Pat Durand's Walthers World War II Boxcars
Photos and text by Patrick Durand

 

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Walthers produced the World War II troop cars in several versions. Their interpretation of the Alaska Railroad Box Car conversion was based on Express Car adaptations for other railroads. While the mineral red paint and white lettering did justice to the later versions of these cars as used on the Alaska Railroad, the retention of the collision posts and end doors was inappropriate. When the cars were converted to box cars and reefers by Chicago Car and Foundry in the late 1940's those end doors and posts were removed and sheeted over with 10 gauge four foot wide strips of steel welded from the roof line to the frame.

The dual brake systems required of passenger equipment was also reduced to only one set of hardware and a single brake wheel set was attached on the B end. Ladders were added and grab irons were simplified. Tac boards were added to the doors and and the step at the side door removed.

The doors molded into the sides do not match prototype photos. I have custom doors in my stock to match the photos but most modelers will not find all the work necessary to change the doors that rewarding. The photos sequence changes I made to bring the Walthers cars into a good ARR representation. This work took me about three hours and I found it most rewarding.

Prototype photos: 10438, 8012, 10351, 10717, 11402, 10726

Model Process: Start with the Walthers Gold Line Express Car #932-4163 for ARR # 10408 or one of the other 3 numbers offered. Remove the trucks and couplers. Use a sharp #11 blade or a chisel blade to remove the collision posts from both ends. Walthers used plastic that carves like cool butter so go a little at a time and take it down flush with end sheeting. The horizontal roof extension should be taken down to about 1 scale inch thickness. The glue on a four foot wide strip of styrene sheet .0010 to cover the door. I used black tire glue IC 2000 ACC and Instacure to attach all the parts and pieces in the job. This adhesive will give instant results with out damaging the factory paint. It will not melt the thin styrene or fog the surrounding finishes. Instacure ensures quick setting and no mess.

Add Tichy #3033 ladders to opposite corners, and a Detail Associates BW 6402 brake set. Use a piece of brass .015 wire to simulate the brake rod on the car end. Each end and door gets a Detail Associates FC 6213 tac board.

All the grab Irons you need are included with the model. Use the four short drop grabs on the end sills. Use the four long strait grabs on the sides opposite the ladders refer to photos for positions. When it all cures you can brush paint the additions with mineral red and call the job done after installing Kadee #58 couplers and the Allied Full Cushion Trucks. Light or heavy weathering can cover any minor mistakes.

By the time the Alaska Cars were in this paint scheme the roof walks had been removed. On occasion there were brackets and supports left hanging on the roof after the cutting torch got rid of the walk way. Any of these cars used in interchange service via the barges outside of Alaska, would have had their trucks changed out as the Allied Full Cushions were not allowed in interchange.

The cars are now ready to run with my fleet of cannonball kits and custom cars made from my own molds. I can reserve my parts and kits for truly unique versions of the Troop Cars and the eight Walthers cars I have will fill out the inventory.

Try it you'll like it!
 

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