Generic flat car for On30

[AF350]

Here is my first attempt at scratch building a narrow gauge car for On30.

[Catt]

I just spotted this.Guess I should pay more attention.

Anyway I don't see any updates,have you got any?

[TrainNut]

Do you have pictures of it from any other angle? Maybe there is nothing to see from any other angle?

[AF350]

Will post some progress pics as soon as possible. Need to order some trucks, couplers and stake pockets.

It is not based on any prototype and I am going for a thrown together look.

It is built mostly out of corn dog sticks(county fair brand) and Popsicle sticks and the bolsters are made of balsa wood.

[nachoman]

Will post some progress pics as soon as possible. Need to order some trucks, couplers and stake pockets.

It is not based on any prototype and I am going for a thrown together look.

It is built mostly out of corn dog sticks(county fair brand) and Popsicle sticks and the bolsters are made of balsa wood.

Another scratchbuilder - awesome!

[AF350]

This is my first attempt in wood in On30, also have an S scale auto rack car that is waiting for me to get a better resistance solderstation as the one I made just barely works well enough for the project The S car is being made out of a sheet of copper.

I like the look of narrow gauge rolling stock that has the appearance of being engineered on the fly with what ever the railroad had handy. On30 annual is a great inspiration, for those who prefer HOn30 there is an HOn30 publication from carstens as well.

If this project turns out good may do a series of cars built on the basic "GFC" concept. As I post progress I welcome pointers and suggestions from those who have been scratch building awhile or anyone else interested in doing this kind of modeling.

[AF350]

As requested some other angles of the GFC(Generic Flat Car)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytoytrains/4657329966/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytoytrains/4657329460/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytoytrains/4656707359/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytoytrains/4656706835/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytoytrains/4657327906/

[AF350]

I got my trucks, couplers and stake pockets today ftom Grandt lines. installed the trucks(was super easy) will have to retake pics as they came out too dark maybe I should have used the flash??? have a o scale figure sitting on the gfc and on the track next to my one and only On30 loco

[AF350]

   

   

   


Will get some better shots later on.

[AF350]

Well I hope these are better than the previous pics of flat car

   

   

   

[nkp_174]

For your next car, I would suggest that the lumber dimensions are a bit chunky.

Side sills were frequently 4"x8" for small cars. 10-14 ton capacity 26'-30' cars frequently used the slightly larger 4"x10" sills, and 20t+ capacity cars used 4"x10", 5"x12", or 6"x12" side sills. Typically, side and center sills were the same size while intermediate sills were one size smaller (passenger cars excluded). End sills were usually a little smaller, with the bolster and draft timbers/irons carrying much of that load.

Decking was commonly 2"x8" for smaller cars and as heavy as 3"x14" for larger cars.

For really short cars like the above, I'd consider using a king post (and single needlebeam and pedestals) instead of queen posts. You can certainly justify the heavy timbers as a means of avoiding truss rods.

[Drew]

I think the car looks great!
Has a rough-cut, "home-built" look like a lot of 1:1 NG equipment did!

I was wondering if the weight of the car was enough for it to run well...???
I didn't see that you added any weight...did I miss something?

Keep up the good work!

[nachoman]

A good use of free materials. It looks like some kind of home-built logging flat car. Something a railroad would have built in their own shops using available parts to serve a specific purpose. I think you need some kind of load, though. I suggest a small engine, water or fuel barrels. Perhaps a logging railroad made something like that to house a fuel tank to transport fuel to their logging equipment.

[AF350]

Thanks all for the comments and tips

I did not even think about weight, it rolls fairly well on the track(bachmanns HO roadbed type track) I used stuff that I normaly would have trashed

As for a load I was thinking along the lines of tool boxes and tanks(fuel, and water)

The next car will keep in mind a more scale look as far as components and lumber sizes, I am just starting out as far as scratchbuilding rollingstock.

I am kinda bouncing around as far as scale as I have both S and O gauge trains

If I do another car(and I will) it will be a bit more complex maybe a narrow gauge stock car??? I am thinking goats and chickens and a mule or two.

[AF350]

I have to repair the original GFC and paint/weather the copies 3 complete, 1 to represent a busted deck and one partial casting of the deck only. in all will have 5 GFC flat cars. Also doing a kitbash project to complement the GFC cars.