Bruce Chandler
Freeloader
Foreman
Posts:265
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 | | 06/08/2008 4:30 PM |
| Phil recently started shipping his Drop Bottom Gondola.
I just finished the model and it's ready for the paint shop.
I weathered the boards with an alcohol/India ink mixture prior to assembly. I will leave the inside as is and only paint the outside.
Phil's kits are well engineered and sturdy enough even for an oaf like me to operate in the garden. While his instructions are always first rate, he has REALLY outdone himself this time with lots of pictures to accompany the step by step directions. The castings are clean and only require minimal clean up. While it's definitely not a shake the box kit, it goes together very nicely. I sure had fun putting this one together. | |
Bruce | |
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Dougald
Moderator
Foreman
Posts:461
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| | 06/08/2008 5:15 PM |
| Very nice Bruce ... the Northland RR can sure use a few of the drop bottom gons.
Many of Phil's kits duplicate cars offered by AMS in rtr platic or by Hartford in their superb quality kits. I can well agree with Bruce, Phil puts together a very solid kit that builds to a car that will withstand day to day use. His kits are laser cut so the wood parts go together precisely and there is no frustration at all. i have enjoyed the kits I have built.
Regards ... Doug | |
Doug Matheson
Manotick Ontario
SA #122 | |
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NTCGRR
1st Class Member
Nebraska City NE
Engineer
Posts:1077
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| | 06/08/2008 6:25 PM |
| | I've herad of drop end, but how does an old wood drop bottom work?? | |
 Marty Cozad
North Table Creek GRR
Nebraska City, NE
Is it "REAL" or just 1:29 th | |
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Semper Vaporo
1st Class Member
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Engineer
Posts:1518
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| | 06/08/2008 6:37 PM |
| | You put too much in and the bottom drops out???? | |
 C. T. McCullough
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Le 18:22
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Spule 4
2nd Class Member
Conductor
Posts:602
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chama
1st Class Member
Reston, VA
Brakeman
Posts:51
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| | 06/08/2008 8:31 PM |
| Posted By NTCGRR on 06/08/2008 6:25 PM
I've herad of drop end, but how does an old wood drop bottom work??
As you can see in the photos of the model, there were six sections on each side of the car. Six doors on each side were hinged along the center sill of the car and raised and lowered by chains attached to the side of the door opposite the hinge. The chains wound around a shaft on the outside of the car and were controled by the rachet handles on the end. Three doors were ganged together so there were four separately operable sets of doors.
I've got Phil's kit, and while I haven't had time yet to build it, it looks to be another superbly engineered kit. I also have (and built) one of Don Winter's drop bottom gons that could best be described as the inspiration for Phil's kit as he has improved greatly on the fidelity of the kit to the prototype. His new castings also are much better detailed than Don's which had some ingenious touches (laminated plastic rachet handles), but wasn't as sturdy as Phil's. | |
Scott Loomer, Reston, VA
D&RGW - Alamosa Division
SA #346 | |
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docwatsonva
1st Class Member
Hendersonville, NC
Foreman
Posts:109
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| | 06/09/2008 5:19 AM |
| Beautiful job Bruce. I guess I need to order one of those before they're all gone.
Doc | | | |
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Torby
1st Class Member
North Chicago 'burbs.
Engineer
Posts:1907
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| | 06/09/2008 6:38 AM |
| | Interesting. Perhaps an early hopper. | |
 One king held the frankincense,
One king held the myrrh,
One king held the purest gold,
One King held the hope of the world.
-- Point of Grace | |
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chuck n
1st Class Member
Herndon, Va
Foreman
Posts:125
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| | 06/09/2008 1:08 PM |
| Bruce:
Very nice looking car. Does the bottom drop or is it solid?
ChuckN | | | |
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Bruce Chandler
Freeloader
Foreman
Posts:265
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| | 06/09/2008 3:22 PM |
| Very solid, Chuck. Nothing moves, which is the way I prefer. I'm amazed at how well engineered the kit is.
I built one of Don's kits.
They were nice and solid as well, but Phil has really outdone it this time.
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Bruce | |
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chuck n
1st Class Member
Herndon, Va
Foreman
Posts:125
Send Message
| | 06/09/2008 4:08 PM |
| Bruce:
Thanks for the answer. I prefer solid. On the 40' reefer I glued down the ice hatches to minimize small items breaking off.
Chuck N | | | |
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jimtyp
1st Class Member
Centennial, CO
Conductor
Posts:753
Send Message
| | 06/09/2008 4:13 PM |
| | Very nice Bruce! The weathering looks great! What paint/color did you use? | |
livin' la vida loco | |
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gary Armitstead
1st Class Member
Burbank, CA
Foreman
Posts:477
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| | 06/09/2008 4:41 PM |
| Bruce,
You have inspired me!. I think I need to get one of these. | |
Gary Armitstead
Los Angeles Live Steamers
SA #4449 | |
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NTCGRR
1st Class Member
Nebraska City NE
Engineer
Posts:1077
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| | 06/09/2008 5:52 PM |
| Thanks
Outstanding work on the model. | |
Marty Cozad
North Table Creek GRR
Nebraska City, NE
Is it "REAL" or just 1:29 th | |
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Bruce Chandler
Freeloader
Foreman
Posts:265
Send Message
| | 06/10/2008 8:05 AM |
| Thanks.
To be a bit more clear, the painted model is one I did years ago. I really don't recall how I painted it. | |
Bruce | |
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Bruce Chandler
Freeloader
Foreman
Posts:265
Send Message
| | 07/13/2008 3:13 PM |
| Finally finished them. I think they're ready for delivery!
 | |
Bruce | |
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Stan Cedarleaf
1st Class Member
Dewey, AZ
Conductor
Posts:609
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Paul Norton
1st Class Member
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Foreman
Posts:364
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| | 07/13/2008 3:57 PM |
| | Beautiful Bruce! I hope you are bringing those to the Annual American Invasion of Ottawa for all to admire. | |
Paul Norton
Ottawa Valley GRS | |
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Dougald
Moderator
Foreman
Posts:461
Send Message
| | 07/13/2008 6:16 PM |
| Bruce
Great looking cars and the Northland RR can sure put them to good use. Outstanding construction and another nice PNG kit.
Regards ... Doug | |
Doug Matheson
Manotick Ontario
SA #122 | |
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Bob Pero
Brakeman
Posts:49
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| | 07/14/2008 6:17 PM |
| | Very nice Bruce. The detail attached is amazing!!! | | | |
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