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Post by tom on Oct 6, 2013 16:20:26 GMT -8
A couple of weeks ago there was some discussion about adding Plano walk ways to an Accurail 4600 covered hopper. After reading those posts I remembered that I had an undec one sitting up in the attic for a number of years. After digging through some stuff I found it and decided to give it a try.  I first removed the molded on Accurail walkways. Because Accurail uses a softer type of plastic this was not as hard as I thought it would be. I followed Plano's instructions and using the hole drilling template the walkway was installed as it was supposed to be. This was a big improvement.  The cast on grabirons also left a lot to be desired so I removed all of them and replaced them with 0.012 wire and Tichy grabirons. I also plumbed the brake equipment.  I also added two brake line. One side received Tichy 0.015 wire while the other side used 0.020 wire. I also replaced the 70-ton trucks with Walthers 100-ton trucks with Reboxx 36" wheels.  I worked off and on on this car for a while so I wouldn't go nuts drilling all those holes but finally it was done (A-Line stirrups were also used). I painted the car Pollyscale Mineral Red and then added Microscale decals that made were especially for the 4600 covered hopper. I do think that the Santa Fe should be just a little smaller.  Looking at this photo I realized that I also filled in the holes near the roping tabs and since I sliced one of these off I replaced all of them with Detail Associates better detailed ones. This is allowed me to install them in the correct position. One more photo. Since this car would be almost new for my era I only added some light weathering including some evidenece of loading wheat or corn.  This car took a lot of work and sometimes I wanted to stop but doing the work in short spurts allowed me to finish. The Plano walkway really improves the looks of the car and with the included template was fun to use. This Santa Fe car now looks great in one of my Penn Central freight train and certainly holds it own against newer Tangent and Exactrail covered hoppers! |
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Oct 6, 2013 17:31:40 GMT -8
Tom,
Great looking model and a true inspiration. Maybe I can dig out the eight that I have and take a whack at them.
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Post by mlehman on Oct 6, 2013 17:40:43 GMT -8
Awesome work, Tom! Those new walkways really bring out that car's character.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2013 17:56:27 GMT -8
Wow...Tom...looks fantastic!
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Post by riogrande on Oct 6, 2013 18:12:48 GMT -8
That looks great - awesome upgrade. I've got a couple of Accurail CF4600 painted for D&RGW that I wanted to do that too. Switching them from 3 to 4 bays would make them a close visual match to the CF5200 plastic pellet hoppers but the roof walk needs to be changed to the 13 stanchion version, which means cutting off the stock. What is the easiest way to cut that roof off?  |
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Post by surlyknuckle on Oct 6, 2013 19:34:12 GMT -8
That is one KILLER looking ACF 4600 Tom.
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Post by lnrrfan on Oct 7, 2013 6:40:30 GMT -8
nice Job,
Your Cars always look great, I would love to see some in progress shots of that rook walk.
Also any chance you could show us some in progress shots of how you replace the lower sill on some of your boxcar projects?
Thanks Pat
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Post by trebor on Oct 7, 2013 6:55:06 GMT -8
Nice car, I'll never get to projects like this, have too much stuff. I'm going for more big picture modeling from a "respectfull" distance.
Shows an economical car can look very nice. The parts $ are a big factor and looks everybit as good or better than the top $ RTR stuff. A lot of self satisfaction here too. Well done.
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Post by trainmanjeff on Oct 7, 2013 7:20:21 GMT -8
Tom, thanks for showing your model, and especially showing that modelling is still alive in this hobby. I liked the Accurail car but was turned off by the molded on details. Overall, how long did it take you to do this? Nice job on the paint match too!
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Post by tom on Oct 7, 2013 12:10:38 GMT -8
Tom, thanks for showing your model, and especially showing that modelling is still alive in this hobby. I liked the Accurail car but was turned off by the molded on details. Overall, how long did it take you to do this? Nice job on the paint match too! Not sure how long it really took but I would estimate about and hour and a half or so to remove the roofwalk, maybe an hour+a to remove the grabirons and replace with wire, and then another hour or so to add the details. It did take a lot of time but since I did it in steps it went OK....and once I started I really wanted to see the final product. When I was working on the car I sometimes wanted to stop but now that I see the finished car running on my layout I sort of want to do another one! |
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Post by upcsx on Oct 7, 2013 12:57:53 GMT -8
Do you have a photo of the walk way before installed ?
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Post by tom on Oct 7, 2013 15:09:22 GMT -8
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Post by upcsx on Oct 7, 2013 15:31:39 GMT -8
Thanks tom I have three of the Accurail cars so I think I am going to order one walk,now how much did it cost.
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Post by atsfan on Oct 7, 2013 17:05:19 GMT -8
This car would do well if released with etched metal walkways RTR.
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Post by atsfan on Oct 7, 2013 17:07:05 GMT -8
That looks great - awesome upgrade. I've got a couple of Accurail CF4600 painted for D&RGW that I wanted to do that too. Switching them from 3 to 4 bays would make them a close visual match to the CF5200 plastic pellet hoppers but the roof walk needs to be changed to the 13 stanchion version, which means cutting off the stock. What is the easiest way to cut that roof off? Did you paint them or are they from factory ? I have found Accurail factory cars iffy with some very bright due to using molded color plastic. |
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Post by tom on Oct 7, 2013 17:34:58 GMT -8
This car would do well if released with etched metal walkways RTR. Yeah but those thick grabirons would really detract from the model. Covered hoppers really need the open look of the end cages to look right. Anyhow the Accurail car is a very ingenius molded car and the walkways, roof, and body are all one part. This would probably make a etched metal walkway option not possible. Accurail cars often suffer from the very poor paint colors and incorrect graphics so an new etched metal walkway would not help all that much. |
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Post by GP40P-2 on Oct 9, 2013 21:45:46 GMT -8
Awesome work on the 4600 Tom. I really need to do some WPs, but I just know that as soon as I do, someone will release the 4600 as a current generation model. The Atlas Thrall 4750 could benefit from your techniques as well.
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Post by tom on Oct 10, 2013 12:32:32 GMT -8
Awesome work on the 4600 Tom. I really need to do some WPs, but I just know that as soon as I do, someone will release the 4600 as a current generation model. The Atlas Thrall 4750 could benefit from your techniques as well. Yeah but so what if someone would release an updated model! If Exactrail would release an updated ACF 4600 model there is no reason to throw away my upgraded model. For instance years ago I performed an update of the old Walthers PS 4727 lowside covered hopper:  This car still looks good running with newer Exactrail or Tangent cars so I never botherd to pick up an Exactrail Lehigh Valley car. |
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Post by GP40P-2 on Oct 10, 2013 13:08:46 GMT -8
Tom:
I actually agree with that comment 100%, about if some one does release it, besides it is work that I would have put into it, not some factory in China. I also wouldn't have to sell the existing car for pennies on the dollar. BTW, that LV car looks great as well.
Jim L
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Post by tom on Oct 10, 2013 16:55:08 GMT -8
Boy Tom, you sure sold on yourself. I've never seen someone brag on their self like you do. Not once did you thank anyone for the nice things they said about your work, how sad. I deleted my post. I sent you a pm, it seems you didn't take my advice. I'm sure this will be deleted, but I got in my two cents worth. Bobby Wow! Sorry if I offended anyone out there! I did not even notice that I had a PM message from you until I saw your public post. Sorry that I did not meet Bobby's standard on the time frame for reading and replying back to his PM....... To everyone out there who did say nice things about my model I do say "Thanks!!". One reason that I did not reply back is because when I post a "good job" message to someone else about their modeling I do not expect a message back saying "thanks". I am not sure where my "bragging on my self" is coming through but I do admit to being proud of my models and sometime surprised when they turn out OK. The main reason that I post photos and explanations of my models is to show the models, to show what can be done, and how to do it if someone wants to try it on their own. I also do it because I enjoy this forum and want to keep interesting discussions going. I do like reading how other people do their modeling and I think I mentioned that the reason that I got motivated to do this model was because someone else had previously shown an Accurail model and described how to remove and replace the roofwalk. Geez. |
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Post by SOMECALLMETIM on Oct 10, 2013 17:25:19 GMT -8
Tom,
Please continue posting your photos and sharing your techniques. I enjoy seeing your methods and it inspires me to take on similar projects with more confidence.
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unit
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Post by unit on Oct 10, 2013 19:57:51 GMT -8
I just re-read the thread, and I could not find anything that I would consider to be bragging. Echoing Tom's comments above, please keep posting stuff like this - it is great to see your abilities showcased here!
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Post by nebrzephyr on Oct 11, 2013 4:45:16 GMT -8
Tom.......please keep posting your models. Even though I may not want to replicate the exact model, your techniques are useful knowledge. In the case of the Accurail hopper I have had a set of Plano Accurail roof walks for years but could never get up the nerve to start "carving". With your latest post I've put that on my winter "to do" list.
I'd much prefer to see a modeler post models that I think most other modelers are most likely to view as "that's a model I could do", as opposed to some model 98% of modelers have never seen the prototype much less would ever consider doing.
Bob
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Post by fr8kar on Oct 11, 2013 10:42:52 GMT -8
Is this place turning into the home for unstable railroad modeler trolls with fragile egos? It's called sharing, Bobby. Tom is one modeler I'd prefer not to see chased off, so get over yourself and your crazy ideas of forum etiquette. Your antics on the Rustbucket are baffling enough, so keep the crazy there, please.
Tom, this is an awesome model. You truly took the Accurail 4600 to a new level. I also dig your 4427. I upgraded a couple of those myself and still have them. I even run them with my Exactrail 4427.
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Post by upcsx on Oct 11, 2013 14:19:48 GMT -8
Bobby that tank car will look great on my layout I like it.
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Post by tankcarsrule on Oct 11, 2013 14:29:53 GMT -8
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Post by catt on Oct 11, 2013 14:34:42 GMT -8
Robby needs to go back and read some of the posts he has made about his own modeling.Yalk about someone sold on thenselves.
By the way Tom I hope your satisfied now I am going to replace the roofwalks on my Accurail hoppers after seeing how nice yours looks,and Robby I do like your tankcars they are sweet.
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Post by tankcarsrule on Oct 11, 2013 17:15:47 GMT -8
Robby needs to go back and read some of the posts he has made about his own modeling.Yalk about someone sold on thenselves. By the way Tom I hope your satisfied now I am going to replace the roofwalks on my Accurail hoppers after seeing how nice yours looks,and Robby I do like your tankcars they are sweet. Please point one out. I'm glad you like my efforts, thank you very, very very much! Regards, Bobby |
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Post by tankcarsrule on Oct 11, 2013 17:19:23 GMT -8
Is this place turning into the home for unstable railroad modeler trolls with fragile egos? It's called sharing, Bobby. Tom is one modeler I'd prefer not to see chased off, so get over yourself and your crazy ideas of forum etiquette. Your antics on the Rustbucket are baffling enough, so keep the crazy there, please. Tom, this is an awesome model. You truly took the Accurail 4600 to a new level. I also dig your 4427. I upgraded a couple of those myself and still have them. I even run them with my Exactrail 4427. Troll, give me a break. This is the first time in a long time I've posted a neg. Post. All I did was point out that Tom was bragging about his models and failed to thank people. Look at all the nasty things you called me, wow, you are the pot calling the kettle black! Regards, Bobby |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 12, 2013 7:43:48 GMT -8
Enough already! Stay on topic, please!
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