Modeling less-common tank cars


Though not built in large numbers, these cars are still great modeling subjects/Tony Thompson I


t is a truism in model railroading that the prototypes for tank cars immensely outnumber what is available in kit or ready-to-run form. That’s true in HO and every other scale. The reason is simple: a great


many prototype tank cars were built in very small lots, and each lot could be and often was customized by its pur- chaser.


But, one need not despair. It is en- tirely possible, and often not terribly


difficult, to combine commercial tank car parts with scratchbuilding of other parts to obtain models of less-common tank cars. I have always been inspired by the fine tank car modeling by Mark Feddersen, expressed in a couple of ar-


AC&F PHOTO: ED KAMINSKI COLLECTION


These two photos show variations in the lettering of Becco cars over the years. The top photo, from General American, shows an all-aluminum tank built in 1934 and has the complete com- pany name to the right, while the lower photo, from American


RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN


Car & Foundry, shows simplified lettering and an aluminum up- per tank with a black tank bottom, built in 1939. The author’s model (see page 63) is painted and lettered more like the upper photo but has BECX reporting marks.


61


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124