A project that has been sitting in the background for quite some time has been accomplished.  Many years ago, 1990's, I became a charter subscriber to the very fine Railway Prototype Cyclopedia series of books published by Ed Hawkins and Pat Wider.  I have the complete set and refer to the information in them often.  In that first volume, there is an article about the riveted side Pullman Standard PS-1 boxcars that I found interesting and as a future project idea. 

The prototypes were first built in 1948 for the Chicago and Northwestern with additional lots in 1949, 1951 and 1953.  Other roads acquiring these models were Duluth Southshore and Atlantic, Ferrocarril del Pacifico, and American Smelting and Refining.  Over 5000 cars of this style were built making them not rare, but still unique as the vast majority of PS-1s were of welded side construction.

Literally, decades passed when that article caught my eye again. The materials needed were mostly at hand.  An Intermountain 10' 6" #40899 boxcar, and ends, side ladders, and roof from their PS-1 boxcars.  I decided to build two of these models, one from a 1948 lot and one from 1949.  What really stimulated my interest in this project was the becoming available of a great decal set for the C&NW cars from Speedwitch Media set D195:  http://speedwitchmedia.com/

There are some minor modifications to the side sills with the under door sill and bolster tabs that were easily done with .020 X .030 styrene.  The 1948 lot I modeled needed the rectangular tabs on the top of the car ends removed.  Also on both cars, the bracket end grabs were replaced with hand-bent 18" straight grabs of .015 wire.

The sides needed the holes for the ladder mounting filled and new locations for the replacement PS-1 style ladders made..  The 1948 car used a Superior 7-panel door with the 1948 model using a Youngstown.  Both cars received Kadee Apex running boards.  Kato ASF A-3 trucks and wheels were used.

The 1948 car carried the somewhat rare "Route of the 400 Fleet" logo with "Overland Route" logo on the opposite side.

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The 1949 car displays the more common "Route of The 400 Streamliners" logo wit also "The Overland Route" logo opposite.