I bought a couple of boxes of Proto 1000 100 ton hopper cars at a train show a few years back and all but ten were complete three of these need the weights and under frames. I can fab the weights out of sheet lead so I’m not concerned with them but I can’t seem to find under frame any where. I’ve checked Walthers etc. and did a Google search any idea?
i don’t know how intricate the underframes for your cars are but my best guess would be to use one you have for a pattern and fabricate what you want from styrene strips and angles.
grizlump
Good thought but way too much work…lol after posting last night I had a quick thought and checked out Athearn’s parts section of their website and think possibly I may be able to use or modify one of their under frames from either a box car or some other car. What kills me is I know I have seen them some place but for the life of me I can’t remember where. Worst case scenario they become scrap for the yard behind the car shop.
One of the casualties when Athearn was sold was that they used to offer at retail (and many hobby shops stocked) an almost complete line of every part of every kit. It would not be an exact match but their hopper car frames would probably have been adaptable to Proto 1000.
The thought strikes me that with some cutting and filing perhaps the old old Selley caboose underframe could be modified to fit under a hopper car. Selley is available from Bowser and to my knowledge is not available from Walthers. http://www.bowser-trains.com/hoother/selley/Selley%20Drawings%20HO.pdf
Failing that since you have some frames to copy, what are the major components. the center sill is the main thing and that can be approximated from plastic U shaped channel stock. the bolsters that hold the trucks; Precision Scale, Tichy, Selley, and Bethlehem offer those as separate parts. I think the Proto hoppers have the coupler pocket integral with the under frame; but a kadee pocket could probably be adapted. Selley has an integral bolster and coupler pocket but hte pocket is narrow and may be intended for dummy knuckle couplers.
Dave Nelson
The car looks similar to the Bowser 100 ton hopper. Would an underframe from one of those work for you?
Dave & Maxman thanks for the suggestions I definitely will give Selley a try, I believe you are correct in that with a little modification the caboose frame may just work. I have an LHS www.modelrailcraftsupplydepot.com aka Jeff who has the largest stock of Athearn parts around I need to stop in there tomorrow to pick up and order so I’ll have him check stock and see if he has any underframes in stock.
Maxman these cars look like dead ringers for the Bowser one’s The guy I purchased them from didn’t know who the manufacturer was, kind of strange as I bet anyone of us at any given time could tell you who’s cars we have and how many etc. I honestly think he was just selling them for someone or an estate etc. being he sold them to me 120 of them for $1.00/ea. I say it safe to say he didn’t know what he was selling.
Thanks again for the leads I think they will prove to be productive, just goes to show you can’t always find everything you want on Google so this board is a great resource
Here are some Bowser H43 100 ton hopper part numbers for you…
Underframe: 74253 - $1.43
Hopper doors: 74260 - $0.99
Slope sheet brace: 74259 - $0.67
Weights: 74251 - $0.99
Weight Covers: 74262 - $0.67
Brake equipment: 74080 - $0.67
Nick
Nick, thanks much a big help
You’re welcome. You can order the parts right from Bowser, but shipping is 10 bucks.
Thanks for the tip on Model Railcraft Supply. It’s looks like he has the Athearn trucks I can’t find anywhere else.
Nick
N/P Nick on the Bowser site and can’t seem to find some of those p/n guess I’m looking in the wrong spot
Finding the part numbers on Bowser’s site is rather convoluted. I just pulled the numbers off an instruction sheet I had handy.
So just go here http://www.bowserorders.com/ and type the part numbers in the search box.
Nick
You may be able to order the underframe from Walthers. A few years ago I was able to order the radiator fan housings for Walther’s P2K GP9, even though it is not listed on Walthers’s website. You might try calling them, or go through a hobby shop.