Large Scale Central

TYCO 'G'-Scale MONON Hopper

Modeling
#1

This is the last of my “conversions” re-creating my childhood TYCO HO set in G-scale…A simple “rattle-can re-do”!

Start with an LGB NYC hopper…

Strip/sand off all the markings…

Paint a darker shade of grey…

Apply new markings…

You can see the original TYCO HO car pictured in the photos above. Like many I regret giving up my first set but I donated all my HO stuff to a young boy whos parents could not afford much…He got burried in trains! I don’t really need them cluttering up my shelves anyway, I have enough with “G”!

I replaced the original ‘arch-bar’ trucks with Bettendorf types like the TYCO. Decals from Stan.

Sadly, the weather here has been so terrible I cannot over-coat until Sunday soonest. Horrible Spring!!!

#2

That looks fantastic! Although, being a NY Central fan, I would have gladly traded you a Pennsy Hopper to perform your transformation on!!! LOL!

-Kevin.

#3

Thanks Kevin, I’ll be sure to change the next NYC hopper to a Penn-Central! :smiley:

The NYC was the perfect choice being so close to the original TYCO, and only one of two covered hoppers LGB offered (Santa Fe was the other). I used to have a lot of the LGB hoppers until I sold most of them off to fund Bachmann 1:20.3 stuff. I kept this one for just this purpose.

I just need to finish the Great Northern cable load flat and my ‘G’-scale TYCO set will be complete!

:slight_smile:

#4

It will be neat to see your entire train when its done. I also started my road down the Model Railroad Hobby with a Tyco Trainset that Santa delivered to me. A Silver Streak Set.

#5

Nice job Mark.

If you ever watned to do a regular hopper don’t forget the ubiquitas HO tyco “Virginian”.

Do you still have the HO train so we can see the small next the large when you are done?

#6

Todd Haskins said:

Nice job Mark.

If you ever watned to do a regular hopper don’t forget the ubiquitas HO tyco “Virginian”.

Do you still have the HO train so we can see the small next the large when you are done?

The “Virginian” was everywhere!

I don’t have the originals anymore…But I am picking up the same cars on ebay. Lucky for me they are pretty cheap!

The hardest part for me is finding the engine! It was an Alco with 6-wheel trucks. I also had a Burlington GP-30 I got for my birthday. I am using a USA SD40-2 as a “stand-in” for both.

#7

Mark V said:

Thanks Kevin, I’ll be sure to change the next NYC hopper to a Penn-Central!

SWEET!

#8

I still have my first Ho train set i got when I was five. Now you make me want to do the same thing.

Nico