RITS Newsletter
Issue 114    Second Quarter, 2000    Volume 27, No. 2

Speaking of Models
by Steve Hile


Freight carsIt seems like a long time since I�ve written about some models and the ones I will write about here are not exactly new.  However, I think that the latter-day RI modeler has a very good situation in freight cars when it comes to Pullman-Standard covered hoppers.  It should be very easy to accumulate a fleet of cars that accurately represent the one of the Rock Island�s primary constituencies.
Steve Suhs is working his way through a series on covered hoppers for The Digest.  We will not be able to go into much detail here, but will make some suggestions.  We have already discussed the original RI two-bay PS-2 covered hoppers in Rock 94 (Atlas and MDC models) and the early center sill three-bay cars (Con-Cor and predecessor models) back in Rock 83.  Back issues should be available from the Company Store.
With this issue, we will look at two models of the much more numerous three-bay center discharge covered hoppers, the PS-2 CD.  The RI acquired about 3000 of the 4427-cubic foot cars in both low- and high-side versions and added an additional 2450 4750-cubic foot hoppers from Pullman Standard (and USRE clones.)  The 4750 cars are represented by the Intermountain kits and are not the subject of this article.  We will break down the 4427 cars, which can be nicely modeled from Walthers and Life-Like P2k kits.
The Walthers kit is less finely detailed than the P2k, but does fill an important slot in the RI roster.  They do not make a decorated RI version, but the spartan lettering schemes of the sixties and seventies make decaling a relatively easy proposition.  A total of 1,149 low-side cars were built for the RI between 1964 and 1966, RI 8000-8302 and RI 13000-13845.  Of these, 8000-8302 and 13100-13199 were delivered in the herald only paint scheme.  It is likely that 13200-13299 were also in this scheme.  13000-13099 and 13300-13845 were painted with the large block lettering with the Rock stacked above Island.  Once again the RI habit of numbering downward in a sequence plays havoc with car number sensibility.  With the onset of the ROCK image, about 500 of these cars were refurbished and repainted ROCK blue.  Otherwise, the cars retained their original paint to the end.
I removed the lettering from a D&RGW kit and added the RI numbering and herald.  It�s been a while, but I believe that the herald is from an old Champ RI black roadname set.  We used the four segment hatch cover casting.
The Life-Like P2k model of the 4427 high-side covered hoppers came decorated for, I believe, 6 different numbers in the speed lettering scheme.  1000 of these cars were delivered to the Rock Island in 1967 numbered 130000-130999.  These cars were delivered in the large block lettering scheme, so to replicate them, you will have to get the undecorated kit and use MicroScale decals.  Pullman left a blank panel at each end of the car and spelled out Rock Island on one line so that there was no blank panel between the �K� and �I�.  When the speed lettering scheme was used on 750 cars built in 1969 and 1970, they left a blank panel between the words and so the �D� was placed on the last full panel.  The P2k kit matches these cars in the 131000-131749 series.  About 760 of these cars were repainted into ROCK colors before the end.
The P2k kit has many more detail parts, including a finely detailed brake system which is visible with the end platform.  There is even tiny stenciling on the brake reservoir casting.  You can count on spending several hours assembling this kit.  You�ll find one of the new sprue cutters will be invaluable.  If you desire, the cars were also sold already assembled for just a few dollars more.
All in all, these cars are very representative of the RI in the last decade of its existence.  If you model that era, you will want a representative sample.

Until next time..

Short Hauls


In S-scale, American Models, 248-437-6800, has introduced two new locomotive sets, with several variations, in Rock Island paint schemes.  First is an EMD F7-A-B set in the original �Rocket� scheme.  The B-unit can be ordered powered or with a sound unit, both variations list for $359.95.  Additional variations are an A-B-B set or an A-B-A set, both list for $479.95.  The other set is of an Alco FA-1 -FB-1 loco pair in the red and black scheme.  No prices or options were given.  www.americanmodels.com....
In HO, Division Point, 303-499-5909, has an EMC FT A-B-A set in the Rock Island red and black delivery scheme.  The B-unit is a prototypically correct FTSB.... Branchline Trains has made (and sold out) a run of 50-foot single door boxcars from the 1950 time frame.  The kit includes the first true commercial use of a �dartnaught� end....  Life-Like will be bringing out Rock Island versions of the Alco FA-1 - FB-1 in Rock Island black and red delivery scheme.  The A and B will be sold as a set.  Unfortunately, a separate A unit will not be sold to make the original A-B-A configuration....  Rocket Express has followed its 40-foot single sheathed auto car with a 50-foot version that matches the prototype recently moved to the Illinois Railway Museum and undergoing restoration....  Expect a couple of new RI prototype kits from Sunshine as this year rolls on.  Perhaps one or both will be introduced at the BRHS/RITS joint convention this fall.  Stay tuned...
In N-scale, Life-Like will offer an Alco FA-1-FB-1 set for a list price of $120.  It will be a very limited run offering.  Catalog 7425 is for road numbers 145/145B, catalog 7426 is for road numbers 152/152B, and catalog 7431 is for unpainted gray plastic....