Friday, August 11, 2023

Lumber Load in Gondola - SP 160522 - MDC Kitbash


Southern Pacific G-70-7 stand-in kitbash from an MDC Thrall gondola. - Time to build a load!

Starting in 1951 SP ordered pairs of 52ft 6in mill-type gondolas, the first pair G-70-7 & -8 were built with all-welded construction.  The -7s came with fixed ends and 5ft IH sides, while the -8s came with drop-ends and 3ft IH sides.

SP 160522, kitbashed stand-in SP fixed-end gondola of G-70-7 from MDC/Roundhouse Thrall 52ft gondola.

A number of years ago I kitbashed an MDC/Roundhouse Thrall 50ft gondola.  The ends were replaced, small fish-belly sides were added.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a spare body at the time to increase the height to the proper 5ft, so for this model the stock MDC 4ft IH had to do.  I used spare RC G-50-22/23 ends to replace the much more modern Thrall ends.  Proto2000 trucks were used on this stand-in model.

Faux Lumber Load 


I'm using an OwlMtModels 3004 "Narrow" two-stack load, and stretching it with a false-floor level with the top of the car-sides.  Not much to say in the construction of the lumber units, other than to say that I built them in layers, not per unit.  This allows me to tightly pack the stacks together to fit in the slightly shorter gondola interior than the standard 52'6" gondolas the 3005 kits are designed to fit tightly in.

Styrene used to lift the load to near the top of the car sides.  Extra support is added in the middle.

OwlMtModels 3004 Kit is plenty to fill the gondola above the sides, if I don't fill the load below the sight lines.

The load still looks good from the outside!

I ended up cutting the stakes off a bit shorter with a diagonal cut to allow them slide easily into the gondola without catching on the sides.  I may add a think styrene sheet to help support the remaining stake stubs and keep any light from going under the faux level of the load.

In Closing


Here's the completed OwlMtModels 3004 Modular Lumber Load in the G-70-7.

A quick coat of Tamiya Light Sand misting adds some good tan wood color.  I'll probably add a light wash of darker color just to highlight the board edges.

Jason Hill

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Freight Car Modeling Index - General index of my freight modeling projects.
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