Altterrain,

 

I wanted to note your kitbashed dozer hauling the ore carts was well done.

 

Thanks, Bill

 

following Del's "V Dump" article, I cut my four cars down with my micro table saw.  Smooth cuts.  Now to glue on the strips, bash and paint them.

thank for the detailed dimensions.

 

 If  I compared the v dump cars with the real  german ones, it seems that he could comply with just with the biggest one v dumps but this model is very rare in Germany (for 7/8 scale)

the cut down cars look good and look a lot like these prototype

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Virginia.......

 

 

there is still track under there it is just hard to see

 

I followed Del's  instruction sheet but cut mine down with a microsaw, cleaned the edges with an knife and file.  The bucket now measures 4 1/4".  I finished one of them, (hope the photo comes through).  I used a heated carriage bolt to damage the inside.  I'm not happy with it so I'm thinking about what else I can use.

These are patterned after the On30 cars but it looks like someone's math went a little awry.  Note also that the On30 ones are braked which is why the frame is asymmetrical (one end is longer), but the brake standard is not fitted to the 1:20.3 versions.  In fact UK practice was to marshall so many standard (symmetrical) skips to one braked skip, if US practice is the same I am surprised that B'man chose tp model the braked version.

 

One solution is to purchase skip kits from Binnie Engineering  in the UK .  These are models of Hudson Rugga I cubic yard (27 cu ft) skips and are available in 45mm gauge.  They are available in 45mm ga and are suitable for SMALL locos such as the B'mann Porters and the Davenport.  The coupling heights will be lower than the standard 1:20.3 but then this would be the case on the prototype.  The coupling would probably have been  some form of link & pin.  See

 

http://trains.laurells.net/kits/binnie.html

 

http://trains.laurells.net/kits/Pict3134m.jpeg

Wholesale trains seem to have the best prices when it comes to Hartland.  Here is the link. http://www.wholesaletrains.com/GProducts2.asp?Scale=G&SPECIAL=0
I have bought a few of the Hartland flat cars with the Logs as well as others from the Mini series.  Great little cars and very cheap, under 15 bucks.  You just have to add metal wheels and change the hook and loop couplers.  I also just ordered the flat cars for 14 and change.  You cant beat that price especially when everyone else wants 30 or more bucks.  Im becominh a hudge hartland fan.