Weaver H30 covered hopper

Beautiful model - but issues with lettering on the circle keystone versions.  If you care about prototype fidelity see my post on the 3RS forum.  If you just like trains - don't read it. 

Hi Ed, Appreciate your input. I followed your thread over to the 3RS forum and read your post. Sounds like you have studied the species thoroughly. Based on your input and out of curiosity, I looked and found a picture of the H30 at the RR Museum of PA and compared it side by side with the model from Weaver. Since I have the NYC car, I had to use the Weaver website picture. 

I really can't come near this 28% factor. I cropped and enlarged just the sections under discussion of the two cars. Being as accurate as I could, I find the factor is much closer to 10 or 11% and wonder if that is really enough to remove factory lettering and apply your own.

Most assuredly, the percent difference between 7 and 9 is 28%. But if the measurement is off (and that's my guess), there goes the percentage.

Charlie

My 9" measurement was taken using a scale rule on an actual Weaver model. I've learned not to trust catalog photos as often they are taken of pre-production models.  I compared the lettering on my Weaver H30 with the one illustrated in the Weaver 2011 catalog and indeed they are different.  Hopefully with future Weaver cars made in the USA modelling errors can be caught before the cars go into full production. 

Ed Rappe

Lettering issues are important, but so's price.  I know MSRP, but what're these guys actually sellin' for?

I purchased my car through AM Hobbies. Their price is $65.95.  I consider the car a very good value as it has the high end details I look for in an O scale prototype based model (correct dimensions, full brake detail, wire hand grabs, spring trucks, and see through roof walk).

Weaver developed this product with a comprehensive set of prototype data - and it shows! It is unfortunate that the Chinese manufacturer didn't get the lettering correct as prototype information on PRR lettering standards for virtually all classes of rolling stock are available through the PRRT&HS and other sources.  Unlike body details, lettering cost no more to get it right if you start with good info.

I know Joe Hayter and the folks at Weaver, regularly work with the modeling community to strive for prototype fidelity in their high end cars and locomotives.  Mistakes like lettering size must drive them nuts.  Getting it “right” isn’t as easy as it otherwise would be given development and manufacturing being outsourced thousands of miles away.  Add to this language, business culture, production schedules, and contracting issues it is a wonder they do as well as they do.  Despite the “issues” with the circle keystone H30 (the other paint schemes may well be correct)  I’m pleased to be a customer – and glad I’m not on the business side of model railroading.

Ed Rappe

Charlie, thanks for the review of the product.  Sounds like another nice job by the folks at Weaver and like you are really happy with it. I'll have to take a look at those H-30's myself!

Keystoned Ed: Did other PRR freight cars use 9" lettering? If so, I wonder if the mfgr just re-used what he had rather than generating a new screen/pad for the H30.

No Rex

In the Circle Keystone era the standard for freight cars was 7" for all classes.  This is simply a case of the mfgr getting it wrong. 

Ed Rappe

This is the post I made on the 3RS forum, and I've added it here as to date there haven't been any photos of the Weaver H30::

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 - that way the pocket won't extend past the end sill.