Skeleton Log Car Ideas?

[Lighthorseman]

Here is a 20 foot "log" on the MDC car...

[Lighthorseman]

...And on my mocked up log car.

[Lighthorseman]

The next time I can find a few moments, it will be the proverbial "litmus test" as I see if this car will negotiate an 18 inch radius, the tightest turns on my logging line. Wish me luck.

Here's a last shot for today.

[sumpter250]

Steve,
I'm not sure how much On30 equipment you have, but, I chose to raise the couplers on all the Bachmann stuff I have, to a height that is the same as 3' gauge. The front coupler of the Mogul, was actually at this height. I haven't done the shay yet, but that will also be done.
I just figured that 18" above the railhead, was a little too low for the brakemen's comfort. They'd be filing workman's comp for back problems!
Pete

[Lighthorseman]

Great idea, Pete! I'll have topullmy Mogul out and have a look before installing couplers. Thanks for the idea.

[jon-monon]

Finescale has plans in the Dec issue for free download. It's all good, but you only need part 4 to get the plan.

[shamus]

Hi Steve, If you are still looking, here is a photo of one of mine, its a Bachmann one.

Shamus

[Lighthorseman]

Thanks, Shamus! Those new Bachmann ones are beauts. As my current project has fallen to the back burner, and the Canadian dollar is doing so well of late, there are likely a few of those fellas in my layout's future.

Thanks for the picture.

[grlakeslogger]

Have you thought of patterning your cars after the Climax log cars? There are some great photos, plans , and dimensions in Oso Publishing Co.'s recent release "The Climax Locomotive" by Dennis Blake Thompson, et al . I started out a number of years ago with MDC's log cars, just like so many others. Then I got talking to the fellows from the West Side Lumber Co., a modular/display layout group out of Minneapolis-St. Paul. They ran and recommended to me Keystone Locomotive Works' HO scale Climax cars. I love them! One essential tool in building them is a (battery-powered) Dremel tool because each one needs about seventeen hole drilled. That is A LOT of holes to drill by hand. I particularly like them beause the bunk and bunk strap detail is so well done. That is perhaps the most visible part of a log car. And, the cast metal ends provide enough weight to track reliably. On the protoype narrow gauge version of the cars, the bunks were 8 x 10 on the minimum length (20' 4") car. The bunks on this version were 8' wide. I hope this helps somewhat. Good luck with the project!

[bignallb]

I bought some brake wheels and log bunks from Dallas at BVM, and after grinding the MDC log bunks down, glued the BVM ones on. Log car scales out a 14' long and 7' wide, and looks pretty good.

[bignallb]

Hopefully the picture came along this time....

[silver]

The company is gone now but I am sure you can still find them on a discount. But I found some really nice O scale skeleton log 3 car sets made by Industrial Rail. They are made for lionel type 3 rail track but they could be converted easily. The trucks are not really right but the detail on the cars is very nice.

[dawg70]

I would like to thank everyone for the info. on here I am doing my research on the Crossett Lumber company in Crossett Ark to base my new layout off of and was looking for some ideals on scratch built skeleton cars thanks again for all the help.

[dawg70]

Lighthorseman, Using wood for the car like that . How do you deal with the weight issue. I know loaded you shouldn't have a problem but empty is the car to light to properly ride around track with out derailing?

[bigsteel]

i dont htink your going to get a response dawg,if you look at the dates its 2 years old most of the members in it have left.--josh