I used some of my autorack underframe castings to upgrade some 86ft high cube boxcars. One was a Con-Cor Santa Fe, one a Minitrix GT, and a Arnold UP one. Before and after pics of the Con-Cor one [ 15 November 2001: Message edited by: Alan ]</p>
Alan, Great stuff as usual. Just don't put them next to your auto racks as they will no longer look like hi-cubes!! I did the same conversion, and if you measure the actual height, they were not hi-cubes to start with. I was very disappointed in Con-Cor. The closest I have found are the old Arnold 89 foot boxcars. I hope I have not spoiled your day. Keep up the great work.
Alan, I have to side with Catt, I have yet to meet anyone who can separate us chaps from our money as easily as you can! I am quite probably going to order a 10 pack of the frames soon, (after the holidays). Can't wait to see what your up to next! Have you considered doing the open autorack cars? That would fill a void in the hobby! If not, please consider the articulated autoracks, (Atlas appears to be snoozing on the HO & N scale cars!). Either one or both would be a welcome addition to our hobby! Continued success my friend!! 2slim
Here is a link to an auction for 6 Santa Fe Hi-Cube Auto boxes on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1 663676114&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1006570280&indexURL=0&rd=1 Brian [ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: brian ] [ 16 November 2001: Message edited by: brian ]</p>
Rod, yeah I know they are not correct. The GT car had roofwalks when I bought it! I removed them, and the tops of the end ladders, but have still not got around to doing so on the side ladders the Arnold Car before conversion and after conversion
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Alan: Does anyone know the correct height for an 86ft high cube?<hr></blockquote> Alan, Checking the Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia 1974 edition, found several heights. Thrall car was 16 foot 10 inches Greenville car was 17 feet even Pullman Standard was 16 feet 11 7/8 inches All measured from top of rail.
Just measured my cars, after conversion, and they are between 15'4" and 15'7" But what the heck, they look good
Tis rather ovious Mr. Curtis that those box cars are carrying heavy loads At least that will be my excuse.
<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Alan: Just measured my cars, after conversion, and they are between 15'4" and 15'7" But what the heck, they look good <hr></blockquote> Alan, Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that MicroTrains will introduce one this coming year. BTW, I measured a Bachman 40 foot and a MT 60 foot and they both are the correct height. Someone got it right.
There is a certain person in Grand Rapids, talking about buying up lots of bachmann 40-footers and chopping them up to make some correct height 86-footers!
Great work Alan. This may be a simpler conversion than I did to a pair of 86' cars. I may just have to move to the UK in order to save shipping costs! http://www.pnc.com.au/~audiosat/models/projects/86arnold/index.htm Gary.
