Decided to make some general service gondolas

I scatch built this GS gondola from pictures of Rio Grande units (all steel 7 rib). I plan to build at least 6. the next ones will improve on this first unit, with better spacing between the ribs and wider bases at the bottom of the ribs. the rod (which wound and unwound the chains on the doors to open/close them) is made of thin styrene rod on this model.

the car ends are Micro-Trains replacement doors for N scale 50' double door box cars. one door provides both ends for one car, by dividing the door into thirds (basically).

the ladders are 1/16" mesh from K&S cut with sissors. it's not a perfect representation, but i think good enough (overall) to fool the eye. in any case the height, length, width are correct and i like it very much.

the lettering comes from C-D-S lettering for N scale narrow gauge gondolas (D&RGW) -- an almost perfect reduction for Z scale application!



dave f.

 

Very Nice, indeed

 

Scatchbuilding in Z scale? I love it!

 

Excellent idea for ladders! Good for some N scale applications, too.

[edit] Actually, isn't that the way ship modelers make the rat lines (those rope ladders to the masts)?

[ October 24, 2005, 07:58 AM: Message edited by: sapacif ]

 

Excellent.

 

just a note: the MTL double doors for N scale 50' box cars come out to 7-1/2' on an N scale ruler, which is how wide a Z scale car is (10'). the 40' box doors are narrower, and single door modern type are wider and don't look like the "crinkled" ends of the pressed steel of these GS gons.

i've been looking for a long time for something to use for ends (even old N scale box cars) but couldn't find anything very workable. these doors (1 doz. for $6.05 at the LHS) seem to fit the bill.

if you're going to buy doors, either get the same ones as i did or go to a hobby store that has them in stock for comparison. i'd had for someone to pay good money for an experiment and find them unsuitable.

just wanted to say this. hope you all have fun.
dave f.
p.s. does anyone make a Z scale ruler????

 

As a matter of fact, Yes! I have one. I got it from The Scale Card They have a card and a ruler. The ruler will be under the six inch rulers. It's very handy!

 

Hey thanks, Phil! i ordered a 6 inch ruler and a card. Good tip.
dave f.

 

David, the more I look at the photos, the more I am impressed, very fine work. The thing that sticks out to me is I can't see any glue marks! Very nice work.

 

I made 3 more (of 6 more) GS gons and took some pictures of the process (if any one is interested). the first pick shows the floor and sides being cut.


then the ribs are added to the sides and when complete a styrene rod is attached to the back side.


to the bottom is added .30 styrene strip, then 1/16" lead and another .15styrene strip on top of that. ribs are added to match the side rib spacing.

the ends are cut from MT 50' double door boxcar doors. bottom and middle are used, the uppermost part is discarded.

after the sides and ends are attached, the ladders are cut from K&B 1/16" mesh.

a styrene step is added under the brake wheel, and blocks of styrene are place on the bottom corners. car body is now ready for paint and lettering.

3 more done, 3 more to finish. letter is from CDS for Nn3 Rio Grande drop bottom gondolas -- an almost perfect reduction for Z.

that's it.
dave f.

 

Excellent work, dave f! Well thought out and simple engineering.

 

yes, robert.
i'm painting the F units in Rio Grande livery (newer one stripe scheme). one unit was a WP that was over the MT F7 mechanism, the B was recently purchased, and the 2nd F7 is one of two old Nelson Gray castings from before he sold his dies to Micro Trains (20+ years ago???). i used to paint-up units for him for his ads, and he would send me odd and ends (Nn3 stuff mostly, but the F units too. who knew??).

the F units also included dummy trucks -- just like passenger trucks but blomberg. i only have 3 trucks, so i converted a new MT sideframe for wheels so i could complete a unit.

if i get ahold of one more MT B unit i'm really thinking about modifying them into an FT A-B set -- in Rio Grande 4 stripe. filling the portholes and then redrilling more is what is the first making me hesistate, the second is finding really fine black strips for the 4 stripes. but i've been thinking of attempting this for a while now.

now if someone would just make some nice passenger cars, we'd ALL be set!
dave f.

 

Nice work David. It's good inspiration for my own scratch building to see how you make yours. With so good results.