RITS Newsletter
Issue 107 Third Quarter, 1998 Volume
25, No. 3
Speaking of Models
by Steve Hile
In this issue, I want to take a look at several HO models of PS-1 boxcars
and how they can be used for Rock Island prototypes.
Following World War II, the Rock Island added large numbers of 40-foot
all steel boxcars including 3000 PS-1s from Pullman Standard in two batches
with 1000 cars coming in 1948 and an additional 2000 cars arriving in 1951
and 1952 decorated in the Centennial paint scheme. Other PS-1s with
eight-foot doors arrived in the �60s, but that�s another story.
There were some differences between the 1948 order (Rock Island numbers
25500-26499) and the later batch. The 1948 cars had the earlier style
Pullman Standard roof which did not have the raised section in the last
panel at either end of the car. Also, the car ends did not have the
characteristic six little raised rectangles at their tops. All of
these cars were delivered with Superior 7-panel doors and Universal hand
brakes. The first half of the order (25500-25999) had 
Apex
�Tri Lok� running boards (the open rectangular look) while the remainder
arrived with U.S. Gypsum expanded metal (the diamond appearance).
To model one of these cars, I used an old McKean Models PS-1 with a
six-foot door opening. Working from photographs, you can easily modify
the shape of the side sills to more closely match the prototype.
The McKean model has a separate roof that lacks the raised sections in
the end panels which are a spotting feature of this group of cars.
I used a U.S. Gypsum (diamond pattern) running board from Intermountain
for this car. The ends do have the 6 small rectangles and I made
no effort to try to remove these. Intermountain will sell its detail
sprues separately by mail and some or all of the ladders and hand grabs
can be replaced with these finer cross section parts, if you desire.
There is some room for debate on the painting of these cars.
I am fairly convinced that the roof should be black, and I chose, for this
series, to make the ends black as well. I painted the model before
attaching the side ladders and grabs to make masking for the black ends
easier. I�ve used a lot of Polly Scale Light Freight Car Red in the
last year or so and find it a pleasing color for RI freight cars.
I used Accuflex Engine Black for the ends and roof. The decals are
from Champ. One interesting feature of this car series was a line
of reflective dots along the lower sill line. Apparently, this was
done as an experiment to improve visibility at night for motor cars approaching
a train. It does not appear to have been repeated on other cars.
To match these, I used dots from Champ�s delimiter set.
The Centennial boxcars have been widely photographed and since my modeling
era is 1952, it is quite appropriate that I have a good number of fresh,
clean Centennial boxcars. In addition to the 2000 from Pullman Standard,
there were also 1000 from ACF with the unusual �dartnaught� ends.
I have high hopes that Branchline Trains will do this car in the future,
based on their ads.
For the Pullman Standard car, we RI modelers have a couple of choices.
The most obvious would be the new model from Kadee. This is a beautiful
car with absolutely the finest detail that I have ever seen in a model.
They now offer two different versions painted in the Rock Island Centennial
scheme. The first available car was numbered 22172 and had the incorrect
combination of Camel (Youngstown corrugated) doors and Apex running boards.
They also did not paint the roof black.
With this series, too, the jury is out until someone can locate the
original order specs and determine exactly whether the roof was painted
to match the car or was coated with black car cement. Later roofs
were often left in their unpainted, galvanized states. I chose to
paint my roof black. I found that the gorgeous molded running board
assembly was easily removed (it�s a press fit) to allow the roof to be
painted. Again, Accuflex Engine Black was brush painted and appears
to adhere well.
I again used an Intermountain U.S. Gypsum running board and moved the
Kadee running board to an old Cannonball Car Shops PS-1, improving the
appearance of that model as well. I understand that Kadee will eventually
make some of these parts available separately. I did not change the
brake step to match, but this could also be done. Plano also makes
a diamond pattern running board and brake step set that could be used.
The Ajax brake wheel is nicely done, but is also incorrect for this series.
The color used by Kadee is somewhat suspect. I would have preferred
a bit more of a reddish brown color to the dark Tuscan that Kadee used.
I think that a little judicious weathering with a lighter color, perhaps
even a tinge of rust colored chalks, could help.
Kadee has also released a second road number, 21110 I think, with the
7-panel Superior door and a black roof. This is a good choice.
The models are available undecorated for us �do it ourselves� types.
The final option is Intermountain�s PS-1. While not painted for
RI, the undecorated kits are half the price of the Kadee cars, and the
detailing is very nice as well. Some careful assembly, a little paint,
and Champ decals will produce another fine model of a RI PS-1. Currently,
Bowser has the only Universal brake wheel model available and I cannibalized
a couple of other cars for this project. The Details Associates Equipco
brake wheel can also be used depending on the car number selected.
PS-1s built in 1951-52.
Number series Doors Running Boards
Brake Step Brake wheel Trucks
21000-21749 Superior 7-panel Apex
Apex Universal Barber S-2
21750-22249 Camel Gypsum
Gypsum Equipco Barber S-2
22250-22499 Superior 7-panel Apex
Apex Universal Barber S-2
22500-22999 Superior 7-panel Gypsum
Gypsum Equipco Snup Up
PS-1s built in 1948.
25500-25999 Superior 7-Panel Apex
Apex Universal Ride Control A-3
26000-26499 Superior 7-Panel Gypsum
Gypsum Universal Ride Control A-3
Short Hauls
Microscale has released a new decal sheet for �The ROCK� blue and white
diesel locomotives of 1975-1980. The catalog numbers are 60-1041
for N-scale and 87-1041 for HO. This sheet includes all of the names
and slogans for painting GP-7/9 rebuilds, GP38-2s, and the yard slugs.
At the same time, Microscale has updated their 60-230 and 87-230 decal
sheets, also for The ROCK diesels. The combination will allow you
to decal several models. In both the new and updated decal set instruction
sheets, Microscale included a nice plug for RITS. Thanks....
In N, JMC/Con-Cor has released an 85-foot, twin door, hi-cube boxcar
in RI paint, catalog #001-555662-3...
In HO, Walthers has done a 54-foot GSC bulkhead flat lettered for RI.
This car, painted boxcar red and lettered RI 91802, is in the correct number
series.... Walthers also has a 40-foot steel reefer for RI. This
car is painted reefer orange with a large RI herald and is lettered URTX
67098.... Intermountain HO is offering its 10� inside height boxcar
in twelve numbers for the Rock Island. Unfortunately, the RI never
had any of this type. The numbers IM used were for the rebuilt USRA,
134xxx series. Good looking, but flawed....
Until next time....