Modeling municipal waste trains, Part III: spine cars
from being lost in transit. These tarps are generally present on both loaded and empty containers. This is a benefit to modelers concerned with load/empty scenarios. A simple tarp may be con- structed from .010″ styrene cut and bent to fit the top of the container, ex- tending over the sides and ends. Cut .010″ styrene sheet to a 22′-6″ length and 9′-0″ width to allow an over- hang on each side of the container. Notch each end 20″ lengthwise and 27″ width-wise and fold each side 15″ from the edge towards the center using a straightedge to form a crisp clean fold line. This will form a cap that will fit snugly onto the container. Do not ce- ment the tarps in place until after everything has been painted and the containers are ready for installation onto the spine cars.
Construction the Ultra spine The ULTRA two-unit articulated spine is constructed using an Athearn Impack end set (5500 number series). The Impack cars were designed for tra- ditional TOFC use, but the only por- tions of the Impack kit needed are the center sill and center sill cover, tongue and pin assemblies, the brake valve and the trucks. The trucks can also be used with larger wheels if you prefer not to replace them with larger trucks. As the ULTRA spine is designed for a maximum 40-foot load length the At- hearn kit will need to be shortened to 42′-0″ in length (excluding the tongue and pin assemblies). The Athearn frame comes as two pieces, a thick center sill section and a flat section which covers the bottom of the center sill. Remove the trailer platform support arms ex- tending outward from the centersill cov- er using a No. 18 hobby knife blade. Use a simple jig to hold both the center sill and cover. This allows simultaneous cutting of both using offset joints to add
Once the cuts are made, the side sill cover can be spliced together using a thin styrene strip to add strength to the joint. The thicker side sill can also be cemented together.
strength to the finished car. To insure quick and accurate cuts, a jig made of thick styrene sheet cut to fit to the width of a hobby mitre box allows two pieces to be placed in the jig. Make the first cut and then slide the jig to the second cut line. Place the pieces to be cut onto the sheet offset from each other, then cement thick styrene strip along both sides of each to hold them in place. Another aid which can be added to the jig is a thick styrene strip across the bot- tom of the jig sheet to act as stoppers for each cut.
Once the cuts have been made, the side sill cover can be cemented togeth- er using a thin styrene strip added to the center for additional strength to the joint. The thick side sill section can also be cemented together, adding two .060″×.060″ strips in the hollow center to strengthen the joint.
Since the trailer platform was not
used, the depression for the casting in- sert, as well as the square notch in the center of the side-sill, should be filled to leave a smooth side sill and top rail. A .100″×.156″ styrene strip may be cut to length and cemented in to the center of the depression, then varying thick- nesses of .100″ styrene strip can be added to fill out the depression even with the side sill width.
The top of the side sill can be filled out by adding .030″×.100″ styrene strip. Cement it even with the edges of the top of the side sill on both sides, leaving a small gap in the middle. The gap can be filled with modeler’s putty, then the entire filler section may be sanded to insure it forms a convincing one-piece top rail and side sill. Once the frames have been shortened, the tongue and pin assemblies can be in- stalled and the center sill cover can be screwed in place using a single screw.
Modifications need to be made to the center sill (above left) by re- moving the molded walkway and angular supports. What is left of
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the front beam (above right) will have a piece of styrene strip ce- mented to it so its height is even with the top of the coupler box.
JULY 2012
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