MK.7 - Sunshine Models HO scale resin freight car kits

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Prototype Data and Modeling Notes
RI Duryea Underframe Boxcar
RI Duryea underframe boxcar No. 148849, Washington DC 1948, Charles Wales. Courtesy of William Hopkins
The R~k Island was a large purchaser of the AAR 1942 design
all-steel boxcar just prior to World W!U' II and Immedisrely following
the war. The road's total of 4100, all from Pullman, was the' fifth
largest purchase. behind the ATSF with 7111 cars, CNW ICMO with
5266, CB&Q/FW&D with 5000 and IC (including version with
square corner ends) with 4500.
Most AAR 1942 cars came with Murphy all-steel roofs,
Youngstown doors and 515 rounded cornerpost ends. The Rock
Island had a wllple ot notable changes. primarily the use of Superior
doors. These came on the 145800-999 and 147549-749 series in
1940-41. In addition, 50 cars from the 1941 Older were equipped for
passenger service and p'.lwled green willi a ~ herald background and
deluxe gold lettering. The largest variation from the standard came
on the final cars purchased in 194:5. The last 250 cars of this 500 car
lot came whh Duryea underframes and Superior doors, the 148800-
149049 series.
Ajax power hand brakes and AD brakes were applied. along with
Apex running boards. Trucks were a 5 spring package ARA cast
side frame design.
The Rock 1l;land cars were painted entirely a brown tone of
boxcar red. The cats used me Rock Island herald CODUlining "Rock
Island" and the "Route of ihe Rockets" slogan.
The Duryea underframe was designed to reduce damage to cargo
by creating muveable draft gear to absorb the lateral shocks in car
movements. The basic elements were: an enclosed center nil with
internal springs. four independent cross bearers of eilher of two
designs, torsion arms on bolb sicles of the bolsters. elongated draft
gear (coupler boxes) and parallel latitudinal angles hung from the
emssbearers beneath the centersill which bore the brake levers.
Construenon
The Sunshine Duryea uaderframe, Superior door and side sill
castings will enable you to create the RI 148800 series boxcar.
(Some added materials are included, such as retainer valves and Sapia
Fe and industry common tackboards.) The parts should be applied to
an undecorated Intermountain 10' 6" IH boxcar.
For tile Rock Island boxcar, review the photo. substitute the
Sunshine castings and take the following steps:
1. Invert and install the centersill box (or cap the "tlDtersill with strip
styrene).
2. Plqce the closed frame cross bearers over the center sill at equal
distances along tile underframe. (Test fit the angles. which have bolt
heads which define the location of the cross bearers.) Install the long
lrapezoidallorsion lUU\S next to centersiU with tbe large end against
the bolster.
3. Install the angles. one of which has an idler (A end or short) brake
lever pad, beneath the center sin over the !dOSS bearers with the
angles facing inward. Drill for three brake lever hangers (18" grab
irons) in the angles and install grabs.
4. Place the channel between center cross bearers to hold brake
cylinder. Cement the brake triple valve against the inside of side sill.
Install the reservoir suspended ftom me "L" braces.
5. Install the elongated coupler boxes and a slide plate on each top.
6. As necessary. remove tllbs on car side and install cast side sill
benealb the door com::;POllding to the end of the cross bearers.
7. Install the Superior doors.
8. Wash the car carefully and dry. Paint and letter the car using the
enclosed Ileeals. Pla~e the bln.cj( backSrouM of the herald down first,
followed by the white ouUim:: and lettering.

On August 14 th , 2002 Bill Darnaby said:
I recently finished assembling a RI 148800 series boxcar that is offered by
Sunshine as a mini-kit. What makes this kit worthy of a mini-kit is that it modifies
a standard 10' 6" car into a 10'6" car with a Duryea underframe. The instructions
are a photo copied sheet that include a prototype photo, brief history and roster
info and brief instructions. The decals are made especially for the kit by Rail
Graphics and are excellent in quality although I will complain here about the lack
of 1950's reweigh dates.
In this kit the modeler gets a complete resin Duryea underframe sprue that
includes both early and late designs although the kit only uses the late design.
The modeler also gets the correct Superior doors and new side sills in resin to go
with the Duryea underframe. The modeler is to supply the Intermountain
undecorated 10'6" boxcar and Apex roofwalk.
I found the instructions a little wanting and I believe that those who have not
previously assembled a Duryea underframe could get lost. A diagram or photo
would be helpful. I found it best to first cut off the side sill tabs from the 1M body
and install the resin replacements. Then I cut the 1M bolsters away from the
plastic underframe and attached them to the body.
The resin Duryea centersill can be then trimmed to fit exactly between the
bolsters. Before I attached the centersill I engaged and slid the four
crossbearers loosely in place on the centersill. Then, after the centersill is firmly
attached, the crossbearers can be positioned to line up with the rivets on the side
sill. This approach also allows the two center crossbearers to be easily spaced
to accomodate the cylinder support. The instructions assume the modeler will
salvage the 1M AB details but I didn't think much of that approach and found
substitute parts in my parts supply.
To do an effective
Duryea the modeler needs to have the levers free and attach separate lever
hangers and rodding. To be really complete this kit should include a Bower AB
sprue, wire grabs for the hangers, wire for the rodding and Plano roofwalk. The
grabs and wire are a minor issue but I would gladly pay more for the kit to get the
other two items in the kit.
This is an easy resin kit, good for a beginner if there was more Duryea info, and
creates a model with a distinctive underframe profile and rarely modeled
features.
Regards,
Bill