Improving a Bachmann Quad Hopper

Back when I started this blog, I posted several articles about repurposing and repainted cheap train set cars to fill the fleet. That was before I embraced more prototypically oriented modelling. However, I always kept these older cars with me and even got donation from friends. After few year, I ended up with a considerable fleet of useless hoppers... or so I thought. Then, many years ago, when I modelled the Harlem Station in Bronx, it came to me to upgrade these old ARA quad hoppers with better details and correct decals.

B&M ARA hopper in 1929 (credit: movingthefreight.com)

Some shell were striped from paint, others got their clunky ladders removed and I even purchased several sets of decals for B&M, C&O, ERIE and other roads that did own that peculiar prototype so loved by manufacturers back in the days, but barely useful to most modellers.

Recent Bachmann tooling on top, older one at the bottom

Last week, I thought it was time to try to make a better model out of these shells. I started with a Lionel/Bachmann tooling which, like the old IHC one, have crisper details and better molding that later Bachmann cars which were made with a different tooling.

It takes a lot of patience, but well worth a try

I removed all the grabirons, ladders and small details and replaced them with Tichy wire ones. Unfortunately, the batch of Tichy drop grabirons I purchased are slightly crooked, which was annoying to rectify. A great detail was Tichy delrin stirrups. They are easy to work with and gorgeous.

I didn't bother improving the brake gear, but had to rebuild the sill ends to install Kadee coupler pockets at the right height. Some diagonal braces were added too. To be honest, this part was harder than I previously thought and I gave up adding the slope sheet bracing. That would be another detail I would add if I ever kitbash another one. I also discovered the Bachmann shell wasn't correct to place the left side grabirons. On the prototype, the configuration is similar to a small ladder. I should have known better.

In "photographic" grey primer

Then, once the sill was done, the doors were improved by adding a small angle iron connecting each pair and also, crafting door latches out of styrene strips. This detail would end up really improving the overall appearance of the cars.

Faded black and joining another B&M brother on the siding

The car received a coat of great primer and once I deemed it OK, a faded black paint was applied. I never use plain black, but rather a bluish/grayish base color for hoppers. I didn't go crazy with the weathering effects because I wanted a relatively pristine cars.

Completed model!

Decals are by K4 models which has an extensive line of nice decals generally not available from other sources. However, the decal film they use is much thicker than many other manufacturer and I had to fight with Microsol and a blade to make the decals snug around the thick rivets. Not to bad, but next time, I will do it with Solvaset, which is much stronger.

Almost ready to roll, if not for the missing coupler!

Overall, it was a fascinating kitbash that took almost a decade to finish. I'm glad to have soldiered on because this car look stunning! Will I ever try to model a few other ones in the future? Maybe, be cause I have plenty of shells and decals, but I have much more interesting projects on my plate and can hardly see with I would flood my fleet with a prototype that was indeed numerous, but not ubiquitous.