Category Description: Information about model and prototype flat cars.
Santa Fe FT-13 Depressed Center Flat Car
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-01 pg. 61 Scale: (none) Author: Stephen M. Priest
The ATSF only had two of these cars. Prototype photo and scale drawings are included.
A Bucket Load for a Flat
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-09 pg. 80 Scale: HO Author: Richard Flock
Using an O-scale dipper for an HO-scale load.
A Bulkhead Flatcar for Two Gauges
Model Railroader 1989-07 pg. 64 Scale: Author: Lee Vande Visse
Taking a standard gauge car, the author modeled a narrow gauge one. However, most of the article appears to be scratchbuilding the model. Includes scale and isometric drawings of how he built the flat car frame. Also includes prototype photos.
A Military Load for the F22 Gun Flats
The Keystone Modeler 32 March 2006 pg. 35 Scale: HO Author: Bruce F. Smith
Transporting large naval guns using these flat cars. The author used Crown Custom Imports' brass models. Includes a prototype, several model photos, and an equipment drawing of the two cars required to carry the load. The author also lists the sources for the gun barrels (i.e the load).
A Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars Part Two
O Scale Trains Magazine 33 July 2007 pg. 15 Scale: O Author: Tom Houle
In this installment the author describes how he built the car out of styrene. Includes some drawings and construction photos.
AE&FR Flat Motor No.49
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-06 pg. 86 Scale: (none) Author: James Tangney
This is a follow-up to the article by the author in the May 1996 issue. This installment contains more information, some corrections to the previous article, prototype and model photos, and scale drawings of the car and its plow.
Back-dated (shortened) Piggyback Flat
Railroad Model Craftsman 1979-03 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: W. Allen McClelland
The author shortened Athearn's 85-foot flat car to 75 feet to make his V&O TOFC piggyback flat car. Includes one prototype and several model photos.
Build a Baby Opera Window Center-Beam Flatcar
Model Railroader 2002-08 pg. 84 Scale: HO Author: Dean Foster
For transporting lumber.
Building 30' Flat cars
NMRA Bulletin 2002-06 pg. 27 Scale: HO Author: Cyril Durrenberger
Changing a kit into a prototypically-correct model.
Building a Fleet of Carter Brothers' Flat Cars
Scale Rails 2005-12 pg. 26 Scale: On3 Author: Chuck Lind
Scratchbuilding a good number of flat cars using a jig. Includes construction photos, diagrams, and completed photos.
Building a Mining Dump Truck Load
NMRA Bulletin 2002-09 pg. 31 Scale: HO Author: Tom Peterson
Flat car open loads. Prototype and model photos.
CP Rail's 89'-4" Flat Cars Protofile 66
Railroad Model Craftsman 1994-01 pg. 103 Scale: HO Author: Charles Derus
The author describes how he modeled this long car using two MDC No. 1280 undecorated 60-foot flat cars.
Depressed Center Flat Cars
N-Scale 2000-05/06 pg. 32 Scale: N Author: Scott Seekins
This article describes how the author weathered the C&NW # 48567 GHQ depressed center flat car.
Detail & Weather Your Atlas 50' Intermodal Flatcars & Trailers
N Scale Railroading 2004-09/10 pg. 50 Scale: N Author: James Edgar
Building and remodeling, including weathering of an Atlas flat car.
Freelanced Narrow Gauge Flatcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-06 pg. 34 Scale: HOn3 Author: Doug Leffler
Using strip wood, the author built this narrow gauge flat car. With some adjustment, this car could also be built to fit standard gauge.
Improving Athearn's Piggyback Flatcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 1979-03 pg. 75 Scale: HO Author: Geoff Hubbs
The author describes how he made some changes to this kit to have it ride lower and improve operations.
Improving Weaver’s 53' Flat Car
O Scale Trains Magazine 01 March 2002 pg. 27 Scale: O Author: Edward F. Bommer
The author describes the details he improved on this car to make it a better representative model of a UP 70 ton Commonwealth Steel
Castings flat car.
Kitbashed Logging Flats
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-05 pg. 54 Scale: HO Author: Jeff Johnston
The author converted some 40-foot Athearn flat cars to better fit his pre-1930's era. Drawings and close-up photos show all the work he did to do this conversion. A prototype photo of the Minarets & Western flat car is included.
Kitbashing a Durango & Silverton M.O.W. Flat Car with Load
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-09 pg. 78 Scale: HO Author: Frank Geraci
Modeling a unique flat car.
Kitbashing a Micro-Trains 89' Flat Car
N-Scale 2003-05/06 pg. 26 Scale: N Author: David W. Savage
Modifying this car into a 75' Pennsy Truc-Train car, including shortening the car, installing wood planking, creating square mounting holes, and modifying the trailers on the car.
Modeling The Pennsylvania Railroad's Flat Car Fleet Part 8
The Keystone Modeler 39 October 2006 pg. 16 Scale: (none) Author: Elden Gatwood
This installment covers the F31 and F31A classes. Contains extensive prototype history, some prototype and model photos, and scale diagram.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Flat Car Fleet
The Keystone Modeler 73 Spring 2010 pg. 30 Scale: HO Author: Jack Consoli
This installment covers modeling the F30 class. Includes prototype and model photos. The author took a brass F31 model and cut it to the right length to model the F30.
Modeling the Piggyback Cars of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad Model Craftsman 2004-10 pg. 91 Scale: HO Author: Rusty Recordon
Building the flat cars from parts of other kits.
Modifying Walthers Depressed Center Flat Car
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-10 pg. 87 Scale: HO Author: Mike Rose
The article describes how the author added detailing to the basic model, matching its prototype. Includes a prototype photo and several close-up model photos.
Northern Pacific #65618
N-Scale 2000-07/08 pg. 28 Scale: N Author: Brian F. Reynolds
The author built a 89'4" flat car with stake pockets from a cast metal flat car by JnJ Trains. Photos only show the finished product.
S Scale Class GR
The Keystone Modeler 05 December 2003 pg. 0 Scale: S Author: Bill Lane
This is a brief overview of the kit by Funaro & Camerlengo class GR offered by Central Hobby Supply of Syracuse NY.
Scratchbuild a Depressed Center Flatcar
Model Railroader 1978-03 pg. 87 Scale: HO Author: Edward C. Steinberg
The author describes how he built a six-wheeled depressed-center flatcar using styrene and ABS plastic.
Scratchbuilding the F24 Flat Car
The Keystone Modeler 75 Autumn 2010 pg. 17 Scale: HO Author: David J. Vinci
This article shows step-by-step how to scratchbuild this MOW car. He describes the tools he used to the various parts, so it is a good general article on scratchbuild freight cars as well.
The PRR F33 Deep Well Flat Car
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-07 pg. 60 Scale: HO Author: Kris Kollar
The author provides historical background and his description of building the Funaro & Camerlengo PRR F3 resin kit. Includes prototype and model photos, and how he built the large crate load.