HO Atlas Covered Hopper Question

Mark Mathu wrote: [...] Shouldn't all 4650 models be the same

Not necessarily. Different batches of the "same" cars from the same mfr and from different mfrs will vary somewhat, sometimes a lot. Railmodel Journal is a good resource if you want to understand the variations in car design.

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir
Loading thread data ...

I model the Southern Pacific in the '70s. Generally, most of my ACF

4650s are Accurail. They measure 53'9" corner posts, 54'3" over strikers, and 58'0" pulling faces, about three and one-half scale feet too long in all three measurements. Of course, the pulling face measurement is dependent on the type of couplers used. I went back to all Kadee #5s. I started to use McHenry's but they tended to droop too much. I swap out the scale couplers on the new cars also, too hard to couple and too sensitive to track problems. In addition, the Accurail SSW ACF 4650s are numbered incorrectly for the 9 roof walk support version and both the SP and SSW versions have incorrect stirrups. That's the main reason I started looking for a better 4650. The Front Range 4650s measure 50'3" corner posts, 51'4" over strikers, and 55'3" pulling faces. The first two body lengths are close and a hair smaller than Atlas, but due to the way the couplers mount, the pulling face measurement is almost one foot longer, and it gives the appearance of being longer than the Atlas car when strung together. When things get crowded they will be the first to go. I don't have the Intermountain 13 roof walk support version. Although correct for some roads, they are incorrect for the SP and SSW. I hear they are close but visibly longer than the Atlas cars. The Athearn 4 Bay ACF car is 55'0" for both the corner posts and over strikers, and 58'0" over pulling faces. I'm not sure what this car represents or how big it is suppose to be for the SSW, but I use it for my Class H-100-19 even though the color is way off. I coordinate the road numbers and discharge gates and give them an all over thin coat of gray paint and weathering. They look huge. Since the Atlas cars have the right measurements and are correct for the SP and SSW, I guess I will use them for my standard 4650.

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:54:56 GMT, OvC wrote:

Reply to
Byron Lane

The only 4650's I know of in HO are Atlas and Intermountain. The Accurail is a plate B 4600 cu ft (if I remember correctly)

Reply to
me

Reply to
Byron Lane

So buy wichever kind is closest, sell any you have that don't appear to fit, or just don't sweat it - looked at your flanges lately? Now THAT is GROSSLY off scale!!

Reply to
Steve Caple

Reply to
Bruce Favinger

Don't forget to measure some prototype cars, including the variations even in what appear to be similar cars. Canadian cylindrical hoppers are notorious for this. They all look the same. Until ... devil is in the details. Must be 6 or 8 variations in what would be outwardly identical cars. Jb

Reply to
J Barnstorf

Unless your couplers, wheels, track etc are exactly to scale, why does it matter whether anything else is?

Reply to
Eddie Oliver

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.