URTX Postwar Reefers and a Teaser

 

This is one of the first group of cars with the Dartnot end. GATC photo, Bob's Photo

Like the other major refrigerated car fleet operators, Union Refrigerator Transit bolstered its fleet in the postwar years through the addition of new equipment. URTX was owned by General American so naturally the cars were constructed at the company's East Chicago plant. The 1,000 cars were forty-foot steel cars with some interesting details. 

The deep crossbearers and some of the brake arrangement is visible in this excellent image. Bob's Photo

As can be seen, they had horizontal steel sheathing, with two sheets per half of the side (one overlapping the other at the edges) riveted to U-section flanged ("hat" section) structural steel members. The cars were also equipped with the Duryea Cushion underframe. The last group incorporated an unusual roof with two "flat" panels adjacent to the end panels with the hatches (most cars had one such flat panel.) All had air circulating fans, as well. General American seemed to have a preference for the Barber S-2 truck design and these were equipped with that type of truck.

Sept. 16, 1949, Vancouver, BC, Walter E. Frost, City of Vancouver Public Library

The ends were also either Dartnot (no smaller intermediate corrugations in the end panels; see image at top of page for a good view) or a combination of Dartnot/Improved Dreadnaught designs. The photo of URTX 37754 below illustrates this second "hybrid" type.

This car, URTX 37754, was equipped with the hybrid end as described in the text. Bob's Photo

Photos seem to indicate that as built all of these cars were leased to the Milwaukee Road, although in the absence of conflicting/supporting photos or information, I cannot state that definitively.

This car in service to Iowa Beef Packers, ca. late 60s, illustrates the full length side sill reinforcement applied to many cars in the 1960s

In later years, the side sills were augmented by full length support sections instead of the tabbed sections as built. Many were also leased to meat packers and emblazoned with large colorful schemes, although some remained decorated with the tilted Milwaukee emblem. There was an article in the September, 1999, Mainline Modeler by Loren Martens that included drawings of the second group of cars.

The teaser: years ago, George Toman created sides and one of the end styles used on these cars and Ryan Mendell created the parts for the Duryea underframe. I contributed with the other end and the roof with two flat panels at each end. Next year, I will be offering kits for both designs incorporating all these cool parts. Watch for the announcement. Thanks to George and Ryan for their usual phenomenal work!

Side with horizontal steel sheathing panels

Center of side with accurate door hinges

Duryea underframe components

Dartnot type end

"Hybrid" end

Roof with two flat panel sections at each end

Bill Welch

 

It's hard to fathom that it's been five years since Bill departed. While it's a blur in one sense, as always a lot has transpired in that time. I still think about Bill several times each day, either what he would have said or thought about something, how excited this thing or that would have made him, and the things I would love to have shown or shared with him. I am sure Bill is reveling in the success of the Dodgers! Rest in peace, my friend

Model this scene! Cedar Rapids, Iowa

 

"Untitled photo, possibly related to: Grain elevators and flour mill, freight yards. Cedar Rapids, Iowa," September, 1941, Marion Post Wolcott, FSA/OWI Collection, The Library of Congress, negative LC-USF34-090050-D

These images were recorded by Marion Post Wolcott in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in September, 1941. She was one of many professional photographers of the era who were contracted by the government to record facets of industry, culture, daily life, etc., under the auspices of the Farm Security Administration that morphed into the Office of War Information. They were mostly medium format, so the negatives are generally high quality, and the photographers were generally free to choose their subject matter. As they were recorded under government contract, there were (and are) no copyright restrictions on their use [note that people do download these images and sell prints of them; if you buy such an image you are generally paying for that which you could acquire for free with a little sleuthing.]

"Grain elevators and flour mill, freight yards. Cedar Rapids, Iowa," September, 1941, Marion Post Wolcott, FSA/OWI Collection, The Library of Congress, negative LC-USF34-090049-D

Back to these images... these three images illustrate (to me, at least) what would make an exceptional switching layout opportunity. I presume that these images were recorded over a relatively short period of time, yet you can see in the images the activity level. This entire scene could be recreated in a walkaround island four to six feet wide, depending upon your space and eight to twelve feet long, incorporating some or all of the industries and tracks shown or it could be narrowed to include fewer tracks and perhaps flats instead of full structures on one side and run along a wall. 

"Grain elevators and flour mill, freight yards. Cedar Rapids, Iowa," September, 1941, Marion Post Wolcott, FSA/OWI Collection, The Library of Congress, negative LC-USF34-090051-D

In these images you can see four (!) locos switching these tracks. There are plenty of operating opportunities here. There is also an interesting mix of cars, including the usual box cars plus automobile cars, stock car, reefers (including a dry ice refrigerator car,) tank cars, and coal gondolas. The Sanborn maps for this location can likely be located and there are probably resources about Cedar Rapids in historical society publications. If you're an aprtment dweller or have a small to modest-sized room available for your layout, you could do worse than to recreate this scene.

Pennsylvania Railroad X32A model photos

 

This post picks up the finishing of the pilot model for the Speedwitch X32A parts set (or with Shadow Keystone; note: if you want to peruse the instructions for these sets, the linked file can be found via the two previous links.) The model was painted using Polly Scale light freight car red, followed by Polly Scale zinc chromate primer. I lettered the model with National Scale Car's set for the PRR X31/32/33. Weathering included some streaking using artists' oils, dilute washes and more artists' oils (especially on the roof to simulate pooling of sooty/dirty water, etc.,) plus application of PanPastels in select places. The chalk marks are also from National Scale Car. The placards on the doors are images of actual placards that I had printed on decal paper. The route cards are from Owl Mountain.

I found the base color I airbrushed to be a little too dark for the prototype so instead of repainting the entire model, I sprayed the center of the panels on the sides and roof with a lighter color, resulting in a shaded outcome that was appealing (to me, at least)

I added oils to simulate the spray from the wheels of adjacent cars

The underframe was one of the impetuses for this entire project

Photos of the completed ATSF Bx-34

 

Here are some photos of my completed Santa Fe Bx-34 Modified 1937 AAR box car with Duryea Cushion underframe. The model was built using a Sunshine kit combined with Speedwitch parts (1959+ lettering.) I finished the model using Polly Scale mineral red for the majority of the car body plus Tamiya black for the roof.

The intention was to keep the weathering fairly modest. I applied some streaks using artists' oils dabbed on and brushed down the side using mineral spirits. I also added some light washes, again with thinned artists' oils. These were sealed with flat coats. I then added some sparing and selective applications of PanPastels and Bragdon powders, mostly to the roof, underframe, and trucks. The chalkmarks are from National Scale Car and the routing cards are from Owl Mountain. Excessive "unremoved" dust on the photo above courtesy of myself!

Weathering Book

 

mig Ammo (the paint and related supplies company) published a series of books related to the various techniques and skills needed to build and finish military models. Number 4 in the series (Encyclopedia of Aircraft modelling techniques) is "Weathering." Yes, I am aware that aircraft, armor, etc., aged and deteriorated in different ways than railroad equipment. However, the general techniques, materials, and tools presented in this book are excellent and would be a valuable reference to anyone seeking to learn about weathering or enhance their existing skills. In particular it covers techniques like chipping and using tools like watercolor pencils; my skills for both could stand improvement!  I cannot wait to try out some of the materials and techniques and will present the results on this blog. Military modelers always seem to be ahead of the curve on their skills, materials, and tools, although when the model is the only and end result, it makes the building and finishing paramount. If you can't hide the work among a sea of cars, structures, and scenery on a layout, close inspection is the only way to view it, revealing all flaws (and features too!)

I purchased my copy on ebay, although I noted that there are copies to be found there as well as from online hobby sellers that cater to the military modeling community. A good addition to the library

Where we are at...

 

I am typing this from an almost horizontal position. I was supposed to be arriving at Naperville today, but my balky back made other plans. So, I type this from home. It's been a couple months or so since I started things back up in earnest, including casting. As the "RPM season" sets in, I thought it a good time to share a little bit about what's coming over the next few months.

Some old Speedwitch stuff turned up: DT&I gondola, MEC ARA box car parts, NYC stock car roof and 50' combination rectangular and diagonal panel roof (some prototype details here.)

Parts sets have proven to be a good way to dip my toes in the casting pool. I mostly learned a few things about what shape of mold works best for me and how I like a few varieties of silicone. I am adding a couple wrinkles to the existing offerings. First, for the ATSF Bx-34 parts I have added the 1959-1970s scheme, illustrated in the photo at the top of the page. In addition, I have added Shadow Keystone decals covering 1950s+ schemes for the PRR X32A parts. 

This and the following three photos are of the R-40-25 parts

On the parts front, there are also a couple other offerings nearing release. The first is the PFE R-40-25. This set is intended for an undecorated Intermountain R-40-23 kit or any Amarillo/Intermountain PFE R-40-25 that is NOT the delivery scheme as the UP medallions on those cars are incorrect (I will share info on that when these parts are released.) The sets include correct resin ends and etched parts to correct/upgrade the underframe, side sill details, ladders, hatch cover supports, steps, etc. [there is a companion set for the R-40-26 that is in the works, as well; see undeframe photo below.] The other parts release is for the ITC 1937 AAR box cars with AC&F Carbuilder's ends and also includes resin details, etchings, and decals.

R-40-26 underframe floor casting... board-by-board!

Illinois Terminal AC&F Carbuilder's end for 1937 AAR box car (pre-production before changes)

Photo illustrating the extremely subtle ripples in the side sheathing of the PRR X43A

I am also charging ahead with some full kit offerings. The first is the Milwaukee 50' single sheathed auto cars that I teased awhile back. It will be released November 1st via the Speedwitch site (all decals, etchings, trucks, and other parts are already in house so they will ship immediately!) Another project is the Pullman-Standard-built Central of Georgia 10'0" inside height Emergency box car (PS if you have National Scale Car's set for the A&WP/WofA/Georgia, those decals will work on this model, as well.) If the CofGa offering proves popular, I will add Birmingham Southern, as well. I also have three PRR cars in the hopper: the G28, X43A and X45. The G28 is a project that I started years back. It will be a showstopper, with full underframe detail... and the underframe was a unique welded design with very interesting crossmembers so it bears full attention! The X43A was a 40', mostly postwar AAR design car, with welded sides. I have created patterns with extremely subtle waviness to the sides that I am extremely pleased with and they were unusual in the PRR universe in that they were delivered with black roofs. The last of these three is the X45, a proprietary PRR design for a 50' welded box car. I again added waviness to the sides and the Pennsy proprietary details, including the underframe, are really cool. 

The last of the full kits, but by no means least, and listed in its own paragraph, is a Western Pacific flat car built by AC&F in 1942 that is a fully 3D printed offering. It is spectacular. More details to follow on this gem...

A final tease... several years back I presented a clinic including details about scratchbuilding board-by-board patterns for single sheathed cars. I have been fruitlessly looking for those patterns for over a year. I thought they were lost in the past year's move. Well, a few weeks back, they were presented to me. Turns out I had sent them to someone along with a bunch of other stuff and they were returned! Here is the end for the car in question. IYKYK