News: Freight Cars
This report lists freight cars that are available or in the works. This page may also contain detailing parts and other items applicable to these cars. Click photos to visit the web sites.
Gondola Retaining Clips by Archer Fine Transfers
The company has made available a sheet of 99 gondola retaining clips using their raised surface details technique.
Narrow-gauge Decals by Republic Locomotive Works
Once on their web site, select "S" in the "Scale" field and press the Search button to view their S-scale offerings.
Sn3 Car Kits by San Juan Model Co.
The Leadville Designs branch of San Juan announces new Sn3 kits.
Coil Covers for Gondolas by Pre-Size Model Specialties
Pre-Size introduces another coil cover kit, this one specifically designed for the S Scale America (Des Plaines Hobbies) Thrall gondola. The kit includes the resin parts, as well as the decals. The second photo shows their new covers on one of the SSA gondolas.
Revising Coupler Box & Lid by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King announced that he is updating the coupler box and lid with more details and adding the striker plate. The new box will be 3D-printed with a cored screw hole so no drilling is required on the box (underframe modifications may still be required on your model). The striker plate and now-separate rivet plate on the bottom will be part of the printed box. No changes as to how the Kadee #802 is installed. Parts will be printed in clear resin and will replace the grey/brown/black tinted parts currently in production. The new boxes will be part of the forthcoming Milwaukee ribside boxes, as well as available separately. The Sergent-compatible box will not be updated but will remain in production for the time-being.
ACF Model A Trailer Hitch for TOFC Flat Cars
Mark Charles has had post-transition-era trailer hitches designed. If you are interested in these, please contact Mark. Click to send an e-mail.
Greenville 5,400cuft Wood Chip Hopper by Seaboard Shops
The company primarily offers HO-scale products, but they created an S-scale version of the Greenville 5,400 cubic foot woodchip hopper, primarily used by the Seaboard Air Line and subsequent railroads.
New Detailing Parts Available by Smoky Mountain Model Works
The company announces several new freight car detailing parts, such as one new door set, one new car end set, and the two brake wheel varieties shown in the photos. Click on the photos to go to the company's web site page that lists all the parts they currently have available.
Removing MTH Fishbelly Hopper Peaked Ends
Don Thompson, of the former S-Helper Service, provides information about what the modeler can do to remove the peaked ends from the new MTH two-bay fishbelly hoppers, if so desired.
Two-bay Fishbelly Hoppers Arrive by MTH Electric Trains
Both MTH and Doug Peck announce that these hoppers from MTH's 2019 catalog have arrived and are now being shipped from your favorite retailer.
Pacific Rail Shops Master List
John Verser, former owner of Pacific Rail Shops, sent in a master list of all the PRS kits produced. Given that information, our web site's listing of the PRS cars has been updated. We had almost all of the cars listed already, but the entries have been updated with the missing data and details.
Coil Covers for Gondolas by Pre-Size Model Specialties
Pre-Size introduces their brand new coil cover kit, specifically designed for their 52-foot Greenville gondola kit which they released early last year. The kit includes the resin parts, as well as the decals. The second photo shows their new covers on one of their gondolas.
Dummy Sergent Couplers by HO3dim
Sergent Engineering made their coupler design available to anyone who wanted to manufacture them, so this company has created dummy 3D-printed S-scale couplers. These are great for when you have a fixed unit train.
Former PRS Kits at Des Plaines Hobbies
Des Plaines Hobbies has complete kits of the former Pacific Rail Shops product line (they bought the product line from PRS in 2006) still available. When they bought PRS' product line, they did not buy any existing inventory of decorated cars. The kits that they have available are only of the undecorated version. These kits include the undecorated body, roof, roof-walk, doors, details, underframe, and trucks with plastic wheels. Not included are couplers and decals. They are up on their web site now, part number "SSA460 S 40' Boxcar Kit Undec $40.00". If you order them now, they will come without instructions, but after December 14, 2020, they should include instructions.
Southern Pacific 40' Flat Car Kits by Wiseman Model Services
The company announces the availability of their SP F-50-16 40' flat car kit, which consists of a main resin body, laser-cut wooden decking, and metal detailing parts. The kit does not come with decals, trucks, or couplers. This is an improved version of the former V&T Shops kit, a product line that Wiseman bought out.
Southern Pacific 40' Flat Car Wooden Decking by Wiseman Model Services
The laser-cut wooden decking for a SP F-50-16 40' flat car is separately available.
Southern Pacific 53' Flat Car Kits by Wiseman Model Services
The company announces the availability of their SP F-70-7 53' flat car kit, which consists of a main resin body, laser-cut wooden decking, and metal detailing parts. The kit does not come with decals, trucks, or couplers. This is an improved version of the former V&T Shops kit, a product line that Wiseman bought out.
Southern Pacific 53' Flat Car Wooden Decking by Wiseman Model Services
The laser-cut wooden decking for a SP F-70-7 53' flat car is separately available.
Southern Pacific Flat Cars Bulkheads by Wiseman Model Services
This add-on kit is separately available to turn any of the Wiseman SP flat cars into bulkhead versions.
Beet Load by Pre-Size Model Specialties
Pre-Size Model Specialties has released a new load of simulated sugar beets. Sugar beets look a bit like large potatoes. The load is compatible with both their new Beet Rack (PS588) kit and with their composite (PS570, PS571, and PS572) and steel (PS582 through PS587) GS gondolas. The load does not require the Beet Rack; it just depends on how big of load you wish to model in your cars. Photo shows both a car and the Beet Rack, both sold separately.
Beet Rack by Pre-Size Model Specialties
Pre-Size Model Specialties also released a new kit to add a beet rack to the top of their gondolas. These racks are designed to fit on their composite (PS570, PS571, and PS572) and steel (PS582 through PS587) GS gondolas (previously released, and separately available).
Redesigned Sn2 Trucks by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Smoky Mountain Model Works announces that they are redesigning their collection of Sn2 trucks thanks to the recent acquisition of an in-house industrial-grade 3D-printer. Their "Common", "Swing Motion" and J&S passenger trucks are affected. The drawing shows the "Common" truck. Price remains the same at $18 per pair. The J&S truck price has not been calculated. Kadee HOn3 wheelsets and 0-48 screws included. Postage is extra.
Barber Stabilized S-2-A Trucks by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King is now taking orders for the Barber Stabilized S-2-A 70-ton truck with a 5'8" wheelbase and 1940 casting date. This truck was used under the AAR 70-ton 53'6" flat car kit for roads who bought this car in the early to mid-1940s, such as Santa Fe, Erie, and DT&I. A similar style Barber truck was used under AAR flats built in the late-1940s/early-1950s. Price will be $32 per pair.
Possible Three-bay Open-top Hopper (updated)
John Degnan is proposing approaching American Models to produce an S-scale three-bay, open-top, offset hopper, to be decorated for the Atlantic Coast Line with a paint scheme for up to the mid-1950s. The plan is to produce at least 20 models of each road number (two different numbers, and an unnumber version which will include the decal sheet to make your own numbers). They would come without couplers, and would be available with "scale" or "hi-rail" trucks. If this project proves to be successful, other offset hoppers are planned. Contact John via e-mail to let him know in how many you would be interested in purchasing. Click to send an e-mail.
Rockwell HS Trucks by he6agon
Available via Shapeways are a pair of Rockwell High Speed trucks without shock absorbers. These trucks are appropriate for some cabooses and railcars, most notably SLSF 200 (later 1200) and Santa Fe Flexivan flatcars in series 291000-291029. These trucks are designed to be used with Northwest Shortline wheelsets with pointed axle ends and an overall length of 1.280 inches.
Sale on 2017 NASG Convention Cars
The Baltimore Area American Flyer Club are announcing that they have reduced the prices of their remaining 2017 NASG Convention cars (TOFC with McCormick trailers) from $60 to $45. The trailers themselves are still $20. The club is also exploring obtaining additional hi-rail wheels, so contact them if you are interested in those.
Barber Stabilized S-2 50-ton Truck by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, is pre-announcing his plan to create this truck for the MILW rib-sided box car.
Brake Beam/Shoes Fit Other Trucks by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, discovered that his 3D-printed brake beam/shoes part perfectly fits the S-Helper Service/MTH Bettendorf/PRR truck. These parts are available for $10 per package, enough to do four trucks. Photo shows an S-Helper Service truck.
MILW 40-foot Ribside Box Car Kit by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, announced that the production of the S-scale kit for this car is getting started. The kit will include decals (your choice of HIAWATHA or OLYMPIAN), and Kadee 802 couplers. The kit will be priced at $90 each plus postage. The 40-ton trucks will be sold separately and should be available prior to shipping of the box car kit (trucks are $32 a pair). The full-rib body will be produced first, followed closely by the short-rib. SMMW is currently looking for you to confirm your prior commitments, with an accounting of the number of kits for each version that you want (short and/or long rib). Click to send an e-mail.
PS 5277 Waffle Box Car Re-run by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Smoky Mountain Model Works is planning to re-run the 2008 kit of this car. Jim announced that it will now include the 70-ton Barber S-2 roller bearing trucks. Further prototype information is now available, which includes the 10-post side design, which was purchased by Family Lines System ("FLS") for SCL, Georgia Road, Clinchfield, and L&N (all painted black with yellow stenciling) in 1980. Southern's cars were built in 1976 to the same design. Most of these cars made it to CSX; many were sold off and may still be operating on short-lines. The majority of Southern's cars soldiered on well into the NS era, often completely repainted. Like with CSX, a lot were sold to short-lines. The original SMMW kit was offered only for the Southern-style (without the door opening wheel and rack) which had one waffle missing at the lower left and lower right of the door (due to a reinforcing plate welded to the side in that area). FLS cars didn't have that plate so PS put a waffle in its place. The re-issued kit will have separate waffles so you can model the FLS cars (scrape off the "plate" before gluing on a waffle). To reserve this kit, contact SMMW. The kit is expected to cost $95. The 70-ton trucks are $32/pair. Southern decals are to be determined. CSX/NS decals likely available from Highball Graphics.
TC/WLE/NKP 40-ton Box Car Kit Proposed
Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, is proposing an S-scale version of an HO-scale model he has previously released. This would be the 1941 WLE/NKP Pullman Standard 40-ton box car with a flat roof. The car was also used by the Tennesse Central (TC). The TC cars were rebuilt with a different roof in the 1950s, but the WLE's cars retained their flat roofs, even after being integrated into the NKP. Smoky Mountain Model Works has the appropriate trucks for these cars available in S-scale. Some additional design work will need to be done to make a complete S-scale kit of this car, so please indicate to Jim your interest in this project, so he can decide if it warrants his up-front design time. Let him know the number of cars you would like, and which decal names.
40/50-ton Barber S-2 Trucks Announced by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, announced that he will be working on releasing these trucks as separate components, which are part of the upcoming MILW rib-sided box car. These trucks were used from the 1940s through the 1970s. Please contact Jim if you would like order these. Cost will be $32 per pair.
B.T.S. Parts In Stock by B.T.S.
B.T.S. has received a re-supply of several parts that have been out of stock for a while.
PRR Container Load by Lanes Trains
A few details that won't 3D-print correctly have been omitted, but can be added by the modeler with brass wire. The bottom is hollow, so you can add weight, if needed. Photos of the O-scale version Bill Lane mentions on his page can be found here: Kohs O-scale.
NASG AF Commemorative Cars Change
Upon thorough review of the NASG's contract with Lionel, Lionel's requirement that the NASG American Flyer Commemorative Cars be sold only to active NASG members, apparently expires after three years of the signing of the contract. So, for all but the 2019 car, the previous restriction of having to be an NASG member has now been lifted from this web site (and if you order them directly from Dave Blum). It applies to the 2018 tank car, because the contract for those was signed back in 2017 (they were a bundled deal).
Sn2 24-foot Box Car Kit by Mount Blue Model Co.
Mount Blue Model Co. releases a new Sn2 box car kit for a 24-foot early Dyer-built model with a 5'3" door opening. When on their web site, search of the kit number "61s" to find it more quickly.
Steel GS Gondola Kits by Pre-Size Model Specialties
Pre-Size Model Specialties announces their 42-foot steel GS gondola kit. The kits are available for the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Northern Pacific, Illinois Central, D&RGW, and undecorated. The kit includes everything except for trucks and couplers. Photo shown is the pilot model that Bob Hogan built, and the photo is courtesy of Bob. Bob stated that the kit goes together easily. The web site includes links to download the PDF version of the kit's instructions. Kits can be ordered now, and shipping is free.
