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The 12700-12749 series flats were new in 1956 from the Warren Car Co.

These flats have 15 stake pockets and are 15" from the bottom of the deck to the bottom of the sidesill. They came equipped with storage compartments for trainline jumper and chock blocks, deck plates for securing chocks and trainline wiring to support climate controlled containers. They were then rated as general service flats and have seen all kinds of loading including logs, poles, containers and bridge beams.

In 2008 they are still in service as dedicated container flats. The wood decks have been removed and they are skeleton cars that cannot be used in General Service, thereby extending their service life beyond the original FRA 50 year limit.

Model starts with Proto 2000 Walthers standard 50 ton Flat. The number of stake pockets (15) and general length of deck at 53'2" is correct. The side sill and stake pockets need some modification.

Start by removing the portion of the stake pockets below the hole in the side of the pocket. A zona saw back cuts these going the length of the car and then the lower portion can be chiseled off.

Next measure down 15 scale inches from the bottom of the deck and mark the side sill. find a piece of stock that will make a strait edge along the 15" measurement when held along the bottom of the stake pockets. Score a line and then remove the excess material from the fish belly of the side sill. Make up filler pieces for each end of the car side so the 15" measurement continues from end to end. With the kit in hand this will make sense.

Modify the underframe by cutting the 8 cross braces at an angle from the new side sill level up to the center beam. Cap these with new 6" wide strips of .010 styrene to simulate the original kit construction.

Add eight strait 18" grab irons in the original holes provided. Drill new holes for the four corner stirrup steps. Bottom lift cut levers and the brake staff are then added. (See Building survivable cut levers and brake staffs.) Add # 58 couplers and a set of roller bearing trucks. The prototype originally had Buckeye Pedestal Type with 33" wheels.

The paint is mineral red with yellow decals from Roundhouse Hobbies flat car sets. With over 50 years of service, you can model these cars as new or weathered and ready for scrap with just about any kind of load. Here is a photo of my model.