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 Posted - December 26 2006 : 11:53:56 PM
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Ok, I have seen these models a few times over the years. They're cool in a hideously ugly sort of way:
I know that the original ACF Center-Flow hoppers were very much like this... my question is: When were they made that way, and has anyone seen any pictures of such? I have trolled around rrpicturearchives.net to no avail.
This model is a Roco/AHM. Pretty interesting sill piping, but crude everywhere else (which was on par for the era). But they get a brickbat for terrible decoration: as bad as Tyco's worst. And according to them, this car (as stenciled) was bnuilt in 1919 and shopped in 1927?! Say what? [:D] Was welding even invented back then? [:P]
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 Posted - December 27 2006 : 12:25:45 AM
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What luck! I just got back from the local library with an arm full of Model Railroader books. One of these is the MR Guide to Freight Cars. It has a couple pictures that may be your car. If you can look at a copy, check out photos 3-15 and 3-16 on page 37.
I think your car is supposed to be a "Pressureaide" car. " A late 1970s variation of the Center Flow is the Pressureaide (see fig. 3-15). These cars, designed for flour and other powdered commodities, are pressure-differential cars that use an internal pressure of 15 psi to force lading out of the car. They look like standard Center Flow cars, but with additional piping along the unloading bays and with an extra-wide stiffener at the tops of the sides."
My guees is that your model is supposed to be based on the Pressueaide car based on the pipe work. However, I could find no photos that had the bracing on the lower part of the tank, just above the frame.
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 10:47:13 AM
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That is a very interesting AHM car. It does have a prototype or at least a solid prototype-suggestion...
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/pc80019.jpg
Believe it is correct only for NYC and related roads. AHM did roadnames like Frisco and your Enjay Plastics, but some flavor of New York Central is the only prototypical paints to be applied according to what I know. They were custom made for the New York Central and/or their subsidary Merchant's Dispatch in the mid/late '60s by ACF.
They are known as "Flexi-Flow" Hoppers...
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/nycb.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/mdt1.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/nycff1.jpg
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/nyca.jpg
Decals are or were available for them from Highball Graphics...
http://www.mgdecals.com/
The car has been done in brass HO-scale too. Don't know how well the AHM specs out to correct size, but with some work it could be an interesting car. Oddly, I don't think this model ever re-surfaces under another name (i.e.-Model Power, IHC, etc.). It is AHM only to my knowledge.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 10:48:55 AM
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In case you hadn't looked...here's what I have for the AHM Flexi-Flow on my AHM site...
http://tycotrain.tripod.com/ahmhoscaletrainscollectorsresource/id39.html
/tyco/forum/uploaded/Tony Cook/ahm_steam_engine_logo_early_80s_small.jpg
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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 Posted - December 27 2006 : 11:14:49 AM
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Wow! Thanks for all the info, that's EXACTLY what I was looking for! Now I have to ask - how did you find all those pictures, so quickly?? (I suppose if I'd known it was from NYC, that might have helped [:P])
Some really interesting photos there. The yellow/black PC scheme is cool. And the FSSX / Merchant's Dispatch looks like it was still out there, pretty recently.
I was wanting photos so I could decide if I should rework this car or not. Scratchbuilding the end platform details will make a huge difference. The lower ribbing seems to be all wrong, but not a big deal. The roof hatches look all wrong and grossly oversize too - that might be a bigger deal. But I can't bring myself to throw a $12 plano roofwalk kit on this poor car [;)]
Sorry to say I forgot about theAHM Flexi-flow page. I'd seen it before, though. If you could get permission, one of those prototype pics would be cool. All my hears hanging around the Belt Railway's hump yard and that's one of the few cars I never saw.... my friends and I though it was fake back in the day ;)
I have one of the Atlas pressureaide cars... they are pretty much like a standard center flow but do have all that cool exposed piping. The car above looks more like a cylindrical without the end cages.
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 2:05:19 PM
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Tony L., I surfed up those pics by Googling New York Central Flexi-Flow and going from there. I had looked up info on this car not six months ago for some reason, so when you asked I remembered there were many pics out there on the web.
Looks like there are some nice decals out there for it. I've got a yellow Frisco that I was debating trying to turn into a gray NYC with the Flexi-Flow logo.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 3:14:29 PM
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just found this on web ken
http://www.mrhobby.com/flexi.html
/tyco/forum/uploaded/catfordken/Cr897830.jpg
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 3:45:09 PM
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a la farge version ken
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Posted - December 27 2006 : 8:58:31 PM
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Thanks for the info, everyone: Knowing what they were called and who owned 'em made all the difference!
Here is another interesting paint scheme, followed by some of the ACTUAL AHM car:
I think I am going to try to model that last one, as photographed... talk about a weatherer's DREAM - there are traces of FOUR different owners (NYC > PC > CR > MDTX) under the grime!
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Posted - January 01 2007 : 01:01:10 AM
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Gone to work:
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Posted - January 01 2007 : 09:33:12 AM
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Eager to see this when you're done! Take lots a pics and notes, as I think I may try to re-model one of these cars too.
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
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Posted - January 27 2007 : 03:33:29 AM
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quote:a la farge version ken
Originally posted by catfordken - December 27 2006 : 7:45:09 PM
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I'm taking a pot-shot guess, but this picture seems to have been taken in Campbell Creek (Kamloops) BC, CA. Noticing the 6 axle GMD-1 behind this car, and this operation presently is run by the Kelowna Pacific Railway (NightHawk Productions, based in Colorado) who started their motive power fleet with ex-CN MLW's C430's (Canada Safety Cabs) but now have blue and white ex-Conrail and Demonstration GP38-2's... sometimes using six (6) units in its consist because between CC and Kelowna are many curves and quite a grade on 39' tangent track.
John
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
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