OK, Since the last challenge was to grab junk and make a building, this one is a bit tougher! Go back to the scrap box and to your "discard" pile of rolling stock and create a believable piece of rolling stock that is usable on your layout. My son and I just finished a flat car. Thought it would be pretty easy but the real challenge was taking something that was inexpensive (i.e. would not run) and making it something that looked good AND will stay on the track . Remember...don't spend any additional money, it must come from your existing scrap!! Good luck...I look forward to hearing and hopefully seeing the results of this one. John
Had several junk box in-shop builds over the years. Here are two that I enjoyed building from 'what ever'. **Overhead MOV wire repair adjustable platform car. Need to fit in with my overhead electrics. PRR GG1,FF2 and DD1 ** Transfer caboose ...Eddie
This project probably doesn't really count as it's more of a scratchbuilt car (my first!) than a conversion, but this thread motivated me to finish it so I'll put it here. This project is an outgrowth of several things, including my frustrations with the Eastern Car Works depressed center kit and the recent thread on QTTX heavy duty flats. The frame profile is based on the ECW kit, but with lengthened ends to allow enough room for truck rotation (What a concept! ) and is made from .080 white styrene. Cross members under the car are Evergreen styrene I beams and channel stock. The decking is real wood salvaged from old crates and sliced up on my table saw. Decals are leftovers from another project that never materilized. In case you're wondering, PACFAB is Pacific Fabrication Works, an industry on my future layout. Couplers and boxes are by Kadee, trucks are stock Athearn. I'll replace the wheels with Proto 33" sets when I get more in. The car is weighted to NMRA specs with lead strips under the wood. I still need to add brake stands on each end, which will be made from left over Proto parts. Some day I may get ambitious and add brake detail under the car, but I kind of doubt I'll get that far on this car. On my next one of these I think I'm going to use channel stock for the sides and extend the end platforms to accept either Athearn 6 wheel Buckeye trucks or else 2 trucks on a span bolster. The load is one of my favorites. It came from one of my trips to the used building materials store in town and cost me maybe a quarter. I sanded it down, painted it, and added the details. The catwalk is scratchbuilt from .080 styrene covered with plastic strapping tape to give it the diamond tread pattern. Handrail stancions are left over Athearns and the railings are brass wire. The ladder was another leftover from somthing, and the cradle is more home made stripwood. The load is both high and wide, just barely within plate F dimentions for height and exceeds plate F for width. THis load really does require a depressed center flat because on a conventional flat it would be WAY too tall. Because it started life as a plumbing fixture of some sort, it's also very heavy (over 6 ounces!). Eventually I want to secure it using some scale brass chain I have left over from a tugboat project, but I haven't figured out how to chain it down and still make it removable.
Nice!! You guys are all over this. CThippo if this thread motivated you to finish the car, then of course its acceptable !! Keep up the great work!! How about it guys...anybody else ready to take the challenge ?? John
