New bash started last nite. These are the Bethlehem gons based on the B&O 0-59. Made out of "varney" or whatever other brand of 40 foot train set gon you can get cheap at a Swap Meet. I believe the first Reading incarnation of this car was the GHh of 1941. Similar versions through classes GHm/n basically only varied in end style and rib length over the fishbelly part of the side sheet. Other roads that used this 52'-6" IL gon were the WM, CNJ, and LV.

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.010 Sides are glued on then .040 filler between the core halves.

Top plate on core is cut back about 3 feet on each side to provide some overlap for the fill piece (.030 x .080). Kind of too fat for scale, but good enough for this piece.

Then floor is filled in with .060 backed up and spliced over with a piece of .010 on the bottom. I plan to glue washers underneath for weight.

I figured I'd have some problems getting the side sheets aligned so that the car was square which I did, so I had to take a sliver out of one side sheet before glueing in the side splices, then pressed the sides down flush on my work surface as the glue was setting.

Hey, Bill--Are those fixed dreadnaught ends on those gondolas or the drop-down versions?--Dave

Hi Dave, I forgot to post an end shot. This one will just have the stock fixed DN ends.

Thanks for the end shot, Bill. I like this bash. Might look for a couple old Varney gondolas at the next swap meet.--Dave

I carved off the molded on bolsters and coupler pockets and have been experimenting with replacement bolster pads. I'm trying to get it to sit as low as possible. I think some grinding of the floor bottom will be needed for wheel clearance. This also means the new coupler pockets will have to get cut deeper into the body as well.