Canadian classics: Hawker Siddley 4550 cylindrical hoppers

[ironstef70]

Here is another uncompleted project on my bench for which I am now moving forward.

The five units breaks down as follow: two cheap purchases repairs (those two lauched the project as I found brass replacement ladders on Ebay, then bought more and decided to do a couple more hoppers). Then two Intermountain kits, and one older Walthers brass hopper kit (the latter was really not close to the prototype; it was too long by about 15%), but in all cases, I am redoing everything using brass parts, and plano etched stainless walkways.

I started the build with the hatches gates which I kitbashed with brass angles and rods:

4550 cu ft cylindrical hoppers by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

Then I moved to the ends. The laser cut etched stairs were machined from a brass sheet, but I did not like the looks of the "flat" steps. I then "Dremel cut" them back to the frames, and rebuilt all individual steps (about 20 steps per end), which now looks more realistic. As a side note, the frame kits were pre-drilled, but opposite side to the prototype (see the holes still visible in the frames, on the right hand sides). The roof ladders are rather located on the left, on the prototypes. I first thought I have erroneously fold the frames in the wrong direction, but the machining made no doubt:

20190510_172706 by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

Now it's time for the walkways. I made templates for both the shaping and aligment on the plano walkways. These will be more durable than those of the Intermountain plastic hoppers for sure. Common damages on these hoppers are usually the broken hatch gates underneath, the roof walkways ungluing, then the classical grab irons getting lost on the layout... This won't happen with these five. I had to make template for the walkways supports, as the five hoppers makes for no less than 160 to be build:

20190510_172404 by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

More to come.

Stephane

[icghogger]

This is impressive work, Stephane, you have some mad soldering skills going on, my man!!

[ironstef70]

Thank you.
The idea about the template is very much about consistency. It makes for 32 supports per hopper to get installed, so they better be aligned and same dimensions... The plan is to build one Blue Alberta, two Canadian grain commission, one grey Procor, then one Government of Canada I guess. My favorite is the green-flower Saskatchewan, but I custom painted one Ajin OMI already.

Eventually, I will go back to scratchbuiding tank cars again, but a bit more complicated that those I used to build.

[ironstef70]

More work done on the Walthers brass hopper kit. The ends are finished and the brake lines on the 5 hoppers too.

Next step is the air tank and valves layouts, then installing the walkways before the ladder frames. The latter will be leveled to the walkways, and then the grab iron and coupler hardware will be the final touch before installing the plastic roof hatches, then painting.

Walthers brass 4550 hopper by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

S.

[ironstef70]

More details.
I just painted them last week: One blue Alberta ALNX, two CP "Canadian Wheat Board", one freelance grey MILW, then one white CNLX. Pictures to come...

brake lines replacement by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

Plano walkways by Ironstef70, sur Flickr

S.