BNSF 793204 - 82' Trinity Reefer
Feb 15, 2020 15:51:24 GMT -8
Donnell Wells, valenciajim, and 15 more like this
Post by kpack on Feb 15, 2020 15:51:24 GMT -8
Here is the result of a long project that I've been wanting to do for some time. I have always wanted and needed models of BNSF's huge refrigerator cars. They are found all over the place, particularly up here in the Northwest with all the fruit and vegetables that are grown around here.
The prototype was made by Trinity in 2001-2002. It has an exterior length of 82' 2" and an interior length of 72' 2". On the A end of the car is the externally mounted refrigerator unit, which is accessed by a platform and cage built around it. Under the platform is a 400 gallon fuel tank, which supplies diesel fuel to power the refrigerator unit. On top of the refrigerator unit is a solar panel and GPS unit, allowing BNSF to control and monitor the temperature of the car as it transits the nation. The doors are 12' wide and open to reveal a spacious interior. The roof, walls, and floor inside are designed to allow freezing air to completely circulate around the entire load. The floor has rollers built into to aid in loading, which pop up and down with air pressure. Apply air and they pop up, allowing a loader to nearly effortlessly slide the cargo in. The characteristic "wagon" exterior roof is all fiberglass so it does not rust. The underframe is sprayed with insulating foam approximately 4-6 inches thick. These cars are absolutely massive and are found everywhere.
Since no manufacturer has offered these, I decided to just build my own. It will likely be a couple years before we see a manufacturer offer these, but as soon as they do I will be getting a bunch. Such an iconic car and would fill many needs for modern modelers.
I started with 2 Exactrail 64' Trincool reefers. Using prototype measurements I cut up the two cars and positioned the pieces where the major parts should line up. I placed the center of the door first, then the truck centers after, then the ends of the striker plates last. I then figured out how much I needed to fill in between those pieces and cut and grafted as necessary. The pieces were very rough on the cuts and I wasn't trying to get them to match and line up perfectly. Once I had them in the general locations I wanted, I used styrene and glued from the inside. If I were to do it over again I would've just used styrene to fill in between the major sections and not a second car, and I would've stripped the paint before all this.
After stripping the paint, applying lots of Bondo, and tons of sanding, I came up with a decent finish. Good enough to pass I guess. I then had to work on the roof. I cut up sections of the original roof and used them to hold the sides of the car in the correct place. I then placed a strip of styrene down the center to make the support for the domed roof to go over. I had to cut a groove along the top of both sides to mimic the prototype. That was a pain.
I then used 0.010" stryene sheet, cut to size, and glued it over the roof supports. I made sure to leave the proper overhangs on the sides and ends.
I cut off the jack pads and installed some that I designed and 3D printed. The hole in the middle came out a bit larger than I wanted, but I'll let it slide. The rest of the dimensions are correct.
Following this I wrapped up any other detailing that I need to do, then primed the car
I then painted and decaled the car. Microscale's decal sheet was apparently made to place on the Walthers 70' Cryogenic Reefer model, because the icicle decals are far too short. But I worked with what I had and it's not that noticeable.
I then built the end cage using the original Exactrail one as a base, redoing the platform and guardrails as appropriate. I also had to shorten how far out the platform was from the end of the car.
Having done all this it was time for weathering. Here are the prototype pictures I worked from. 1st side is matching number:
Other side is non-matching number:
-Kevin
The prototype was made by Trinity in 2001-2002. It has an exterior length of 82' 2" and an interior length of 72' 2". On the A end of the car is the externally mounted refrigerator unit, which is accessed by a platform and cage built around it. Under the platform is a 400 gallon fuel tank, which supplies diesel fuel to power the refrigerator unit. On top of the refrigerator unit is a solar panel and GPS unit, allowing BNSF to control and monitor the temperature of the car as it transits the nation. The doors are 12' wide and open to reveal a spacious interior. The roof, walls, and floor inside are designed to allow freezing air to completely circulate around the entire load. The floor has rollers built into to aid in loading, which pop up and down with air pressure. Apply air and they pop up, allowing a loader to nearly effortlessly slide the cargo in. The characteristic "wagon" exterior roof is all fiberglass so it does not rust. The underframe is sprayed with insulating foam approximately 4-6 inches thick. These cars are absolutely massive and are found everywhere.
Since no manufacturer has offered these, I decided to just build my own. It will likely be a couple years before we see a manufacturer offer these, but as soon as they do I will be getting a bunch. Such an iconic car and would fill many needs for modern modelers.
I started with 2 Exactrail 64' Trincool reefers. Using prototype measurements I cut up the two cars and positioned the pieces where the major parts should line up. I placed the center of the door first, then the truck centers after, then the ends of the striker plates last. I then figured out how much I needed to fill in between those pieces and cut and grafted as necessary. The pieces were very rough on the cuts and I wasn't trying to get them to match and line up perfectly. Once I had them in the general locations I wanted, I used styrene and glued from the inside. If I were to do it over again I would've just used styrene to fill in between the major sections and not a second car, and I would've stripped the paint before all this.
After stripping the paint, applying lots of Bondo, and tons of sanding, I came up with a decent finish. Good enough to pass I guess. I then had to work on the roof. I cut up sections of the original roof and used them to hold the sides of the car in the correct place. I then placed a strip of styrene down the center to make the support for the domed roof to go over. I had to cut a groove along the top of both sides to mimic the prototype. That was a pain.
I then used 0.010" stryene sheet, cut to size, and glued it over the roof supports. I made sure to leave the proper overhangs on the sides and ends.
I cut off the jack pads and installed some that I designed and 3D printed. The hole in the middle came out a bit larger than I wanted, but I'll let it slide. The rest of the dimensions are correct.
Following this I wrapped up any other detailing that I need to do, then primed the car
I then painted and decaled the car. Microscale's decal sheet was apparently made to place on the Walthers 70' Cryogenic Reefer model, because the icicle decals are far too short. But I worked with what I had and it's not that noticeable.
I then built the end cage using the original Exactrail one as a base, redoing the platform and guardrails as appropriate. I also had to shorten how far out the platform was from the end of the car.
Having done all this it was time for weathering. Here are the prototype pictures I worked from. 1st side is matching number:
Other side is non-matching number:
-Kevin