class ones, so if you need some stock cars that will look different than any other stock cars on your pike, these are nice looking and good subjects and a bunch of fun to build! If you've built some car kits and want to try something a little more difficult, these are a very good way to go!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Pics?
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
trwroute Pics?
Sure!
I've got three of the Central Valley stock cars, but modified them for use on my own free-lanced road.
CV also offers the floors and roofs separately. I used the floors under eight of these modified Athearn cars. The low side sills relieved me of modelling the brake gear, so the two-piece floors saved some effort, even though they had to be narrowed to fit within the modified Athearn body:
I'll be using the roofs on some scratchbuilt cabooses.
Wayne
NP2626 I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths...
I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths...
Shouldn't that be 39 ft.? (Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.)
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
I dunno what's up with my last post, but half the screen seems to be cut-off, including the "EDIT" option.
If you right-click on the photos, then "View Image", the full picture will show.
steemtrayn NP2626 I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths... Shouldn't that be 39 ft.? (Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.)
I don't know, should it be?
Photography is not something I am interested in.
NP2626 trwroute Pics?
trwroute
Now ya tell me! I'd remove my post if I had the ability to edit it, but that option's not available.
Good job on the cars, Wayne!
Wayne, I only meant I don't like to do pictures and was hoping if people wanted to see photos of the cars, either some nice folks would post them; or, who ever wanted to see a photo of the car would go to the website address I listed with my original post.
NP2626 or, who ever wanted to see a photo of the car would go to the website address I listed with my original post.
or, who ever wanted to see a photo of the car would go to the website address I listed with my original post.
NP2626 steemtrayn NP2626 I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths... Shouldn't that be 39 ft.? (Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.) I don't know, should it be?
Yes it should, technically.
Rail was cut in 39' lengths to be loaded in 40' flatcars and gondolas.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
cv_acrRail was cut in 39' lengths to be loaded in 40' flatcars and gondolas.
Nowadays, of course, the rail is somewhat longer:
Even before welding, today's rail segments are longer, 80 ft. or something like that.
[quote user="trwroute"]
cv_acr NP2626 steemtrayn NP2626 I cut up rails in 40 foot lengths... Shouldn't that be 39 ft.? (Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.) I don't know, should it be? Yes it should, technically. Rail was cut in 39' lengths to be loaded in 40' flatcars and gondolas.
NP2626 Sorry, I guess I'm lazy. To take a photo, load it onto my confuser, then figure out how to post it here is just to much work!
Sorry, I guess I'm lazy. To take a photo, load it onto my confuser, then figure out how to post it here is just to much work!
It is a little work to post a photo, but I sure am glad so many others don't feel the way you do. Otherwise, these forums would be dull and boring.
I'm only attempting to promote the fine, reasonably priced products from Central Valley Model Products and the act of building models. That is the thrust of this thread. Two people did give you photos of one of the two models I was talking about. Why is it you feel I need to provide you with photos of my models, or else the thread is BORING?
Rail length: when flat cars and gondolas were 34 to 36 feet, standard length for rail was 33' When 40 foot cars became the usual length, rail was 39' Rail stayed at 39' for some time even as cars became longer because of manufacturing and handling issues with longer rail.
Dave Nelson
P.s. Added to the posting. This was not meant as a finger-wagging lecture. The topic came up and I thought it would be of interest and use.
Use your photobucket account like you did here.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/202778.aspx?page=1
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Well you guys made me go down and measure the length of the rail I put on my 41 foot N.P. flat car and guess what? Each and every one of the 25 rails I put on the car is exactly 39 feet 0 inches long. I guess I did my homework two years ago when I made these two cars! Now, do you want me to lay my scale down along side, take a photo and post it on this thread, to prove I did it absolutly correctly?
.....and don't forget to have the photo notarized.
Tom
NP2626 I'm only attempting to promote the fine, reasonably priced products from Central Valley Model Products and the act of building models. That is the thrust of this thread. Two people did give you photos of one of the two models I was talking about. Why is it you feel I need to provide you with photos of my models, or else the thread is BORING?
Post removed, was not friendly!
NP2626 In an effort to attempt to lighten up my reactions to some of the posts in this thread, I have omitted or expounded some of my posts. It is hoped we (I) can move on from this point with a lighter heart.
Mark, I sent you an email!
trwroute NP2626 In an effort to attempt to lighten up my reactions to some of the posts in this thread, I have omitted or expounded some of my posts. It is hoped we (I) can move on from this point with a lighter heart. Mark, I sent you an email!
Chuck,
I haven't received an email from you, I don't think my email address is accessible, here on the MRforums. Also, I did not receive any PMs from you. Maybe you need to resend, via the Messages part on the forums.
Mark
An these kits, are Made in the United States of America.
Yep, they are!