The Weaver Pennsy H30 covered hopper is just beautiful

George,

What are the dates in the reporting marks for these various cars. I kind of like the gray car, but sure wouldn't want a car with a 1960s date on it. I would prefer early 1950s styling & dates.

Thanks.

Hi Jack,

The car I bought has a new date of 8-37 no rebuild date. It is a very different looking cement hopper, way too cool. Weaver hit a home run with this car.

George

On the Weaver H30 covered hoppers, check the data about re-weigh dates and station codes for each paint job. They should reflect the year or decade in which a particular paint and lettering scheme was used.

That's how I assisted Weaver with the different paint and lettering schemes on their B&O M-53 wagon top box car project and backed it up with photos. Possibly Weaver used similar information (I hope!) on this PRR car and will also with the MILW horizontal rib cars.

There should be a BLT date that indicates the year in which the car was built new, regardless of its paint and lettering schemes in later years. Rebuild dates do not appear unless a car had been dramatically altered from its original design.

I purchased two of the PRR (oxide red) with no shaker brackets (New 5-35).  I agree these cars are beautiful all the way around.  Bill B.

The Weaver H30's bodies are indeed very nice.  I am however disappointed with the lettering on the cars done in the circle keystone scheme.  The word "PENNSYLVANIA" and the car numbers are done with letters that scale 9” tall - they should be 7” – a 28% error.  For those without a scale rule, just stand your Weaver H30 next to a correctly done PRR circle keystone freight car (like an AtlasO H21 or X29) and the lettering error will jump out at you.  What I thought would be a nice layout quality car (like the Weaver B&O round roof box cars) just became another project on my to do list.

My first attempt at a fix will be to remove the incorrect letters with a mild solvent - hopefully without disturbing the body paint.  Almost any PRR freight car decal set can provide a correctly sized PENNSYLVANIA and suitable numerals.    If in removing the lettering I mess up the red paint, I’ll just repaint and fully re-letter the car.  IMO the extra effort to correct the lettering is well worth the effort as the car itself is almost the detail equal of an unpainted brass PSC H30 – at far lower cost.

Ed Rappe

Ed said: "The word "PENNSLVANIA"..."

Just a question Ed, Are you saying they misspelled PENNSYLVANIA"?

Mark

PENNSYLVANIA is spelled correctly on the model - it wasn't in my post (since corrected). Thanks for pointing my error out gently...

 In closer examination of the model I noticed that the smaller lettering was done in a mix of fonts.  The CAPY, LD LMT, and LT WT were done with serifs – appropriate for the circle keystone (pre 1954) scheme.  The NEW 5-35, CUFT, P.R.R, H30 WRT.ST.WLS were lettered with a sans-serif font - correct for 1954 and later PRR freight car schemes.   I still like the car.  Just a few more lettering changes to make.  If the lettering change goes reasonably well I’ll probably buy a second one.  

Ed Rappe

Not only is the lettering size incorrect and the lettering style mixed, the blt dates are wrong for the car numbers except for just a few of the gray cars.  So if you plan to correct the lettering, might as well correct all the other issues such as build dates, etc.  I guess sometimes it is better to be in the dark about such things.

The cars are great but like Ed said disappointing about the lettering.  There are great technical resources such as from PRRTHS readily available that could have prevented this. 

I will still enjoy the six I purchased as-is.

When traveling done the mainline, I won't be able to read the lettering anyhow.

Not only is the lettering size incorrect and the lettering style mixed, the blt dates are wrong for the car numbers except for just a few of the gray cars.  So if you plan to correct the lettering, might as well correct all the other issues such as build dates, etc.  I guess sometimes it is better to be in the dark about such things.

The cars are great but like Ed said disappointing about the lettering.  There are great technical resources such as from PRRTHS readily available that could have prevented this. 

NOW You know how I felt about the incorrect font used in the Weaver issue of the Roadrailer!

On the right is a photo of the new Weaver H30 side by side with a PSC brass H30 I painted and lettered about 20 years ago.  The body work on the Weaver car is beautifully done. I used Champ decals to letter the PSC car - they are the correct size and font. At the time I didn't have access to data on which car numbers had shaker fittings so the build date and car number may or may not be correct.  About the only major detail difference between the PSC and Weaver cars is that the PSC hatch grabs are wire, while the Weaver ones are molded on the hatch cover.  In addition to re-lettering the Weaver car I’ll replace the Weaver couplers with a set of the new short shank Kadee 743’s so  the pocket won't extend past the end sill.

Ed Rappe