About The Steam Era Freightcars Blog

This blog discusses all aspects of North American freight cars of the steam era, from the dawn of railroading through 1960.
It is intended to support the efforts of model railroaders who wish to produce the most prototypically accurate freight cars possible.
Prototype modelers are encouraged to participate in this blog. Please consider sending photos of prototypes and your efforts to model them, reviews of kits, books and other products, “articles” about your modeling efforts – with or without photos. The nature of blogging means the material can be "real time," and in-process models can be shared. These are not only welcomed, but appreciated as we all love to see a model develop over time.
Also welcome is information about upcoming prototype meets, shows, and other events.
Information submitted for this blog is considered gratis. Also, all submissions must include your name and contact email.
For more information or to submit information email steamfreightcar@gmail.com.

Showing posts with label New Product Announcement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Product Announcement. Show all posts

Friday, November 7, 2014

New HO Scale 8K Chemical Tank Car from Tangent

I mentioned at Naperville there were rumblings about a couple of new steam era freight cars that "maybe" would be announced around the time of Trainfest in Milwaukee.
Awoke to find this posted this morning - Marty

"Tangent Scale Models is proud to introduce our next ALL-NEW freight car replica, the General American 8,000 Gallon Acid Tank Car with Welded Underframe.  Following World War II, specialized liquid shippers requested new special duty tank cars, and General American Transportation Corporation met their demands by producing specific-service cars such as this 8,000 gallon acid service tank car.  At the same time, General American switched from a riveted underframe and riveted tank design to a welded underframe and tank.  While General American’s factory in Sharon PA manufactured at least three different post-war versions of 8,000 gallon acid all-welded tank cars, these specific prototypes were produced between 1949 and 1960.  Like all Tangent Scale Models offerings, these tank cars had long service lives, lasting well into the 1980s in revenue service.  Acid service tank cars were commonly-seen nationwide, providing transportation for strong chemical compounds, such as hydrochloric (muriatic), hydrofluoric, phosphoric, and sulfuric acids.  Acid tank cars were rubber-lined, featured one percent expansion domes on the top, and did not have bottom tank outlets. 

The Tangent Scale Models General American 8,000 gallon acid tank car is a visually-distinctive model that includes details accurate for each paint scheme.  Note the distinctive small expansion dome at the top, surrounded by a beautifully-rendered “see-through” safety walkway.  Our walkways along the side of the car are also “see-through” safety tread, just like their prototypes.  As always, our correct “true-to-life” colors and “hyper-accurate” lettering includes exact fonts and lettering placement.  Finally, our scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling all-metal wheels and Kadee® scale couplers, meaning our models are truly ready to run.  
This is NOT a pre-order announcement.  Our NEW Ready to Run replicas are available NOW at www.tangentscalemodels.com and we are selling these at Trainfest in Milwaukee on November 8-9.  Whether wearing “plain” GATX lease colors or the colors of a lessee, these replicas will certainly be eye-catchers on your layout!  Our first stunning release includes four paint schemes:
GATX “Black Lease 1952+” in the plain “black lease 1952+” scheme.  This GATX black lease scheme represents a general lease car in service beginning in 1952 and is broadly applicable across North America.  It is available in four road numbers.
 GATX “Stauffer Chemical Company” in the distinctive gray and black scheme with a 1953 paint date and 1949 build date, complete with the Stauffer diamond logo and Victor Chemical Division lettering, just like the prototype car.  These stunning cars are available in four road numbers.
GATX “The D O W Chemical Company” in the black scheme with striking yellow graphics including “Freeport Texas” lettering.  These nationwide service cars include a 1953 paint date on the side of the car.  This GATX lease scheme is available in four road numbers.
GATX "White Lease 1971+” in the striking “white lease 1971+” scheme which includes a large black stripe in the middle of the car.  These cars were repainted in 1971, which of course is modeled after an exact prototype photo.  These cars lasted in service into the 1990s, and are available in four road numbers.
Undecorated RTR Black 1949-1951 cars are immediately ready for decaling!
Undecorated RTR Black 1951-1960 cars are immediately ready for decaling!
Undecorated Unpainted Kits are available as well for those who desire to build their own. 

Pricing for RTR models is $44.95.  High-resolution images showing these fine replicas are available at www.tangentscalemodels.com  and our site also includes prototype images for your reference as well."

Thursday, October 23, 2014

New parts from Yarmouth Model Works

New etched parts are available now from Yarmouth Model Works.
6 new stirrups and 2 new running boards

These are 2 examples, visit Yarmouth Model Works for full details.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Naperville (Lisle) 2014 RPM Report

By Marty McGuirk
I had the last minute opportunity to attend the “Naperville” (actually, it’s in Lisle, Ill., but old habits die hard….) RPM meeting last week.  It was great to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones.  I’ve always enjoyed this meeting since I went to the very first one organized by Martin Lofton.  Joe D’Alia took up the banner when Martin passed away a few years ago and has done a great job keeping this “RPM National” meet going.
I was in the hotel for no more than five minutes when someone asked about including another of Bill Welch’s excellent clinics on this blog.  Apparently Bill mentioned during his presentation that he would ask me to post the clinic here. The answer is I’ll be happy to – once Bill sends me the file!
The following report was developed from what I observed and heard about, with some details I gleaned from others on the STMFC Yahoo Group.  Please feel free to comment with any corrections, additions, or changes.  I didn’t take many photos so if anyone has pictures of the items mentioned below please let me know and I’ll incorporate them into this post.
There were no new steam era freight car models announced at the meeting, but we did have some status updates on projects we already know about and one or two interesting items.
Andrew Dahm (Westerfield) was present and he was showing some new items he is working on, including double deck Rock Island stockcars.  As a New England modeler that’s not terribly interesting to me … but it's a neat car. I was very interested in a new casting for supporting house car roofs that will soon be a part of his kits.  This will be available separately - currently shown HERE on the Westerfield web site for 1500/4200/4300 series kits. 


Yarmouth Model Works "wavy side" Wabash welded boxcar.
Yarmouth Model Works (owned by Pierre Oliver, one of the co-moderators of this blog) was there with his new HO scale Wabash boxcar with the wavy welded sides. I picked up a few of Pierre’s newer etched metal items, specifically end braces for running boards and replacement stirrups for Intermountain boxcars and reefers. Yarmouth Model Works has been developing HO scale versions of the AC&F proprietary end and roof. Sample prints have been on hand for a while now and Pierre’s been showing them to a select few.  He did mention that in a year or so it his intention to release a number of 40' boxcar kits featuring the AC&F end, roof and "Carbuilder" end.  That's all he’s prepared to say at this time.


In the Display Room Saturday morning I had a chance to see the Resin Car Works, (a new enterprise from long-time Sunshine pattern maker Frank Hodina) AC&F HO scale Acid Tank cars.  Along with the tank car was something of a surprise – an Illinois Terminal class B electric locomotive.  Sideframes and the Loco superstructure are resin with NWSL drives in each truck. Frank also shared some details on his next HO freight car. More on that at a future date.
Finally, at various points during the weekend I heard rumblings of new models in the works. I was told Kadee has a new HO freight car well along in the tooling process. It will be available about the end of the year or early 2015. I also heard at least one, possibly two other new transition era cars that will be announced “….sometime in the next few weeks.” And indications are both will be available on announcement.  We’ll see.
For those planning ahead it was announced that Lisle RPM Meet will be third weekend in October at the same location. Check this WEBSITE for more details.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Announcement: Resin Car Works - Consolidated Chemical Industries 7K Acid Tank Car


By Marty McGuirk

Resin Car Works is a new manufacturing enterprise. The company is new but steam era freight car modelers are very familiar with Resin Car Works owner Frank Hodina's work as a long time pattern maker responsible for many of Sunshine Models masters. Full disclosure - I've known about this enterprise for a while as Frank has been busy preparing the masters for RCW's first car. The car was announced at the St Louis RPM meet earlier in the month which means I am no longer bound by my vow of silence (although I've agreed to stay quiet about other RCW plans!) The flyer spells out RCW's mission "… to produce accurate HO scale resin car kits that are easy to build and that will actually be built and operated."
Frank is a long time friend of mine, and when he read my appeal for information for this blog he sent me the following note and the attached images: 


"Marty

I would love to be able to use your blog. I’ve been told I should have one now that RCW is almost up and running. I’m a good Roman though and will steal anything from anybody to use for my own profit and amusement.

Attached is a photo of the test/pilot model for the acid cars (see above). Hopefully the kit will be out at the end of October, first part of November. Pasting down the production patterns now. Need to build a few more and write the instructions. The only hang up is the photo etched parts and finding someone to do them. Don’t need much just tank car bands, ladders and parts for the larger platforms. - Frank"


Here are jpegs of the flyers announcing the first few road names for this car. When I have ordering information I'll post it here. 







New Products: Etched Stirrups from Yarmouth Model Works

The line of etched detail parts continues to grow at Yarmouth Model Works. Three new etched stirrups are now available.
Part #211- 12" straight leg stirrup

Part #212- 12" angled leg stirrup
Part #213- Double angled stirrup
Each fret retails for $3.00 and has enough pieces to do four cars. Order direct from the  Yarmouth Model Works.