Brass grab irons for Atlas box cars.

 Tichy Train Group sells ones made from phosphorous bronze. 

Go to Precision Scale Co. They have everything. https://www.precisionscaleco.com

Don

I use both the PSC ones and the Tichy ones; dip in Goo, insert into holes, add CA, back into hole - not coming out w/o surgery. Also use the ones from Wiseman - little trickier being soft metal.  Still beats brittle styrene grabs.

Atlas GP7, un-decorated kit, had metal grab irons.  

In addition to the "drop-style" phosphorous bronze grab irons that Dave C. mentioned/showed in his post above, Tichy also offers "straight-style" grabs. 

Here are a couple examples where the prototype car had straight grabs, so I used that version from Tichy.  Both cars are "old" Atlas (current "Trainman" line) that had molded-in grab irons that I shaved off and replaced with Tichy's...

In this shot, you can also see the Wiseman (soft metal) stirrup steps that MWB mentioned in his post above.  I used them in both of these projects in addition to the Tichy grab irons...

Richard, great Question, thanks for inquiring here on the forum. I’m going to order some of the above mentioned products to, the ladders on Atlas O box cars are so fragile. Also, they are great add on detailing parts for accessories, other engines, Locomotives and cars. Great answers. Happy Railroading 

Thanks Larry, haven't heard form you in a while!. I apologize for the late reply, all of these replies ended up in my junk email box.

Dave C, CNJ, MWP,

Please direct me to the grab irons on the Tichy  web page. (product #) I have been looking at the Tichy page  with no success. I would like to get these parts ordered. Being hunkered down here at home is the perfect time to make a lot of needed repairs on my Atlas rolling stock.

I appreciate your help,

Richard Gonzales.

.

Richard, I’m looking at my copy of the Tichy catalog now. The drop style grabs are #2001 and the straight ones are #2002. Each pkg has 50  and they are $4.95.

Malcolm 

Richard, below are links to both styles of scale 18” grab irons on the Tichy website.  Malcolm has the correct model #’s...

Straight

Drop

Looks like they are $6 now for a pack of 50.

I don't know what style of grab is correct for these cars but neither Tichy nor PSC offers the style that Atlas and previously Intermountain uses. 

Pete

You can get them in Delrin from Chooch and they are scale sized so they look much better and are springy so they won't break off as easily as the stock grabs. Not as good as brass, but way better than the Styrene.

They become a harder to paint than stock Styrene plastic, but I believe automotive  "adhesion paint" is the choice of model builders. Made for plastic bumpers so normal paint will stick. 

up148 posted:

You can get them in Delrin from Chooch and they are scale sized so they look much better and are springy so they won't break off as easily as the stock grabs. Not as good as brass, but way better than the Styrene.

They become a harder to paint than stock Styrene plastic, but I believe automotive  "adhesion paint" is the choice of model builders. Made for plastic bumpers so normal paint will stick. 

 

Chooch is closing down and may be up for sale or not.

Delrin is great for strength; it's a total PITA for gluing it to anything with almost anything.  Not had any problems painting it, but them I'm still using Floquil,

Des Plaines / O Scale America has the style of grab (in brass) that I think you are looking for.  Presumably available through Des Plaines if the parts are in stock.  Or currently listed on the P&D website, which in my experience means they are in stock.  By the way, on the P&D site, O Scale America parts are found under the Custom Finishing parts tab, as Custom Finishing was the original manufacturer.

I would normally buy from P&D versus Des Plaines when possible, as I have been charged the full flat rate shipping by Des Plaines for a small package of detail parts, whereas P&D has adjusted their flat rate to reflect the substantially lower cost of shipping small parts.  Also, with the addition of photos to the P&D website, it is now much easier to identify parts.

Jim

Jim,

Thank very much for your  help. I ordered the grab irons today.

Hope fully I will be repairing some Atlas freight cars this weekend.

Take care,

Richard