A ready-to-run model recently avail- able from Atlas represents a 50-foot, post-war boxcar owned by the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. The model of X44 box- car
features opening doors, see-
through thin profile running boards, see-through brake step, separately ap- plied plastic ladders, grab irons, plastic corner stirrups, detailed underframe with brake rigging and AccuMate cou- plers. Delicate, accurate cut levers are installed on the model. The trucks are cast-frame, 50-ton fric- tion-bearing trucks with blackened met- al 33″ smooth-back wheels on plastic axles. The wheels have the code 110 (.110″) width and all the wheelsets on the review model meet the standard NMRA gauge. The trucks are secured by Phillips screws, and the ready-to-run model weighs four ounces. The dimensions of the model closely
match the drawings of the AAR-adopt- ed standard design. The review model (Atlas No. 20001457) is decorated in the “shadow keystone Phase 1b” letter- ing scheme as applied by PRR between mid-1954 and late 1957. The 16″-tall road name PENNSYLVANIA is printed about four scale inches too low on the model sides. The bottom of the road name is 4′-2″ above the bottom of the car side but the PRR lettering drawing specifies it should be 4′-6¹/₂″. This in- correct position on the model may seem insignificant but it is noticeable. The lettering includes a small white triangle between PENNSYLVANIA and the road number indicating that any repair costs for the car were accounted for separately to provide data for analysis of improvements in freight car design. The scale mark “P203 859″ stenciled on the model indicates the
car was last weighed in August, 1959, at the north hump in PRR’s Pitcairn Yard,
15 miles east of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. Stenciled on the lower left car side is the routing instruction “WHEN EMPTY RETURN TO CANTON R.R. BALTO MD. VIA REVERSE ROUTE.” As let- tered, this PRR review model is appro- priate for the period from 1959 to the late 1970’s.
Several details may be added to the Atlas model by modelers, including air brake hoses. On the ends of the model, 3″-tall lettering is missing on the bot- tom three corrugations. The small L and R are missing from beside the doors. The PRR “trademark” equipment trust plates are missing from the upper right-hand corner of the car sides. These could easily be added using 0.005″ styrene strip. Placard boards are missing from the center of the doors as shown in prototype photos of X44 cars. Again these could be easily made from styrene. On the ends of the model, the tack boards are mounted in the low po- sition, however, photographs of X44 boxcars show they should be in the high position. That would be easy to change. In addition to the PRR model (No. 20001457) reviewed, Atlas offers physi- cally different versions of their 50-foot, post-war, single-door model with three different side-sill styles (straight, tabbed and fishbelly) and 8′-0″ or 9′-0″ wide Superior or Youngstown doors. Physically different, ready-to-run mod- els are offered decorated for the follow- ing railroads: Chicago & Eastern Illi- nois (blue/white), Family Lines (SCL) (brown/white), Grand Trunk Western (blue/white),
Milwaukee Road
(brown/white), Western Maryland (brown/white/yellow), Bangor & Aroos-
detail. Great for custom casting or temporary support. 3 oz. cake. Part # 949-525 - $7.98 + $4.95 shipping and applicable taxes.
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E-Z Model Railroads The E-Z Track®
Planning Guide & Layout Book
Serious modelers are realizing the benefits of sectional track and this new book takes beginning & veteran modelers through construction of six layouts ranging from simple to advanced, room-sized and prototype inspired using Bachmann’s E-Z Track System. Includes chapters on weathering and scenery. 24 pages,all color.
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RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN 81
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