ExactRail has announced a run of HO scale Southern Railway Big John hoppers. I wish one of the O gauge manufacturers would make these cars.
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I would definitely buy...beautiful consist.
actually over 30 years ago a company by the name of Lykens Valley made a kit for this car and Champ decals produced the decals. i built one at that time and if i can find it i will post a pic of it. the quality is not like the current ho version but on the same order as the quality craft/ambroid kits basically wood parts and white metal details assembled to look like the car.
as a side note lykens offered 89 foot auto racks,86 foot box cars a pfe mechanical reefer a hello dolly boxcar and a 89 foot trailer train flat with trailers. nice stuff for the time and if you replaced the wood with styrene even better.
picture of the big john to follow.....
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The real MAGOR 4-bay covered hoppers were made out of Aluminum.
Lionel has contracted out in China to have ACF Center Flow Covered Hoppers made out of aluminum.
The people currently working at Lionel can have the MAGOR Big John 4-bay covered hoppers made in China out of Aluminum.
Andrew
If you really want one, model railroader in the early 80's has plans for the "big john "hopper. You could get forumite brother love make you one, or two.
The model is 1:48th scale. That is large enough to be made from actual aluminum.
Water jet cut or laser cut sheets and extruded shapes.
Weld together the parts to produce the covered hoppers.
Andrew
falconservice i think we get think the point you want these made of aluminum like the prototype but what will the trucks and couplers be made of. what about other cars should they be made of steel and wood. i think most of us are happy to have models of the pieces we like whether they are brass plastic wood or even your favorite aluminum. after all who wouldn't want a brother love caboose yet they are made of plastic.
The Cabooses can be made out stainless steel, so they last longer.
Andrew
