I have a hankering to kitbash the PRR H31B composite hopper. As far as I know the only model produced was by PSC in brass. The Weaver and Atlas versions of a composite war emergency hopper have a very different outside rib braces, that would need extensive work.
I was thinking of using a plastic slab sided USRA style hopper as a starting point, unless anyone has another suggestion. Here is a photo of the car.
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Good looking hopper. You sure Atlas didn't do these in die cast? I am not a hopper expert, but I am pretty sure I have one like this in my collection.
in 3 rail Atlas O, K-line and Weaver made this car. Out of all of them, The Atlas O version was the most accurate.
What's interesting Chris is that both the PSC and the Overland version of the H31 (H31/H31b/H31c) appear to be made by the same mfr.
AND they are one of the later brass models that are affordable compared to other brass cars. Atlas wants almost 50 bucks for a wood sheathed hopper, it's not uncommon to find the PSC and the Overland cars for $150.
The kicker for these cars is that some of them had unusual PRR Elsey trucks and no one has ever made them in brass or any other material as far as I know.
Don't know if this would hold interest but brasstrains.com has a O Scale Pennsy H31C for sale.
PSC also imported a model of Pennsy's one of a kind H31a. The difference between the H31a and the H31b is that the H31a had steel ends and slope sheets and the H31b had wood ones. The H31a was 5" taller than the 31b ( one more side board). CDS offered nice dry transfer lettering set for the H31b, and H31c In the circled keystone scheme - now out of business.
Ed Rappe
that Overland model is nice. too bad its not the wood composite H31B or I'd own it by now 
that Overland model is nice. too bad its not the wood composite H31B or I'd own it by now
I just looked and I paid $200 at the March meet 2 years ago for mine a with a nice paint job and accurate dry transfers. And it was there until the last day when I picked it up IIRC.
Patience Chris, one will show up at a reasonable price.
Rob, Mark;
seeing how there's a nice version offered in brass I may just see if one of the 'B' versions shows up for sale, rather my original intent of building one up.
Lord knows there's plenty of time before this project would get to the front of the queue.
In the meantime I'm still considering what would be a good donor model if building it becomes my course.
I've got plenty of O scale strip wood for you when you're ready, 
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