Model Railroading > Western Pacific FMC Boxcar Atlas [HO Scale]

Sharing some photos of a recent project that ended up being a much more involved project than I had originally anticipated, but that's model railroading right?

This car started out as a basic Atlas FMC 5077' Double-Door boxcar. I was intrigued by this model as it was produced with the Superior doors instead of the as-delivered Youngstown doors. So this car represented a post-merger car on the UP system. I went ahead and purchased this car used from an Ebay listing. Along comes the car in the mail and as-per usual I open up the coupler box to swap out the couplers with Kadee 158's. To my surprise the coupler box would not accept a Kadee style coupler, and instead used a proprietary Atlas plasic coupler. Different than usual Atlas couplers and boxes able to accept a Kadee. Some research online showed some good tutorials on how to cut off the factory coupler pockets and install regular Kadee coupler boxes. In the process of this all, I ended up breaking the cut levers so new ones were in order. I opted to also add Hi-Tech Details air hoses and brackets to really up the game on this car since I would be doing surgery on it anyway. So here's the rundown of the process:

• Disassemble car, weigh and add tire weights to bring the car to NMRA standards. Break cut levers in the process, so add to list of upgrades.
• Add Kadee coupler boxes and 158 scale couplers. Drilled and tapped 2-56 hole for hold down screws.
• Re-assemble car, note trucks are low quality and come with 70-Ton wheels. Based on car data it should be equipped with 100-Ton roller bearing trucks. Back to Ebay... 
• Add 3D-Printed cut lever brackets and glue to car body. Hand-bent cut levers per proto-type as best as possible. 
• Add Hi-Tech Details air hoses and brackets.
• Kadee 555 100-Ton roller bearing trucks arrive, file flat mounting bolster and drill and tap 2-56 mounting holes. 
• Re-assemble car, check wheels gauge and coupler height are OK. 
• Paint all added parts and prep car for weathering. 
• Weathering done with a mix of airbrushing True-Color paint and Bragdon weathering powder. Use prototype photos online for reference. 
• Add graffiti and other details such as green "Car Cleaned Kinney, TX" and other door barcode stickers. Added Smokebox Graphics reflective striping. I've been cutting the reflective striping and adding small squares to the ends of the cars per prototype as well. 
• Add epoxy sealant detail to roof. Car was then sprayed with generous coats of Dullcote to protect decals and weathering. 

Thanks for looking and feedback is always appreciated! 

Alex Wilson
Castro Valley, CA
ApproachAspect's Flickr Photos

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Outstanding work, very inspiring modeling. I've long wanted to model one of those cars, we still see them every now and then down here in Central Texas. 

I'm not a modeler, but great work!

Well done, as you can tell from my handle, always enjoy home road cars!

Nicely done. Intereted to hear more about the cut lever brackets - did you print these yourself, or is someone offering these? I have a BUNCH of FMC cars that need help here....

-Rick

Rick Selby
Redmond, WA
Pacific Northwest RPM

I wrote about this issue a couple years ago. The alternate coupler box supposedly fit the now discontinued Kadee #78 couplers. I ended up modifying the couper box to fit Kadee whisker couplers. Sure wish Kadee and the model train industry would get together and design a new coupler mounting system for a scale sized coupler box.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,5929646,5929646#msg-5929646

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/26 22:21 by funnelfan.

Nice work as always Alex. Thank you for committing to do a weathering Clinic at the Bay Area Prototype Modelers this June 27th. 

RAS Wrote:
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> Nicely done. Intereted to hear more about the cut
> lever brackets - did you print these yourself, or
> is someone offering these? I have a BUNCH of FMC
> cars that need help here....
>
> -Rick

Rick, thanks for the reply. The cut levers were bought from an online retailer eroc_78, he's got some pretty nice detail parts for modern freight cars and locomotives. There are good instructions on how to assemble and glue the cut levers onto the cars. I think these would work great on your FMC boxcars. Note I am not sponsorsed by this seller and simply ordered these to try out on this boxcar among other models. I think I went ahead and purchased the 10-pair pack for $15.00 

-Alex 

Alex Wilson
Castro Valley, CA
ApproachAspect's Flickr Photos