I decided to do a little size modification on a HLW 1:24 Flat Car. I had already invested in body mounted couplers and steel wheels, but the overal size was looking just too small for what I now wanted. This actually is a test fit for wanting to change some 1:22.5 Bachmann Tank Cars on Flat Cars to 1:20.3. My objective was to not change the length, but to change the width. This would cause a 26 ft 1:24th flat car to a 22ft 1:20.3 flat car. It would also back date them to smaller, more worn equipment era. Some of my ideas came from Kevin Strong’s work he shows on his website. The first step was to remove coupler pockets and a little overhang of the decking. I did this with my bandsaw.
I then cleaned off the molded in ladders and flash from the bandsaw with a hobby knife and razor saw.
I glued some scrap wood on the sides that matched the profile of the side of the flat car. This was glued on with regular epoxy that takes overnight to dry. I held it in place with clamps. I used teak, because I have a whole bunch of scrap. I then glued coffee stir sticks on with first trying regular epoxy and then went to 5 minute epoxy because it held better in a short period of time. The completed car was painted with flat box car red latex, that I buy from the local hardware store by the quart after having it blended to the exact color I want.
Here it is end to end against an AMS 1:20.3 Flat Car.
Some Ozark Minatures details are ordered and will be applied as time allows.
I have a ton of 1:24 stuff so I’ll be following your results closely. The Bachman tanks are a really good candidate for this treatment,. The flat they ride on in the weakest part of them - the tanks themselves have nice detail.
