Looks like the ends are similar enough to cut down to length (and redetail), no?
That all depends on the prototype you’re trying to model, as there were many variations of so called “beer can” cars. There are so many different tank car designs you’re bound to come close to one or more. If the Athearn car you’re choosing is the best match to the car you’re doing, go ahead.
I think that Rob’s got it right: if you can match your prototype using that car, go for it.
While this one’s not a beer can tank car, it was made from cut-down version of the old Athearn 65’ tank car. I saw the prototype one morning on my way home from work, and, since I had no camera with me, stopped and made a couple of sketches.
While it was one of my favourites, it got sold when I backdated my modelling era to the late '30s.
Wayne
Wayne-
That’s nice. I will probably try to follow in your footschtomps with this one. I was planning a layout with 20" radius curves where beer can tanks would have been a better fit, but it looks like I’m changing to 30-32" r., and these will work OK, and mix in with my multitude of Mehano heated tanks (heaters removed) and Walthers cars. I wondered, too, what it would be like to shorten about 8 of them and then think “Is that all I got out of all that work?”
I did one 30 years ago and still have it. Regards, Bobby