It came up in another thread that it would be nice to have some Hart convertible gondolas like the ones Dry Creek make in HO scale: http://www.drycreekmodels.com/w-50-3-as-made.html So I emailed them and asked if they would consider making these available in N scale (since they are 3D printed models). He stated several limitations...scaling up the thickness of the cars for N scale, new arrangement for attaching trucks, finished weight of the car, and finding time, but did say that he would consider it if there was interest (especially if someone in the SF bay area was there to 'pester' him). So, it sounds like if there is interest, there is a chance. If you want one (or more) of these cars, now is the time to send your email (or, if you are in the bay area, pester away). I know that I'm good for several. Here's your chance as well... (I have no affiliation with Dry Creek Models)
Well, I have been talking to Peter of N Scale Kits, and it looks like he can do a cast metal kit....which will be better for us since a print is going to be lighter than light. I reached out to him when he released the HO kit, only for h to say that the N Scale print wasn't that good.
A number of years ago these were available as a resin body less trucks. Back when I was modeling SP&S I acquired a few to make into wood chip cars as the SP&S had done. PS Well I caught this soon enough to correct myself when my memory returned from its vacation which it tends to do now frequently.. It was the Caswell gondola I was thinking about.
Fine N Scale still makes Santa Fe Caswell gons, the Hart Convertible Gondola was a side and bottom drop gondola that turned into a hopper...
Don't care where I get some from, just need to get some. I did think about the weight, but having a light car is better than not having a car at all.
John you have been very helpful. I did some work on this at the weekend, and now have some prototypes. John is right, the prints are very light and there is not much opportunity to add weight. and Jeff is right too, it is not as simple as it sounds converting from HO to N due to thickness issues etc [and vice versa too, not only too thick but crude details as well] If the casting does not work out as I hope that it will do, the very least is that there will be 3D prints available. We now have both the 3 plank version for the PE and SP as built, and also a 5 plank SP rebuilt version. The car is drawn so that all three configurations [as a flat gon with apron joining up the gons into a continuous run for ballast plowing, standard gon, with the floor boards laid to make a floor, and the third version with the floors up and angled at 45º to make a deep V into the bottom hopper gon, with shorter end boards to facilitate automatic emptying] can be built by the modeler. We have designed some PE and SP decals to go with the kit. I have some pictures and will post progress. Any further informaiton would be well received! There are some of the Hart Convertible Gons around [there is an Northern Alberta car - but not with the large internal trusses - at the Constant-St Museum Quebec - are there any others? Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
These are the drawings, for patterning into a cast metal kit. There are both styles of the sides, You can see how the floor can be made into the V. The horizontal floor should have been inverted, as the bars are only on the underside of the floor. The top is wood but I do not think that we will have a wood laser cut veneer - this will add costs for no significant benefit, I suggest. The decals will be for the SP too - just not drafted yet. Views and comments welcome. Probably it will available at the NSE Convention in Salt Lake City in June 2018 Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Trying to convince my wife that I NEED 3-4 of these...I know that I need a minimum of 2, one as a hopper and one as a gondola, both PE...and I want one as an SP rebuilt.....what sucks is that the Pacific Electric transferred what they had left to the Sud Pacifico de Mexico in 1952...and I model 1953...back to Rule 1...my model railroad and only 1 person in 50 miles of me would know that....
Just for fun, I have some old boxcars that were transferred to Mexico lettered and operating on my RR just to see if anyone notices...they don't. Do what you enjoy, especially if nobody else notices.
Bumping this thread (any updates) and found some pictures https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/40932821902/in/dateposted/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/40081017215/in/dateposted/
In my experience with 3D printed n scale cars they end up way to light and very hard to add weight to. I have many n scale kits cars and love them. I would go with that option for this car
Just an update - the molding has worked well - except for the car floor. This has not worked as well as I had hoped, as the design of the floor is too thin, so has not cast as well as it should do. I am getting a new pattern made but this is slowing things up - see below. We are also having problemm with the decals as our previous decal paper producer has stopped producing and we have had problems getting suitable replacements - but are still trying. I may be able to bring production examples to the NSE Convention in Salt Lake City in three weeks time - but timing will be tight. I will certainly have a pre-production sample with me and may be able to post pictures here before I leave. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
