Model Railroading > Just another "new" transformer load on a small depressed flat car

Over the past 10 years or so, I've increasingly been on some sort of a haphazard personal quest to model unique examples of just about every available HO scale model version of a "red KRL or Kasgro depressed-center flat car" available... A few weeks ago, I finally dialed in the now 10-15 year old Walthers 4-axle depressed center flat car model. It is certainly not a 100% match for the prototypes, but since Exactrail also failed to produce their version(s) of a "close-enough" alternative for the Kasgro Rail Corp. model... I felt this was now within my personal realm of options, short of major model upgrades and rebuild scenarios.

The die cast-metal framed Walthers model (out of the box), is still quite impressive. Good weight, respectable detailing, and acceptable quality for 2020+ model standards. After drilling and installing the supplied wire grab irons and cut-levers, the model pretty much holds up to modern standards. I opted to add Hi-Tech Details rubber train lines & air hoses on each end. Along with upgrading the truck-sets to Athearn Genesis 36" .110 roller-bearing" details. Then adding around 1/3 oz weight to the under-frame with 9-ought BB shot and Elmer's glue to the center undersides of the flat car frame. Numerous (above deck) random-aftermarket details were added to bring the brake wheel, air brake valve, and air tank details above the deck just a bit, again per prototype photos. The flat car model was then weathered with various light acrylic washes of burnt umber and rust acrylics.

The transformer load itself is from a 3D printer supplier online called HO3DIM. This person also offers a larger load. I used a pair of small/flat neodymium magnets (removed from Rapido locomotive magnet wands), super-glued to both the underside of the flat car frame and the bottom of the transformer load, to create a reliably-centered mounting point of the transformer load. This mag-mount load method is similar to (what appears to be the now defunct) Railfan Models Manufacturer on their 12 and 16 axle depressed center flat car models.

Mr. MRL ~ model safely



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/25 11:59 by MrMRL.

---

---

---

Great job all around. That transformer really looks good. 

Very nice work! Looks great.

That is a great looking Transformer load.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Very good looking car & load! Well done! I like the magnet idea for holding down the load.

That looks great. I'm sorry your flat car is depressed though. <G>

Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/11/25 10:47 by wabash2800.

Excellent modeling, right down to the load rub marks on the flatcar deck - very well done.

MC

More than meets the eye!

You need cables and chains to tie it down, not magnets. upkpfan

upkpfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You need cables and chains to tie it down, not
> magnets. upkpfan

Often the biggest stuff is welded to the car, those I beams at the base of the transformer look like prime candidates for welding down, then grind out the welds at the destination.

Posted from Android

Darren Boes
Lethbridge, AB
Southern Alberta Railfan

sarailfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> upkpfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > You need cables and chains to tie it down, not
> > magnets. upkpfan
>
> Often the biggest stuff is welded to the car,
> those I beams at the base of the transformer look
> like prime candidates for welding down, then grind
> out the welds at the destination.
>
> Posted from Android

You also had the tabs on the load where rods or chains would be attached to the load. These would go down to holes that were normally on the edge of the deck plate. Rods were secured to the deck plate using large washers and nuts. This allowed the tension to be adjusted.

No worries, the load is secure. See the thread below...

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5998171

Mr. MRL ~ (look ma, no wires!)