Mechanical Reefer Interiors

[Gary S]

Does anyone have any photos of the inside of a mechanical reefer? or can anyone describe what the floors and walls are like? I want to do a car with the door open, and am just wondering how to do the interior. Wood Floor? Metal inside walls? Typicallt white on the inside? All that kind of stuff is what I need to know.

[Tom]

If you're referring to the type of reefers you are kitbashing, they would be silver aluminum floors and walls both with the obligatory dents, dings, scratches and rust marks and dunnage loose and rolling around on the floor.

[Gary S]

Thanks Tom! Those are the ones I am referring to. On the floors, would there be any seams? Running the length of the cars, or across the cars? What about seams on the walls? Horizontal or vertical? Spacing? Anything approximate would be fine. With these being in bulk potato service, they would be quite dinged up and dirty on the inside for sure!

[cnw1961]

Gary, here is a pic of a reefer with open doors. It does not show much, but nobody seem to take pics inside a reefer . Isn’t it funny that only us modeling weirdos want to know what it looks like : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingrr.com/rs/box/17092.jpg">http://www.readingrr.com/rs/box/17092.jpg</a><!-- m -->

[Tom]

I would estimate 6" seams. Basically like a panneled wall of 2" x 6"'s

[P5se Camelback]

Hmmmm! ............ Potatoes, Gary?

Do you plan on a Vodka distillery somewhere on the line?

Jus' wonderin'. 8-)

[Tom]

Oh, and the floor would be a nailable aluminum floor, with joints to match the walls, running across the car, so open the door and you'd be looking at the ends, but near impossible to see with all of the dirst and forklift leavin's on the floor.

[Gary S]

No vodka, biL. These will be for the Mountain King Potato facility.

[Tom]

I had heard that vodka was made from potato's, is that REALLY true?

[Gary S]

Kurt, the link isn't working...

Tom, the interior would be a dull silver gray color with lots of dirt and gunk on the floor making it appear rather brown? And the walls would be more gray-silver with scrapes and marks all over?

As for the seams, both the walls and floor would be made from 6 inch wide aluminum pieces? This is like sheet aluminum over wood?

The aluminum strips would be running horizontal on the walls? I could model this with some scribed plastic sheet?

Oh... what wold the inside of a plug door look like?

And thanks to everyone for joining in and lending a hand!

[Tom]

Kurt, the link isn't working...

Tom, the interior would be a dull silver gray color with lots of dirt and gunk on the floor making it appear rather brown? And the walls would be more gray-silver with scrapes and marks all over?

Eggzachary.
As for the seams, both the walls and floor would be made from 6 inch wide aluminum pieces? This is like sheet aluminum over wood?

Running from top to bottom. It'd be aluminum more or less tongue and grooved. Never looked behind one but the old man (longtime carman) actually says 2' wide sections with space behind so air could circulate behind the walls. Insulated car with a 4" or so air space behind and every 2 feet or so a rib would stick out and across the ribs would be the 2' wide by 8' tall aluminum panels. Not sealed either so the air could circulate from top to bottom with a 3-4 inch gap at top and bottom for airflow. The fan would move air acriss the top of the laod from the a end of the car to the b end across the top of the load and since cold air sinks, it'd flow behind the walls keeping the walls cool. Don't forget to add a canvas sleeve up top for the air to blow out of the fan in the reefer unit. Floor is as I described too, but sections staggered like the top of a pallet for air circulation. My apologies, I had them confused with insulated boxcars, and have Dad on the phone getting info for you. Apologies for the typing errors, he talks faster than I can type!

The aluminum strips would be running horizontal on the walls? I could model this with some scribed plastic sheet?

Yup

Oh... what wold the inside of a plug door look like?

Same as the walls. these cars being plug door cars, it creates an air tight seal.
And thanks to everyone for joining in and lending a hand!

No prob!

[Gary S]

Thank you very much and tell your Dad I also appreciate the info. Very cool that you were able to talk to him and get some help for me! Thanks!!!!

Would the aluminum panels have holes in them for air circulation? Or just gaps between the 2 foot sections?

[Tom]

Neither, just gaps above and below the walls.

[Gary S]

Gotcha, Tom. Thanks so much for all the info. I'll make a drawing and post it here just to make sure I am understanding everything. Wait a sec, I am getting confused again.

Could you possibly make a rough sketch and post it for me?

For the floors, you mentioned it had gaps like a pallet, but they would be fairly small gaps to allow pallet jacks to be used?

[cnw1961]

Kurt, the link isn't working...

Hope this one does. Look for RDG 17092 RPLa: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.readingrr.com/box.htm">http://www.readingrr.com/box.htm</a><!-- m -->