In the February 2022 Model Railroader M.R. Snell had an article on modelling a Redstreak (QUAX) flat car. The company and cars are specialized for moving damaged rail cars. I was taken with the project and decided to try my hand at one.
I had a damaged railcar already. Years ago I built the kit and it dropped to the floor. I put it back in the box and forgot about it, or at least tried to. The damage to the end was surprisingly realistic. All I needed was an Athearn 85' TOFC flat car. I attended the first train show since the pandemic in Amherst, Nova Scotia and there was one for $10. It even included A-Line extra weights for the car.
I began by stripping the flat car and following the guidelines in the article, filled holes and shaved off unwanted details. I added details like chock blocks for the wheels of the trucks, bolsters that the car is mounted on and rings to support the chains that hold everything down during shipment of the damaged rail car.
I painted the car in a oxide red colour with Vallejo paints. The chain is 40 links per inch chain from Builders in Scale. I weathered the covered hopper car heavily and put a coat of grime on the flat car. Below are pictures of my efforts. I'm happy with the way this car turned out and it will make an interesting piece in a train.
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