Several years ago when I was first getting into the hobby, I picked up Athearn’s 12-pack of Union Pacific Fallen Flags ACF covered hoppers. So far, trying to find a prototype, I have found nothing. None of the numbers match to the actual equipment photos. Are there any hoppers like Athearn’s model in UP paint or are my only options to completely remake them from early model 4-bay 5200cf to later model 3-bay 4600cuft cars or box them up? Thanks
Most of Athearns blue box and special series offerings were generic representations of real cars. That means they look pretty good but you will be hard pressed to fond a prototype for nearly all of them. The special series were a way for the people that bought Athearn the first time it was on the market to recover some of the expense of the purchase without having to invest in new dies and equipment. Very few have increased in value from what I have heard.
One must check Athearn for painting cars in schemes that never existed for the car type. Two of the railroads that UP absorbed had 5250’s the D&RGW and SSW. I do not know the number series for those cars as I do not model the UP.
On the other hand I do not know what the size would be if you kitbashed the car into a 3-Bay. Back when all we had was the Athearn car I made a lot of 3 Bays out of the Athearn 5250. I now know better and do more research before buying a car to see if it matches the prototype.
Rick