SOU BS190 Class
This is a OMI car from a 1987 production that consisted of 200 cars produced. I made several modifications to it being I wasn't satisfied with some of the items the car had from the factory. The handbrake and stirrups were the main items replaced that were just eyesores. The trucks of course were replaced without question. As I looked at several different truck types from assorted manufactures I went with the Bowser 100 ton trucks using JB 36" wheels, these fit the bill in appearance and worked out better for coupler height with the extended shank type E Sergent couplers I used. When I got the car I decided to strip it, I opted to paint it in a more modern, but faded post merger era Claytor scheme. Everyone goes for the "Green Light To Innovations" scheme which the prototypes were delivered in. Most were repainted and still serve today appearing much as this model does. I made several small differences in the data placement from side to side and re-weigh patches. I also built a false floor and added dunnage with the option of an open door on the left side. OMI designed their cars to use the old school Kadee coupler box which have no detail, they serve one purpose, they never fail in that roll, but along with operational status I need some detail to look at. Instead of drilling out new holes for better looking draft gear assemblies, I chose to keep the original setup, but added face plates to the Kadee boxes to more closely match the prototype versions. I also replaced the cut levers with Plano telescopic parts, a modified train line apparatuses was built using the Kadee train line air hoses with 0.032" rod on the back side to complete the brake pipe onward and out of sight towards the bolsters. The handbrake assembly was completely replaced with several aftermarket parts including gear box and bellcrank to complete all the accessories for the handbrake mechanism. The stirrups were replaced with Details Associates Superliner stirrups. Although adding plastic parts to brass or replacing parts on brass may be a sin in some people's minds, I'm much more pleased with this car than I was in it's original factory state. To top it all off the simplified post merger era paint scheme and a average weathering job brought this car to life. I had long been considering kit bashing one of these noteworthy 63' cars from four ExactRail cars, but just never could bring myself to start that job, then this car came along. No more kit bashing ideas, my hunt became complete in the summer of 2017.
SOU BS190 Class
This is a OMI car from a 1987 production that consisted of 200 cars produced. I made several modifications to it being I wasn't satisfied with some of the items the car had from the factory. The handbrake and stirrups were the main items replaced that were just eyesores. The trucks of course were replaced without question. As I looked at several different truck types from assorted manufactures I went with the Bowser 100 ton trucks using JB 36" wheels, these fit the bill in appearance and worked out better for coupler height with the extended shank type E Sergent couplers I used. When I got the car I decided to strip it, I opted to paint it in a more modern, but faded post merger era Claytor scheme. Everyone goes for the "Green Light To Innovations" scheme which the prototypes were delivered in. Most were repainted and still serve today appearing much as this model does. I made several small differences in the data placement from side to side and re-weigh patches. I also built a false floor and added dunnage with the option of an open door on the left side. OMI designed their cars to use the old school Kadee coupler box which have no detail, they serve one purpose, they never fail in that roll, but along with operational status I need some detail to look at. Instead of drilling out new holes for better looking draft gear assemblies, I chose to keep the original setup, but added face plates to the Kadee boxes to more closely match the prototype versions. I also replaced the cut levers with Plano telescopic parts, a modified train line apparatuses was built using the Kadee train line air hoses with 0.032" rod on the back side to complete the brake pipe onward and out of sight towards the bolsters. The handbrake assembly was completely replaced with several aftermarket parts including gear box and bellcrank to complete all the accessories for the handbrake mechanism. The stirrups were replaced with Details Associates Superliner stirrups. Although adding plastic parts to brass or replacing parts on brass may be a sin in some people's minds, I'm much more pleased with this car than I was in it's original factory state. To top it all off the simplified post merger era paint scheme and a average weathering job brought this car to life. I had long been considering kit bashing one of these noteworthy 63' cars from four ExactRail cars, but just never could bring myself to start that job, then this car came along. No more kit bashing ideas, my hunt became complete in the summer of 2017.