Possible MTH Custom-Run Freight Car Idea?? Old “In Search Of” Thread Revived.

CNJ#1601,

No sir I do not believe it has, unless Atlas made a custom run, which I doubt.

PCRR/Dave

Joe,

Intermountain O Scale made this car in kit form and if my memory is correct Crown Model Products also offered a Rath reefer using the Weaver wood side reefer car body.

 Joe, I remember Crown doing a Woodsided Rath reefer years ago. I found a Weaver on Public Delivery Tracks site. Even woodsided reefers ran well into the diesel era. I purchased an Atlas 36 ft. Swift reefer for my 40's era. Was surprised to find a built new date of around 1950. After doing some research as I figured this must be a typo. . I found out that the spacing of doors at the meat packing plants were designed for 36 ft. Cars to be loaded. They kept making them new till around 1950.

He wanted steel side.......does not look to hard to custom paint.

Thanks PCRR Dave, John O., Dave C & AMC Dave for your replies!  I did find those Crown/Weaver wood-sided cars in my internet search.  

Dave C, I know what you’re saying about the wood-sided ones surviving well into the diesel era, but I’m on a mission of sorts to find a model of the steel-sided version pictured in my book.  I’m kind of stubborn once I get something in my mind...LOL!  

Maybe I’ll have to make a pitch to Lionel, MTH or AtlasO to make one!

I found this picture of a Lionel reefer but I can't tell if it is a steel sided one or wood sided............Paul

The reefer above is Lionel 21626 and is a wood sided reefer.

Neal Jeter

Joe,

If you are a kit builder I do have a few O Scale Intermountain "Rath" steel side reefers I'll sell. I do not know how many I have or the road numbers as I failed to update my spread sheets. But I know I have some. I remember buying them.  If interested I will find them but it will take awhile as I have about 300 un built kits in boxes I need to go through.

Mark

Protocraft has reefer decals...RPRX-1, -2, -3, -4...for Rath.  Although they are from wood-sided cars, I suppose they could be applied to a steel-sided car painted in the appropriate base colors.

FWIW, of course...

KD

Mark Zeigler posted:

Joe,

If you are a kit builder I do have a few O Scale Intermountain "Rath" steel side reefers I'll sell. I do not know how many I have or the road numbers as I failed to update my spread sheets. But I know I have some. I remember buying them.  If interested I will find them but it will take awhile as I have about 300 un built kits in boxes I need to go through.

Mark

Hi Mark:

I’m not at kit builder, but I’m not afraid to try!  If you have an IM Rath 40’ steel reefer car kit (or kits) in the paint/lettering scheme shown in my original post, I may be interested.  Feel free to email me at the address in my profile if/when you find them.  No rush.  Thanks!

There's one similar to your original photo on eBay right now.

Don't know if it's something you'd be interested in.   Search K-line K7605.

Joe,

I have built many Intermountain O Scale kit cars, in my opinion the reefer is not hard to build, there are 3 pages of instructions, since you are a first time builder of these cars  follow the instructions in their prescribed order. The instructions reference some items that you may not have such as micro bits, a pin vise for the drill bits, sprue cutters to remove parts from the sprues,  stationary light or magnifying light, plastic glue with needle point applicator(Testor's), tweezers and patience these cars have numerous detail parts.

Read the instructions over 2 or 3 times to become familiar with the parts and terminology, also note the sprue parts are delicate/ fragile, the car comes with plastic O scale trucks you supply the couplers or 3-rail trucks. I equipped my cars with Weaver 3- Rail plastic Bettendorf trucks, this car is 1/4 scale (carbody length is 10 inches), NMRA recommends that this car should weigh 5 oz., plus 1 oz. of weight per inch length of car, therefore the total weight should be 15 oz. You should add approximately 10 oz. of weight to the carbody interior floor before gluing the roof to the carbody. I use 1/8 inch by 1 inch wide steel strip about 9 inches long. I use RTV as a glue to bond the steel strip to the carbody interior floor, this strip should be centered length and width, Menards carries this strip in the welding supply area.

I hope this information is beneficial and not detrimental ,the weight is required to prevent the car from being pulled off the train track in a curve. I would also recommend a roll of the blue painters tape, I use the 1/2 wide roll, to cut tape strips to hold the carbody side to the roof as the glue dries, I also use the Plastruct adhesives with the brush applicators.

Gilbert, built a "S Gauge one back in 1960.

Buffalo Creek Graphics was selling wood sided Rath reefers using Weaver bodies just before Weaver closed.  They might still have some left, but they are not steel sided.  I think they are very nice looking cars.

Art

I'm not trying to high jack your thread, but here is nice reefer I picked up today at the monthly DuPage show in Wheaton, IL.  I had a grandfather and two uncles who worked for the M&St.L all their lives and I love to pickup rolling stock especially with the circular M&St.L "The Peoria Gateway" logo on it.  That and my love for meat reefers sealed the deal.  An Atlas 40 ft Re-Built wood Reefer in M&St.L.

Art

Jerry Williams posted:

There's one similar to your original photo on eBay right now.

Don't know if it's something you'd be interested in.   Search K-line K7605.

banjoflyer posted:

Yep, as Jerry said the one on auction looks pretty similar to what you want:

 

Mark

Jerry & Mark, thanks for the lead.  I found the listing and purchased that car.  It will take some work to bring it up to the level of detail I was looking for, but I love the challenge!

I’m also still interested in seeing what IM kit(s) Mark Z. has available...maybe I’ll take on that challenge, too!

John Ochab posted:

Joe,

I have built many Intermountain O Scale kit cars, in my opinion the reefer is not hard to build, there are 3 pages of instructions, since you are a first time builder of these cars  follow the instructions in their prescribed order. The instructions reference some items that you may not have such as micro bits, a pin vise for the drill bits, sprue cutters to remove parts from the sprues,  stationary light or magnifying light, plastic glue with needle point applicator(Testor's), tweezers and patience these cars have numerous detail parts.

Read the instructions over 2 or 3 times to become familiar with the parts and terminology, also note the sprue parts are delicate/ fragile, the car comes with plastic O scale trucks you supply the couplers or 3-rail trucks. I equipped my cars with Weaver 3- Rail plastic Bettendorf trucks, this car is 1/4 scale (carbody length is 10 inches), NMRA recommends that this car should weigh 5 oz., plus 1 oz. of weight per inch length of car, therefore the total weight should be 15 oz. You should add approximately 10 oz. of weight to the carbody interior floor before gluing the roof to the carbody. I use 1/8 inch by 1 inch wide steel strip about 9 inches long. I use RTV as a glue to bond the steel strip to the carbody interior floor, this strip should be centered length and width, Menards carries this strip in the welding supply area.

I hope this information is beneficial and not detrimental ,the weight is required to prevent the car from being pulled off the train track in a curve. I would also recommend a roll of the blue painters tape, I use the 1/2 wide roll, to cut tape strips to hold the carbody side to the roof as the glue dries, I also use the Plastruct adhesives with the brush applicators.

 

John, thanks so much for the very detailed “primer” on kit building...it’s very much appreciated.  I may have to reach out to you with questions if I decide to take on the new challenge!

The good news is that I have all the necessary tools as I’ve been scratch-building, detailing, painting, lettering and weathering for several years now...I just haven’t tried my hand at kit building.  I’ve weighted too many Weaver and “old” Atlas cars (to bring them up to the NMRA standard) to count, so I’m very comfortable with that aspect.

Hi Joe,

I finally found the Intermountain "RATH" steel side reefer kits. E mail has been sent. Also, John's description and instruction on building these kits is spot on. Below is a photo and the reason that it took so long.

Mark

Gentlemen,

I maybe wrong but I do believe all those Box Cars are Wood Side type rolling stock, not Steel Side.  Jim Sutter is correct, the only steel side I have seen is in S Gauge and Gilbert made it quite some time ago.

The Kit builds I am not really sure about.  However the Atlas Wood Side Custom run was a seriously nice Box Car, I thought Weaver made one also, but I maybe wrong.

PCRR/Dave

While not in this road name, Athearn O / All Nation made a very nice 40' steel reefer kit.  I have one in IC.  The All Nation car would be a nice candidate for a repaint.  I think the quality is pretty good on them considering their vintage.

CNJ #1601 posted:

Mark Zeigler posted:

Joe,

If you are a kit builder I do have a few O Scale Intermountain "Rath" steel side reefers I'll sell. I do not know how many I have or the road numbers as I failed to update my spread sheets. But I know I have some. I remember buying them.  If interested I will find them but it will take awhile as I have about 300 un built kits in boxes I need to go through.

Mark

Hi Mark:

I’m not at kit builder, but I’m not afraid to try!  If you have an IM Rath 40’ steel reefer car kit (or kits) in the paint/lettering scheme shown in my original post, I may be interested.  Feel free to email me at the address in my profile if/when you find them.  No rush.  Thanks!

They are not hard at all. Careful removal of items from the sprue and you are set. With modern solvent glues a tiny brush will instantly glue them up. An Exacto Knife and a good tweezers too.

CNJ #1601 posted:

Jerry Williams posted:

There's one similar to your original photo on eBay right now.

Don't know if it's something you'd be interested in.   Search K-line K7605.

banjoflyer posted:

Yep, as Jerry said the one on auction looks pretty similar to what you want:

 

Mark

Jerry & Mark, thanks for the lead.  I found the listing and purchased that car.  It will take some work to bring it up to the level of detail I was looking for, but I love the challenge!

I’m also still interested in seeing what IM kit(s) Mark Z. has available...maybe I’ll take on that challenge, too!

If you purchased this car, Intermountain provided the parts to K-Line and they were assembled in China. Detail wise it will be nearly the same as an Intermountain kit or factory built car except for the underbody to fit the K-Line trucks.

I’m reviving this old thread to serve up a possible idea for a custom-run freight car offering by MTH.  After 3+ years of not being able to find what I’m looking for—and seeing all of the recent MTH custom-run announcements—I figured it’s worth a shot!  

If interested, please read my updated original post at the top of this thread.  Thanks!

There are a number of options to achieve your goals, as noted by many posters.  Car kits, Scalecoat paint and the chosen decals will give you a much more suitable car for your railroad.

As for a “special run” from a former “going out of business” company, I would run, not walk, far away from that kind of company.  No interest in dealing with any folks who use the old “tease story for attention” shenanigans.  

Atlas O has the right type of refrigerator car.

Andrew

@Don Sierakowski 111617 posted:

There are a number of options to achieve your goals, as noted by many posters.  Car kits, Scalecoat paint and the chosen decals will give you a much more suitable car for your railroad.

As for a “special run” from a former “going out of business” company, I would run, not walk, far away from that kind of company.  No interest in dealing with any folks who use the old “tease story for attention” shenanigans.  

Four bankruptcies.