Hi Daniel, modifying the frame on the hopper isn't that difficult, although it is somewhat intimidating. pretty much everything has to be removed from the bottom of the car. Remove the trucks and couplers. Next, the hopper doors. The wire for the train air line will have to be carefully moved, or removed. Their are two locking tabs on the frame at the ends of the coupler pad. spread the ends, and carefully lift the frame. their are four "tabs" that pin the frame to the car body. one under each slope sheet support, above the bolster, and one between each set of hopper bays that may be glued. It separates easily, just be careful. Once the frame is removed, the slope sheet supports are next. The corner braces must come out and extra care is needed here, as there isn't much working room, and they can be twisted and broken. More care is needed with the "B" end (with all the brake detail). Once these details are removed, the slope sheet supports can be pulled loose fairly easily. These parts are all glued in, but the glue comes loose pretty easily. To lower the frame, first file the ends of the bolster, and center crossmember where the body now sits on top of them. When you are finished, the bolsters and crossmember will sit inside the body. File off the tab at the end of the coupler pocket. Now for the work. you must file a "peak" on the top of the frame to allow it to nest inside the car body deeper. If you look into the chanel in the body where the frame rests, you will see it's cast in a "V". You want to match that on the frame. The pins between the hopper bays will have to be trimmed off as well. Now, on to the slope sheet supports. simply file the top of the slope sheet supports (where they attach to the body) as much as you need to match the frame depth. Now file a notch in the end sill to accomodate the coupler draft gear, and re assemble the car. Kudo's to SHS, as these are very well engineered cars, and are easy to work with. Good luck with your conversion!
Bob Davis --- In [email protected], Daniel McConnachie wrote: > > Bob, > > Interesting models. Any chance you can share the details of the GLa > hoppers? What did you do to modify the frame? CN had a fleet of similar > hoppers that they inherited from the Grand Trunk. > > Cheers, Daniel. > > On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 9:53 PM, coalsmoker2194 wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > Just posted some photo's of the GLa project in the photo section, along > > with some non Pennsy stuff. The photos never seem to post in the order I > > want them, so I'm sorry for their lack of order. The GLa is a modified SHS > > USRA hopper. Six scale inches have been removed from the top, and the frame > > modified so the car body sits lower on the frame. There is a photo of it > > with a SHS hopper for comparison. A couple of PRS 40 footers in B+O, and > > L+N. Also, a recently finished GG1, (Don't really care for the yellow > > decals, but it was all I could find right now.) A 1952 Pennsy X44 boxcar > > from a PRS kit. (Modified the side sills,for an easy conversion). Also, > > finally got some track and turnouts, and hope to start putting it down soon. > > > > Bob Davis > > > > > > > > > > -- > Daniel McConnachie > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
