A Kitbashed Santa Fe Class GA 131 Covered Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-02 pg. 59     Scale: HO     Author: Steve Funney

The model was kitbashed from an Atlas 6-bay cylindrical hopper.

ACF Center Flow

Model Railroader 2000-02 pg. 88     Scale: (none)     Author: George Sebastian-Coleman

Prototype photos. Scale model drawings.

ATSF Unit Train Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-03 pg. 44     Scale: O     Author: Stan Hayes

The article describes how the author build jigs to enable him to build a large number of hoppers for his unit trains. Includes prototype photos, scale and detail drawings, and drawings of the jigs.

Build Southern's Big John

Model Railroader 1987-12 pg. 129     Scale: HO     Author: Franz Martin

Starting with a center-flow hopper kit, the author builds this unique car.

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part 1

Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-11 pg. 74     Scale: HO     Author: Mike Rose

Using Atlas and MDC kits, model an ex-PC ballast car. Model and construction photos. Big article!

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part II

Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-12 pg. 74     Scale: HO     Author: Mike Rose

The author describes building Penn Central and Conrail H34C cars from Atlas and MDC models. Includes a prototype photo and several model photos.

Building Conrail Ballast Cars Part IV

Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-02 pg. 66     Scale: HO     Author: Mike Rose

In this installment of the series the author covers the Conrail CC71B class #53858 and MGA (Monongahela Railroad) X-430 cars. Both are based on the Eastern Car Works flat kit. Prototype photos are included, including an inside view of one of the cars.

Building a Clinchfield PS-3 Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-11 pg. 75     Scale: HO     Author: Patrick Tillery

The author built these cars using Atlas Trainman AAR 70-ton hoppers. He has found that to be the most economical method to build a large fleet of these cars. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as a parts list.

Central of Georgia Woodchip Hopper

N Scale Railroading 2006-01/02 pg. 47     Scale: N     Author: Richard C. Thomason

This unique car requires an extension of the side panels of a standard hopper. The author details how he did this and discusses the prototype history of the car.

Classic "T" Shank Coupling

N Scale Railroading 2005-03/04 pg. 49     Scale: N     Author: Kirk Reddie

Converting Atlas' ore hoppers to close coupling t-shanks.

Close Coupling Ore Cars

N-Scale 2000-07/08 pg. 39     Scale: N     Author: Joe Valerio

Mounting MT 1060/1065 body mounted couplers to the Atlas ore cars for close-coupling, while still allowing the cars to be uncoupled. Shows construction photos.

Covered Hopper Detailing

N-Scale 2003-03/04 pg. 52     Scale: N     Author: Steve Holtzheimer

Bringing older models up to the standard of the new hoppers that are being released.

East Broad Top's 35-ton Triple Hoppers

Railroad Model Craftsman 1974-02 pg. 54     Scale: (none)     Author: Tom O'Neil

Prototype photos and scale drawing accompany this article about these narrow gauge hopper cars.

Economical Coal Loads

Model Railroader 1990-06 pg. 94     Scale: HO     Author: David A. Bontrager

An inexpensive method for filling hoppers using a false styrene floor covered with coal.

GN Bethlehem Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-02 pg. 99     Scale:      Author: Staffan Ehnbom

Using a Walthers hopper car, this article describes how to build one of these cars.

Hart Selective Ballast Car

Model Railroader 1984-11 pg. 89     Scale: HO     Author: Andy Sperandeo

Using an Athearn quad hopper, the author built a ballast hopper for the Model Railroader layout built starting in January of 1982. Includes a prototype photo and drawings for the necessary modifications.

Here's What I'm Working On - Class H30's

The Keystone Modeler 39 October 2006 pg. 8     Scale: HO     Author: Bill Faith

Models made from RTV molds.

Improving the Looks of Your Iron-ore "Jimmies"

Model Railroader 1983-07 pg. 88     Scale: HO     Author: Jim Morin

Based on real-world experience the author describes how to do close coupling, and how to create realistic loads.

Johnstown America's Grainporter

Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-09 pg. 66     Scale: (none)     Author: David S. Lehlbach

The Magor Company started building aluminum carbodies for covered hoppers to reduce the weight of the cars. The Johnstown America Corporation builds aluminum-bodied, coal-carrying Bethgons.

Kitbashing Narrow Gauge Hopper Cars

Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-03 pg. 64     Scale: HOn3     Author: Albert J. Rost

The author built accurate models using the Tichy Train Group's standard gauge hoppers.

Kitbashing a Modern Trinity Aluminum Covered Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-12 pg. 73     Scale: HO     Author: Eric Miller

Using various parts from Atlas, Walthers, and Intermountain cars, the author built a covered hopper from an open hopper car.

Kitbashing an L&N 60-ton Rebuilt Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-03 pg. 59     Scale: HO     Author: Dan Bourque

Like the prototype, the author took a Athearn 50-ton hopper and converted it to this model. Includes cutting diagrams and materials list.

Mini-Quad Couplers

N-Scale 2000-07/08 pg. 38     Scale: N     Author: Damian Kostron

Modifying Rapido couplers to create I-beam couplers to permanently couple ore cars. The prototype did it that way also. The article shows before, construction, and after photos.

Modeling Southern Ry. 55-ton Offset Side Hoppers

Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-12 pg. 82     Scale: HO     Author: Jim King

These twin-bay steel hoppers are modeled by the author using an Athearn kit. The article includes prototype and model photos, and a parts list.

OC/CN Side Discharge Ore Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-11 pg. 51     Scale: (none)     Author: Julian Cavalier

Includes prototype photos and scale drawings, with on a brief text.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 1

The Keystone Modeler 06 January 2004 pg. 0     Scale: multi     Author: John Teichmoeller

These articles briefly describe the prototype and then some comments on how the car can be modeled in several scales. Includes representative prototype and model photos. This first article covers the following PRR covered hoppers: GLe, H21d, H30, H30a, H32, and H33.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 2

The Keystone Modeler 07 February 2004 pg. 8     Scale:      Author: John Teichmoeller

This installment covers the H34 and H40 covered hopper classes.

PRR Covered Hoppers - Prototypes and Models Part 1 Addendum

The Keystone Modeler 07 February 2004 pg. 18     Scale:      Author: John Teichmoeller

Several drawings and photos of O-scale models of the GLe, H30, H32, and H33 classes.

PRR GLA and GLCA Hopper Cars Part 1

The Keystone Modeler 73 Spring 2010 pg. 17     Scale:      Author: Jim Hunter

History of the GL, GLa, GLb, GLc, and GLca hoppers, and includes many prototype photos.

Protofile Part 60

Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-01 pg. 93     Scale: HO     Author: Douglas Fleming

This installment covers the Soo Line "Super Jumbo PS-2" covered hopper. Includes a prototype and a model photo, and a parts list.

Protofile: Modeling a U.S. Leasing Airslide Covered Hopper part 62

Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-10 pg. 71     Scale: HO     Author: Charles Derus

This article covers the Rock Island covered hopper, and the author shows how he modeled one starting with a Eastern Car Works Airslide covered hopper kit. Includes model and prototype photos, as well as one drawing.

Re-detailing an FGDA PS-4740 Covered Hopper

Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-01 pg. 71     Scale: (none)     Author: Ken Edmier

Replacement Grain Hatches

Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-08 pg. 58     Scale: HO     Author: Al Warren

Detailing hatches on covered grain hoppers.

Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car Part 1

Model Railroader 1978-11 pg. 107     Scale: S     Author: John R. Porter

The author describes how to scratchbuilt a wooden hopper in S-scale (differences between scales are discussed as they affect materials or steps). This installment describes how to build the center sill, bolsters, end sills and braces, underframe, brake rigging (both K-2 and AB brakes), kingpin blocks, the car's sides, the car's ends, the slope sheets, and assembling and details the superstructure. Includes many detailed drawings. (By the way, there is a photo of the author on the Web; he is the second one up from the lower right-hand corner)

Scratchbuilding a G Scale Ore Car

Model Railroader 1990-02 pg. 110     Scale: G     Author: Wayne Wesolowski

Model and prototype photos, as well as scale drawings, of the Apache Railway's 22-foot ore car. Includes construction photos of this 1:24 scale model.

The Kadee® PS-2 and the class H34

The Keystone Modeler 07 February 2004 pg. 15     Scale:      Author: Al Buchan

Prototype photos and drawing about the H34.

The Slippery Slope: Modeling Two WP Covered Hoppers

Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-12 pg. 98     Scale: HO     Author: Jim Providenza

The author converted the Athearn 55-foot ACF Centerflow WP hopper cars from 4 bays to 3, replaced grab irons and ladder rungs, and added roof hatches. Painting and weathering completed the project. The WP covered hopper roster is given, as well as a parts list. Includes prototype and model photos.

The Sterlingworth Steel Hopper Car

Model Railroader 1978-01 pg. 71     Scale: HO     Author: Earl Smallshaw

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this 1900s steel hopper out of styrene and brass. Includes model drawings and photos. A sidebar is included on how to build a rivet machine, which was documented in the June 1968 Model Railroader issue.

Trinity 5161 Part 2

Model Railroading 2003-04 pg. 44     Scale: (none)     Author: David G. Casdorph

Prototype photos of the CGEX closed hopper car.

Twin Quads?

NASG Dispatch 2009-12 pg. 15     Scale:      Author: Edwin C Kirstatter

The author describes how he detailed two American Models 4-bay offset-side hoppers, including removable loads. One was modeled after a B&O and another after a C&O hopper. Includes several photos of the completed models.

Upgrading HO Hopper Car Kits

Model Railroader 1991-03 pg. 114     Scale: HO     Author: William Hanley

The author describes how he super-detailed an Athearn hopper car to make it look better so that it matches the Westerfield cars he also runs on his layout.

Weathering Hoppers

N-Scale 2000-09/10 pg. 45     Scale: N     Author: Robert L. Hundman

Weathering black hopper cars so that their detail shows up better in photographs.