From the SOUTHERNmodeler list
27 Feb 2002
model railroader ran a article on how to scratchbuild a big john
hopper,does anybody know the month and year it came out,thanks.
sam fussell
December 1987, pg 129 "Build Southern's Big John" by Franz Martin
Figure 4 has an error in hatch placement. The placement in the text is
correct.
Brian Clark
Speaking of "Big John", I have two of the brass imports, undecorated,
and I'd like to paint one of them with the green lettering.
Can anyone direct me to decals for the green version?
Jim Davis
Hello All,
I just picked up microscale decals set 60-13 for n scale SRR freight
cars and Big John. I was curious. What type of cars and eras were
the red decals ran on and in? For those of you who don't know the
set. It has the red "southern" with red numbers. Also what type of
cars and era were the black "Big John" slogans placed on?
Thanks for your help.
Joel
Joel
The only cars I know of with red lettering were the "silverside" hoppers
and some of the "Big John" covered hoppers. I don't believe any of the "Big
Johns" had black lettering. I have seen photos of them lettered in green,
orange or red.
Brian Clark
Southern Big John covered hoppers (both types - original round hatches and
the slightly later center trough hatches) were delivered begining in the
early 1960's with the red lettering and Big John script (which can STILL be
seen on occaission and faded to a lighter orange); some received green
lettering and Big John script during repainting in the 1970's; and there
definitely were some also done with black lettering and Big John script
prior to the change to the "N&W-Claytor" era 16" lettering in both black on
some cars and white on some cars. Later still was the introduction of the NS
logo. The most recent livery I've seen on these cars has them re# into NS
series and carrying the "Throroughbred Big John" moniker in black.
Bob Graham
There are none made. However, I had Champ "redo" their orange set in green
for me. They have a service where they scan their older decals , then print
them out using an ALPS printer. The cost was not cheap, but since I don't
have an ALPS, it was the only option I had. Since the Microscale "Big John"
set (black) does not include any car data, (only the "Big John" logo) I had
Champ do their set for me in black as well as green. They came out very
nice.....
Mark Pettey
Naples,FL
Lets not forget that both the Seaboard and the acl had similar cars to those
BJ's........Now, for an easy build of one of those cars use MDC's covered
hopper and carve off 2 of the ribs and then fill in the seam that runs the
length of the car. NO other modifications needed.
Denis F. Blake
Denis
That will only give you a three bay.... Big Johns were four..
Larry Denton
I'm sure Denis is referring to a Magor-built car that was constructed of
aluminum, also owned by L&N and WP, and perhaps others as well.
Thom Anderson
Thom
Exactly the car I am talking about. Thanks.
Denis F. Blake
Are we talking about the Magor built Aluminum cars SAL 35025-35124,
class of '64 & 35125-35224, class of '66...??? These were 3-bay, 6-
hopper, and 12 30" dia roof hatches...
...the "same" car that Overland released as SAL "big John" with
the "protypical undulating roof walk" ???
Ted Strickland
Ted
Yes, exactly that car. BTW, I got the 5700 drawing copied today. Will go in the mail later this week.
Denis F. Blake
"BIG JOHN" HOPPERS:
First series was built beginning April, 1960, numbered 8000-8074.
Second series built beginning May 1962, numbered 8075-8274.
Third series built beginning August 1962, numbered 8375-8574.
Fourth series built beginning February 1965, numbered 8575-8999.
There is another series built in 1965, numbered 7925-7999. These weren't
labeled as "Big John" although they are the same except for the trough type
roof hatches.
Many are still in operation today under the NS banner...hosam
S.A. McCall
I think the answer he wanted was "September, 1997 -- page 50"...
Jeff Scarborough
At 11:13 AM 2/27/02 -0500, you wrote:
>The article that was in Model Railroader appeared in the December 1987 issue.
Ahh...I misread the MR index. It lists only one article, by Jim Six, in
Model Railroad-ING. Sept, 1997. It doesn't seem to be aware of any
others...
Jeff Scarborough
Jeff also remember that 6 didn't use a scale rule on these and if you do it
his way you wind up 6-8 feet too long of a car.
Larry Denton
BUT for a quick'n'dirty layout-type car they do look pretty darn good...
Craig Zeni
True, as long you don't compare them to one built by scale rule or one of
the OMI brass cars.
Larry Denton
© S.A. McCall