Large Scale Central

A scratchbuilt hopper

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I have one pair of trucks left from what I bought, so what to do with them? If I am ever going to have a RR I will need something to haul ballast. So I took some GR 1:22.5 plans and added 11% to the dimensions to build a drop-bottom hopper. First we have to rip some wood. I am using Western soft maple, you see of the left what I am cutting it from. I have a stash of those short pieces.

Next Glue up the frame. In a jig to keep it square

Now the sides. In a jig as well.

The sides and the end brace and angle brace done.

The sides and bracing glued up, bottom pieces in the background.

Next the bottom pieces glued in.

And then on with the underframe detail. Sorry no Brake rigging.

#2

Randy,
Beautifully clean work. I love to see scratch building.
How are you going to paint, looks like it will be tough
to get some of that end bracing painted.
Good job
Rick

#3

Neat! What are the queenposts?

#4

Rick i figure there is enough ‘holes’ to get paint in.
Bob the queen posts a simply cotter pins, and ‘eyelets’ from the Wallyworld sewing section. Nothing fancy, just a reasonable representation of the real thing.

#5

Very nice.
I like to see cars built with wood.
Ralph

#6

Started bending up some of the brass and wire pieces as well. They will be glued on with CA and then drilled for small pins to simulate bolt heads.
My only concern is this car is going to turn out quite light. Might have to add some hidden whttp://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kettle_valley/_forumfiles/hopper8.JPGeight somewhere.

#7

nice work Randy

#8

Very nice work Randy. I wouldn’t worry too much about painting them. Just dunk them in Thompsons water seal, let them dry and age naturally. They’ll look great.
Ron

#9

There’s some nice models coming out of B.C., eh?

#10

nice work, Randy…

#11

Ditto… very nice :slight_smile:

#12

Very nice work, Randy. How are you bending those brass pieces? They all look identical. :wink: Do metal wheels give you enough weight?

#13

Made a bit of progress today. Got the hopper doors made and some more metal bent. Bruce, for bending I am using different sizes of pliers and even crescent wrenchs. Whatever I can find that has the right jaw width. Nothing fancy.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kettle_valley/_forumfiles/hopper9.JPG)

#14

Whatever gets the job done! Nice bends.

#15

Cool!
:slight_smile:

#16

Started adding the metal bits and the 160 or so escutcheon pins

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kettle_valley/_forumfiles/hopper10.JPG)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/kettle_valley/_forumfiles/hopper11.JPG)

#17

Page 2 already?
:slight_smile:

#18

Excellent work Randy! That’s a really nice looking car.

#19

Great looking car Randy. BTW how far do you live from Spokane, Washington? One of our club members lives in South Slocan, BC and comes down to join in our fun at the meetings. Ron Spencer posts on here and built some beautiful passenger cars last year. He brought them down last summer and ran them on my layout.

Chuck

#20

Thanks Chuck. Ron lives considerably closer to you than me. I’m just south of Kamloops, about 7 hours to Spokane from here.
BTW Ron does some excellent work