So, moving swiftly onward, the second parcel arrived today and just like Xmas I now have a train set....minus track LOL.
There are five Atlas 50' box cars all complete, four decorated and one bare, in the four boxes are three complete...the boxes say 50 box cars but they're way longer and look like more modern 60'....kits minus bogies and the fourth box another kit minus one end, floor and roof. A sub Ebay package had the bogies and other assorted detail parts like doors, pipework, ladders etc, mixed brass and plastic.
The kits and RTR now give me rough measurements for scratch building any future stock, I'd like some end beam flats and some high capacity wood chip cars and possibly some high cube box cars but am trying to limit myself to wagons at 65' and under.
No idea on layout or Rail road/geographical location as yet or era but thinking industrial sidings, perhaps a wood chip plant, logs, chips/pulp in and refined wood products out (sawn products = centre beam flats) or box cars with what ever product. Did see a nice cameo in one of these online O gauge mags with a car float and link span, that might be interesting to do.
Unfortunately none of the RTR are in liveries I'm interested in and perhaps a little too old for my preferred era and I'm sure roof walkways were removed from a lot of box cars in the 80's and the access ladders too. The only stock to retain roof walkways being those with top loading facilities, I.E. covered hoppers and tanks. Thus all four painted RTR will be repainted and into what I've no idea yet.....not doing too well at this model planning lark just yet
If roof walkways are required I'll run up a NS etch with PPD for them and other sundries like ladders and such like.
There are of course some boxcar stock which retains ladders and maybe walkways, need more research in that field at the moment.
The RTR bogies seem to use a three point system and the transverse beams are sprung on all except two but the cars are very light and need some weight to stop them wobbling!