So I know this isn't a car that's still used (that I know of) but I think it's really cool. It looks like maybe four two bays with a little styrene might work, but looking for opinions on how to make this in NScale.
There are 5 sections, so if you wanted to cut up existing cars, you would need 5. I saw an HO one a long time ago, so it is not impossible to build. The hardest part is probably going to be making those end cage side panels match up with the rest of the hopper. From what I know, the hoppers were not articulated in the sense that it was one long hopper, but 5 units sharing trucks, so there aren’t diaphragms or anything like that between the units.
I just found this photo that kind of shows the articulation joint, so if you do cut hoppers, all you will need to do is glue a flat piece of plastic to the end to fill it.
Toward the bottom of this page are the three Super hoppers.http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=ATSF&cid=4&Page=16 There are recent photos of them and they seem to still be in service. This railfan caught two of the three on one train in 2008:
I don’t really know how to link to another thread, but here is one where someone posted the plans from the February 1995 Railroad Model Craftsman.https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/santa-fe-super-hopper.45261/
i thought i saw something on that website that 3d prints but havent been able to find it now. Ill keep looking!
It's misnamed in the title "Supper Hopper". It doesn't look very complete...might not have been printed yet either. N Scale Supper Hopper End A Part https://www.shapeways.com/product/HV2TGVMWL/n-scale-supper-hopper-end-a-part N Scale Supper Hopper End B Part https://www.shapeways.com/product/3BXRG2HYS/n-scale-supper-hopper-end-b-part
The "B Part" of the Super Hopper is listed as "not for sale," so you would be able to get a print of the end car, but not the three in the middle.
With the hopper parts I could build a southern railway 4 car hopper set. It would be close to the one off prototype.
Thanks for the links. Definitely shows not for sale for me too, and would have to add lots of parts as it indicates its only the shells. Will still keep kicking the bricks. I'm working on a little research too to see about kitbashing this with what's available. Will update if I figure anything out, and if any of you see anything further, please post it. Thanks! Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
bump an old post. this was chosen as the next project from my followers on FB/IG. I hope to have it finished in a few months