I was surprised how sturdy the basic box was once you got the roof glued on.
Bob, Nice job with the instructions & parts… my boxes are falling together quite nicely.
Good to see at least one other person building. 
Thanks for adding the Table of Contents to the article, Bob. It makes it MUCH easier to get around.
Geoff Ringle said:It's good to note that they're not falling apart....:D
Bob, Nice job with the instructions & parts… my boxes are falling together quite nicely.
Working out a bunch of the details on the car ends right now…stay tuned!
Having determined that I lack the skill to make a bunch of EBT-style poling pockets, Ive done what I do best, ignore the problem. I’ve left space on the end beams, and I may put a simpler poling pocket on there, but right now, Im leaving them off.
Next page is up. This one deals with the final details on the car ends (grab irons, coupler buffer, and cut lever).
Bob
- With my not possessing 1/4 of your modeling skills, nor a copy of the quick-pic book I ask this dumb question -
What is it about the poling pockets that would make using an Ozark or similar casting look wrong?
JR
The EBT poling pockets are an interesting, ‘on the corner’, iron casting. It also has an outward angle of about 10 degrees. You can make it out sort of in this photo.
I’ll see if I can dig up a better close-up. I was hoping that the Bachmann hopper would have the right ones, but they dont.
Here we go… here’s a closeup of them. Note that lots of the pockets cracked like this one did.
They would have to be resin casted…or lost wax casted. Personally I would be willing to settle for pocket castings from Ozark. Mine won’t be lettered for EBT anyhow…and I’m just not that much of a picker of nits…
Thanks Bob. The pictures fully explain the difference between the EBT style an a typical Ozark casting which is flat (not corner mounted). I’m surprised I never noticed that detail before. Ive spent enough time in and around the stuff. Probably have a dozen or so close ups somewhere in my own collection. Oh- heres one of a box car end taken in 2005 
And the side view really points out the angle of the pocket.
Looking down a string of cars from the adjoining track you can see the entire pocket on a number of cars. JR
Yes, Thanks Bob for the good pictures. I was worried about that detail. I ordered all the EBT Quick Pic books the other day, but don’t have them yet. BTW, here is their site: http://www.quickpicbooks.com/ I’m building two boxes and they are going to be beautiful models… I’m not taking a shortcut on the PPs. It took about 1/2 hour to whip out a first try. The 5/16 Evergreen tube seems about right for the pocket size. A little .060 styrene sheet and #18 brass brads were also used. I’ll probably just sit down and make 8.
Another good alternative would be the Trackside Details TD-67
Damn you, Geoff! (shakes fist) Those look great. I’ll take 48, please!
Im working one in sculpey right now…we’ll see how this goes…
I’ve got the EBT boxcar and 3 bay hopper books (next project). They’re a wealth of information if you look closely…
The Quickpic books just arrived… Bob, you’re right. All those little details…many questions answered. I’ll refine my proportions before I do a batch.
It’s really quite easy. Just build an L from .060, cut the tube at the 10 or so degree angle, glue tube to angle, add small triangular webs of .060, round the corners & soften edges, plop in some brad heads & give it a heavy coat of paint to “web” into the corners (so it looks like a casting). A dozen or so should only be a couple of hours… most of the time waiting for the solvent to harden between steps.
One thought is to spend a little more time on a pattern and send it off for casting.
There might be enough folks building these to justify a run, especially if the 3-bay is next. Also, I could see grinding off the “half hearted†attempt on the new Bachmann 2-bays and attaching a “proper†EBT pole pocket casting.
Thats where Im headed, to make a master, and cast them. They’d look good on the bman 2 bay, too. And the 3 bay if/when I get that rolling… and anyone that wants to make flats…
I think I have a good one drying right now. I flooded it pretty well with adhesive, so its pretty soft right now. Need to let it dry, then do a bit of sanding, and then fill it a bit with some filler… might work out…
Bob McCown said:Well then, I want 48 pair.
Thats where Im headed, to make a master, and cast them. They'd look good on the bman 2 bay, too. And the 3 bay if/when I get that rolling... and anyone that wants to make flats....
Since its STILL raining here, I can’t paint the boxcar, so Im working on the poling pockets some more. I’ve got my first few castings out of the mold. Here’s one from last night
The casting is the right size and shape. I just need to take a bit more care casting them. Once I get a handful of them done, Ill make a larger mold to cast more than one at a time. I’ll also glue them to the boxcar and see how they look.
I like them, but your crack isn’t prototypical - its on the wrong side
[ducks as razor sharp acrylic scrap flies in my direction]
JR
Jon Radder said:
I like them, but your crack isn't prototypical - its on the wrong side[ducks as razor sharp acrylic scrap flies in my direction]
JR
Jon,
Nice crack!
Seriously now: How many poling pockets are there usually on a car? And are they still on cars today? Either I didn’t look close enough or I didn’t know what I’m looking at! 
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:4 Per car - all types. Located at corners of sill plates. See photos previous page. Still exist on all extant examples of EBT rolling stock in Orbisonia and Mt. Union, Pennsylvania.
How many poling pockets are there usually on a car? And are they still on cars today? Either I didn't look close enough or I didn't know what I'm looking at! :(
JR