I always liked the look of the modern centerbeam flat cars .However there aren’t many choices avalable. So if you want one you’ll have to make it from scratch. And that’s what i’ll attempt to do here . The car i’m building is a Thrall 73’ centerbeam .

COOL !

The first thing to do is cut a piece of 0.80 plastic that will be the deck of the car . It measures 76’ from end to end and 10’ wide in 1/29th scale. Its a couple of inches wider as the actual dimension is 9’ 10" but will make measuring for me a lot easier and its hard to see 2" in 1/29th. Anyway after I had the basic flatcar deck cut out it was time to get the frame started. I chose aluminum strip I got from Loews for the backbone of the car. The trucks and couplers will be mounted to the aluminum strip . This will give it some weight down low and a good strong backbone to pull long trains . I cut out the area where the wheels will go so the car will sit low like the prototype . I am using USA Trains trucks for this car. Once the aluminum strip was cut to shape I glued it to the plastic sheet with epoxy . Then I measured for where the truck bolster will go and drilled and tapped it 4x40.(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0407[1].JPG) (http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0409[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0410[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0412[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0413[1].JPG)

Where’s the napkin?

Napkins are for Sissies! Just start cutting!

That’s how my workbench looks when I start LOL. It gets progressively messier believe me.

Mike, yea. I start with a clean workbench too, but eventually it gets lost under the pile.

A clean workbench?? What’s that???

To engineer something, you have to have the proper engineering form – a napkin.

I thought you were talking about my workbench Steve , sorry , I misunderstood . You wanted to see the engineering drawings .(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0675.JPG)

Okay ,now that the basic frame is done its time to make the truck bolsters. I threaded a 2 inch long 4-40 screw into the aluminum frame . Then I laminated some plastic to make the truck bolster . The top that contacts the truck is made of aluminum for wear resistance . After the bolster dried ( I used JBWeld ) I drilled a hole through it to accept a 1/4" plastic tube . Then I slipped it over the screw and JB Welded it down. When that dried I filled with JB Weld the space around the screw and tube . I trimmed the tube to mimic what USA does on their cars. Here are some pictures .(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0415[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0418[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0419[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0420[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0423[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0424[1].JPG)

Cool this will be one to follow

And now we see that it’s properly engineered. I like the use of aluminum.

I got a little more done on the car . I mounted Kadee #830 couplers to the aluminum mounting pad with 3 , 1/2 inch long 4-40 screws and a little dab of blue locktite. Then I put the trucks on and trimmed the 2" long screw with my Dremmel and a cut off disc . I would like to think it was planning but I got lucky and didn’t need to do any shimming to bring the coupler to the correct height. . At this stage I have a piece of white plastic with trucks and couplers. Next i’ll be building the sides up using the same 0.80 plastic I used for the deck. Heres some more pictures of my progress.(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0428[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0429[1].JPG)

I am very exited about this as I would like to do something similar. please post tons of pics!

mike dorsch said:

I thought you were talking about my workbench Steve , sorry , I misunderstood . You wanted to see the engineering drawings .(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0675.JPG)

We have standards. Thanks for helping us keep them. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Happy to comply Steve LOL. Heres a few more pictures of the build . I attached the sides to the deck of the car using MEK . I cut the material for the sides from a sheet of 0.80 plastic. Then I used the lead weights from some Aristo locos I acquired to hold everything together till it cured. After that I used some real small plastic square pieces and put them on the top and bottom of the sides. It gives the sides that “C” channel look I was after. It looks a lot better now that the sides are on it. Then I added lateral braces across the car from end to end using MEK. . (http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0434[1].JPG)you (http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0435[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0437[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0440[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0441[1].JPG)(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/todus2/gondola%20load/IMGA0442[1].JPG)

I like when the builder shows the packaging, it takes away the doubt on what was described. Nice work on the build Mike.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

Thanks Dave . I tried to document each step as best I can . I’m already 2 months into this project so it will seem i’m making quick work of it but it is very time consuming and repetitive work at times . I’ll keep posting to bring this build up to date as it is today.

“I’m already 2 months into this project so it will seem i’m making quick work of it”

now why did you have to go and reveal that tidbit to those unknowing souls here. We’ve tried for years to get them to believe scratch building only takes 3 days tops(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)