Fantastic!

That’s way above my pay grade. What scale is it?

Thanks a lot Rick. It's

Thanks a lot Rick. It's HO.

Regards,

Company is

Is the kit from Concept Models? It look like one of their kits. I got 3 kits from them. I've got a schnabel car I just got in the mail. The other two are a specialty depressed car & a bogie set trucked that I'm almost done on both. it looks great. Can't wait to see it decaled & weathered.

No it's not a kit from

No it's not a kit from anyone! If you'll read the title of the post, it says, "scratched from the trucks up."  I made the masters and molds for the trucks myself, cast the ends, made the top appliances, and even made a j-2 relay valve. I'm doing all I can not explode over you asking if it's a Concept Models kit. Their tank car kits are JUNK, and that's being kind.

Wow...

That is another beautiful car

That is another beautiful car Bobby. Fantastic work and detail.

Lee and Rob, I thank you both

Lee and Rob, I thank you both for being so kind.

Regards,

FANTASTIC!

I love seeing nothing more than some good scratch building!

This is some amazing scratch building! I can't wait to see more.

This past weekend, I was doing a Steampunk convention here in San Diego, and I have some hard bound copies of MRR that I left out in my area (called "Shenanigans") and it seems some of the "Starburner" folks (a "maker" group) were going through a few of them as they would wander through my area... I'm told the Live Steam guys from the other room had some interest in the 1934 book as well.

Scratch Building is coming back!

I am of a belief that Model Railroading will NEVER die so long as folks still scratch build! This hobby is healthy as ever!

Thank you Warflight. I agree,

Thank you Warflight. I agree, scratchbuilding is what keeps me in this hobby.

Regards,

On the scratch building front

On the scratch building front I have been photo copying the dollar car series from the 50s from old issues of model railroader. Once you start reading these older magazines it is very interesting to see the huge differences in content and style that took place then vs now. The magazines were less than 100 pages and full of articles regarding design and building of everything from layouts to rolling stock and structures. Of real interest to me are the articles regarding scratch building something that later became a kit, like the Atlas signal tower. A major difference in the things presented and how they are presented. Of particular note for me since I model the late 50s everything is the proper era!

One of my club members has been scratch building cars and I suspect I might do so as well in the future. It looks like a very enjoyable undertaking. Now I suspect it will be a while before I get to the level of quality you present with these models Bobby if I ever do.

Nice car

Great job on the car, looks great.  I have a hard time with the patience to do all the brake rigging.

Looks like some nice work

Looks like some nice work Bobby. I have a friend that has the same affliction that your suffering from. His love is to build tank cars, both scratched and heavily modified. He will buy a scrap car from a trade table and trash everything except the tank ends if that is what he need to start the build. I would love to see some more pictures of this. Maybe a full one and one especially of the trucks. What sort of trucks are they?

The tank

Not having scratch built anything, when you say cast the trucks and ends is that resin or something else?

Also what did you use for the tank itself?

Lastly do you have a prototype picture and info?

Stunning

That's just amazing!  I'm so jealous. What is the prototype?  Builder and date please.

Impressive!

I've done a little bit of scratch building, but I buy trucks, brake gear, etc--anything that was mass produced, and is available from Tichy or other sources.  For me, why cast stake pockets when there's perfectly good ones available.  Of course, I have nothing like the skill shown here..WOW!

Rob, David, Neil, Jim B,

Rob, David, Neil, Jim B, Lancaster, and IrishRover.  Thank you all for your very encouraging comments. I made the trucks, because at the time they were not available in any form. I started the car thinking they were. Being hard headed, I didn't let that stop me. It was a learning process to be sure. Now the trucks can be had in brass and soon in plastic. The car was built in 1968 to haul Tetrahydrafuran, a form of alcohol. The trucks are 11' wheelbase Buckeyes. The tank was built using two Walthers LPG tanks cut and spliced to get the correct length. I then wrapped the tank with .010 sheet styrene for the correct dia. I had a copy of the original plans.   

I got a chuckle

Thank you Scott, you're most

Thank you Scott, you're most kind. If I had a set of instructions I doubt if I could build a blue box.

Regards,

Top appliances

Lots of tiny parts. 

Jaw Dropping!

Bobby - words cannot describe your level of scratch building! The details are mesmerizing and astounding, I just can't get over it.

Terry 

Thank you very much Terry, I

Thank you very much Terry, I really appreciate it.

Regards,

Bobby, I meant to ask about

Bobby, I meant to ask about the wheels and some other things are those proto 87s? Also on the fantastic detail parts on the top works did you buy some of the parts from plasti struct or a similar supplier or were they made by an outfit like shapeways with three d printing? That is a magnificent model and each photo just makes it look better and better.

I got a chuckle as well

I first discovered Bobby's  work when I was searching for kitbash ideas for cryogenic tank cars. What an artist.
 

I need to visit that Savannah show next time he is there.

Folks, I have known Bobby

Folks,

I have known Bobby Pitts for about twenty years. He is the finest modeler of tank cars (and other models) that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He will never disappoint you.