40' Hi Cube Boxcar Project

 Greetings All,

Another joint APRR - NYCTL Paint Project is in the books! 

In May 2021, 1:1 Sir Neal, CEO and President of the 1:87 scale Atlantic Pacific Railroad, sent me a message that he had six 40' Hi Cube boxcars that were no longer being used on his layout and would I be interested in painting them for the virtual ops. I replied that I would and Sir Neal sent the box of cars my way.

The cars are Athearn Ready to Run Models that with Kadee couplers added and installed by 1:1 Sir Neal.

From the factory these cars are glued at their corners and Sir Neal made sure they came apart prior to shipping. Here are the cars on my workbench separated from their chassis and doors. 

Having been an APRR freight car painter for many years when I asked what color he wanted the cars 1:1 Sir Neal replied "do whatever you want". After stripping the factory paint in 91% Isopropyl Alcohol I'm doing what I want with the cars and painting them on the Patti O Paint Shop. I hope Sir Neal doesn't regret his decision!

Color #1, Rust-Oleum rattle can Gloss Sun Yellow has been applied and the cars are awaiting the next paint color

Color #2, Rust-Oleum Aluminum has been applied to the car roofs. 

Color #3, black rattle can paint was applied to the doors that are now attached.

Empire Belt #4385 and Atlantic Pacific #4194 start to take shape. 

Make no mistake working with the outside braced boxcars is very time consuming. Each car side took about forty five minutes to decal. This included cutting out all of the individual decals in the decal containers for that particular side. It does not include the time spent finding, selecting and cutting the decals that were placed in the containers.    

The end is in sight!!! The cars are now fully lettered with color #4, white, applied for the excess height requirement and decals. The cars are now in the Solvaset Phase. Once this is completed the cars will be sprayed with Testor's Dullcote.

I mentioned above about the searching and selecting of the decals used for this project Here are the decals from my decals box that were used for this project:

Atlantic Pacific RR black decals: originally made by Rail Graphics.

Empire Belt black decals: made by our late friend Engineer Ed.

COTS Panels & Excess Height decals: Highball Graphics.

White Stripe decals: (Color #4) Microscale 87-88 NYC Diesels.

Freight Car Data decals: Microscale MC-5023 Misc FMC Data.

Door Data decals: Microscale 87-286 Boxcar Door Markings White.

ACI Plate decals: Microscale MC-4280.

The boxcars have been released by the Paint Shop and sent to the Car Shop for additional weight and reassembly. 1:1 Sir Neal is big proponent of the NMRA weight standards and introduced me to the benefits of this.   

Each cars coupler height is checked with the Kadee Coupler Gauge.

The new Hi Cube Boxcars are released from the Shop!!!

1/87th scale Sir Neal and the EBRR guys are at the Terminal Yard shop for the release of the cars into revenue service.

1/87th scale Sir Neal inspects the new APRR #4194 and #4197. Hope he likes it!!!

Conductor John likes the look of the newest EBRR freight car!

The Hi Cubes are ready to earn revenue! Alco Joe, working the Bedford Turn (Train BT-27) has coupled up his Baldwin S12s and will be taking these empties for their first loads. (Baldwin Joe?) 

Three Hi Cubes roll into Bedford. 

The Hi Cubes are spotted at the Hostess Plant to be loaded with baked goods for ShopRite in Rock Ridge NJ. No better place than this for their first load as 1:1 Sir Neal was the inspiration for this industry. If you look carefully 1:87 scale Sir Neal is supervising from the overpass! Don't scratch the paint! No harsh coupling! Stop waving and set the brakes Murray!

Seeing Double Vision! The second set of Hi Cubes that will remain on the NYCTL are brought out to be spotted at Hostess. This is a good way to test both sets to make sure they are ready for interchange.

The three car set for the APRR heads back to Terminal Yard passing some of the first cars the Patti-O Paint Shop painted for the APRR. These new Hi Cubes will be boxed up and sent to the APRR. 

The NYCTL set will be loaded at Hostess. Look for them in a future PCCM / virtual op!

I think the project turned out very well and the cars both reflect the Increased Per Diem cars of the 1970s and more modern cars on the rails today. The paint and lettering look good. The extra weight and metal wheels have them rolling very well and wobble free. With the APRR furnished Kadee couplers these cars are definitely ready for revenue service.

Thanks for reading!!! 

See Ya Soon!!!