And yet, not every car is subject to oil canning...
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I'll admit after seeing the photo HO car it can be done, but I'm not really convinced of the effect on the model.? Reflections on the prototype in sunlight vs. a model under artificial light are two different results.
?
Rich G(ajnak)
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I'd lay off the hammer and go for something a little less substantial Chris, as always, Tom Dempsey, Spokane WA
On Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 12:33:48 PM PDT, Chris Fauxturkey via groups.io <skogkatt007@...> wrote:
I would imagine the effect is easy to replicate if you were using brass car sides. Just whack at it with a hammer here, there and everywhere :)
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Whoa, not so fast!? Rex was in production long after 1961 under a succession of owners. Matt and Roger and everyone, don't forget about the awesome amount of information on the NASG website:
is a history of Rex. To flesh it out even further, Bert Carpenter did the two freight cars, the B&O 0-4-0T dockside, and the freelanced 2-4-4T "suburban." After Howard Phillips and John Sudimak acquired the company from his estate, they had the 2-4-4 dies altered to produced the Rex mogul (2-6-0) which was a real milestone for S scale in the dark days of the '60s, followed by the 0-6-0 variation with different tenders for each. After Howard Phillips withdrew from the company, it was continued first by John Sudimak, then his son Jack. Jack discovered that Bowser had die casting capabilities which were compatible with the old Rex dies, so he re-ran the flat cars in the late 1980s. Two of mine were purchased brand new, in Rex boxes and including the detail parts, in 1990 for $15 apiece. In 1996 Jack sold the company to Terry Putt who produced locomotives (plus a powered plastic industrial diesel of his own design) but not the freight cars (to the best of my knowledge). He still owns the company and it could be reactivated. ? ?The low-side steel gondola was a Southern Railroad prototype. ? ?I'm not sure of the steel flat car's?prototype, but it is extremely similar to B&O (see photo of Ed Kirstatter's car in the "Product Gallery," where another photo shows Dick Karnes' car lettered for Delaware & Hudson.) ? ?Fortunately for?S?scale, the Rex, American Flyer, American Models, BTS, SHS, V&T shops, Southwind, and Pre-Size flat cars represent a WIDE variety of flat cars in length, # of stake pockets, construction style, and era from the 19th century through the modern era. If you want to model some particular car, look through the Product Gallery in the NASG website and it's likely you'll find what you need to?look for. ? ?My information comes from reading about events in the old S Gauge Herald, and from personal conversations of mine with both John and Jack Sudimak. If I've remembered anything wrong, hopefully Dick Karnes can correct me.
Jim Whipple, NASG President
On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 7:42?AM Roger Haag via <s_scale_man= [email protected]> wrote:
Hey
Thanks!!
¡®51 to ¡®61!!!!
Roger Haag
On May 25, 2025, at 12:43?PM, Matt Hogan via <Matthew.Hogan1804=[email protected]> wrote:
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The first ad in Model Railroader Magazine for Rex Engineering, Birmingham, MI appeared in the December 1951 issue, the last mention as a supplier: November 1961.
?
Thank you,
Matt Hogan
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Hi Bud;
They are also 40¡¯ cars, as opposed to the 46¡¯ Flyer car.
Works for PRR FM (forms the edges a bit) or an NYC car.
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From:?William Winans
Date: Sat, 24 May 2025 21:26:15 PDT?
How old do you think that car is? ? It is fun to see it looking its age with a bent grab iron and stirrup step.? ??I would bet that the real car it was modeled after didn't last as long as this car.?
Here is a <>?of the SD&AE when it was a division of the SP. It has a history only a railfan would love!?Today the UP and San Diego transit use bits and pieces that remain.
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While I never got one of the REX flats, I recall that they were an upgrade from an AF flat by having open stake pockets! ? ? ?Bud Rindfleisch
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This was a fun small project I did last year. ? ? ? Thank You,
Bill Lane
Modeling the Mighty Pennsy, PRSL & Reading in 1957 in S Scale since 1987
See my finished models at:
Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! ? See my layout progress at:
Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society
It's FREE to join!??
Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
?
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This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
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Hey
Thanks!!
¡®51 to ¡®61!!!!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 25, 2025, at 12:43?PM, Matt Hogan via groups.io <Matthew.Hogan1804@...> wrote:
?
The first ad in Model Railroader Magazine for Rex Engineering, Birmingham, MI appeared in the December 1951 issue, the last mention as a supplier: November 1961.
?
Thank you,
Matt Hogan
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The first ad in Model Railroader Magazine for Rex Engineering, Birmingham, MI appeared in the December 1951 issue, the last mention as a supplier: November 1961.
?
Thank you,
Matt Hogan
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Maybe 1960¡¯s or 1970¡¯s?
Do not know the beginning or end of the company?
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On May 25, 2025, at 6:26?AM, William Winans via groups.io <3W2scalesonly@...> wrote:
?
Hi Bob and Roger --
How old do you think that car is?? ?It is fun to see it looking its age with a bent grab iron and stirrup step.? ? I would bet that the real car it was modeled after didn't last as long as this car.?
Have fun guys!
Bill Winans
-------------------------------
Bob,
Here¡¯s a photo of your car from the Way-Back machine to refresh your memory.
Roger
?--------------------------------?
To continue on the Rex cars-we shouldn't forget of two sub variants of the flat ( the scale version I can only assume).? Two batches of cars were sold under the Queen Tool and Die label.? One was Rex flat car with wooden sides for carrying
ballast, fill or ashes that the SDAE used.? The model I received didn't have the traditional cast-on corner steps but some sort of recess' for strap brass stirrups.? I sold my model to Roger Nulton so I'm not certain of it's appearance.?
The other car, I don't recall much, but I think it was sold with NYC decals.? So some further help from with the Way-Back machine will help!
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Hi Bob and Roger --
How old do you think that car is?? ?It is fun to see it looking its age with a bent grab iron and stirrup step.? ? I would bet that the real car it was modeled after didn't last as long as this car.?
Have fun guys! Bill Winans -------------------------------
Bob, Here¡¯s a photo of your car from the Way-Back machine to refresh your memory. Roger ?--------------------------------? To continue on the Rex cars-we shouldn't forget of two sub variants of the flat ( the scale version I can only assume).? Two batches of cars were sold under the Queen Tool and Die label.? One was Rex flat car with wooden sides for carrying ballast, fill or ashes that the SDAE used.? The model I received didn't have the traditional cast-on corner steps but some sort of recess' for strap brass stirrups.? I sold my model to Roger Nulton so I'm not certain of it's appearance.? The other car, I don't recall much, but I think it was sold with NYC decals.? So some further help from with the Way-Back machine will help!
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Bob, Here¡¯s a photo of your car from the Way-Back machine to refresh your memory. Roger ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Bob Werre
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2025 4:01 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [S-Scale] REX Exact Scale? To continue on the Rex cars-we shouldn't forget of two sub variants of the flat ( the scale version I can only assume).? Two batches of cars were sold under the Queen Tool and Die label.? One was Rex flat car with wooden sides for carrying ballast, fill or ashes that the SDAE used.? The model I received didn't have the traditional cast-on corner steps but some sort of recess' for strap brass stirrups.? I sold my model to Roger Nulton so I'm not certain of it's appearance.? The other car, I don't recall much, but I think it was sold with NYC decals.? So some further help from with the Way-Back machine will help!
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To continue on the Rex cars-we
shouldn't forget of two sub variants of the flat ( the scale
version I can only assume).? Two batches of cars were sold under
the Queen Tool and Die label.? One was Rex flat car with wooden
sides for carrying ballast, fill or ashes that the SDAE used.? The
model I received didn't have the traditional cast-on corner steps
but some sort of recess' for strap brass stirrups.? I sold my
model to Roger Nulton so I'm not certain of it's appearance.?
The other car, I don't recall much, but
I think it was sold with NYC decals.? So some further help from
with the Way-Back machine will help!
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
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Show quoted text
Hey
I had no idea there were two versions for the on and flat
car!!!!
Roger Haag
On May 22, 2025, at 8:55?PM, R. James
Whipple via groups.io
<rwhipple@...> wrote:
?
The Rex gondola was a Southern Railway
prototype. Here's a beautifully detailed example by my
dear friend, the late Dave Felmley. All cast grab irons
were ground off and replaced with real wire ones, steps
are by Grandt Line (now San Juan) - perhaps the original
cast ones had broken off - , a complete brake system was
installed, a Mantua stamped brass brake wheel was used,
and Kinsman trucks and Kadee 802 couplers were installed
as running gear. These cars track well because the weight
is close to the rails.
Just a couple years ago I saw one in MW service on
the Wheeling & Lake Erie (Southern to NS to WLE
would be the ownership route), so a few of these may
still be around. It was coupled to a small crane being
used for trackwork on the west end of the old Pittsburgh
& West Virginia line, near Cecil PA.
The underframes were one part of a multi-part die, so
they could be swapped out. Bob Werre is quite correct in
that there were therefore four versions of the two car
styles: AF and hirail/scale for the gondola, and the
same for the flat car. Also attached is a picture of the
unpainted flat car, AF version. I have a small supply of
the AF-version flat cars; see me at the NASG convention
if you would like one.
Jim Whipple
Pittsburgh PA
<Rex-SOU.55400_5978.jpeg>
<Rex-SOU.55400_5979.jpeg>
<Rex-SOU.55400_5980.jpeg>
<AF-Rex-underbody_5981.jpg>
Sorry about jumping the gun on this, but the Rex
instruction sheet Bill references does indicate the
difference between the AF and scale versions if you
pay close attention.?
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
The Rex flatcar was my first scale car I ever
bought.? Eventually I was able to buy my first
bottle of Floquil black paint and some GN decals.
I was pleased with it's detailing and it till runs
on the layout.
However, it's been years since I've been
'hawking' used stuff from 0thers--but Rex actually
made two versions of both the flat and the gon.?
The underbodies were different--four cars total!?
One version must have been for the hi-rail version
as the underbody was much more basic and suited
for AF trucks.? I don't recall the particulars.
Bob Werre?
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I
found it was made by REX . . .?The gon is
fairly well detailed for its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
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FYI, Paul Butkowski wrote up a technique for modeling this type of distortion and damage on his RailGons in the February_March_2024 issue of S Resource magazine.? Tommy?
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I would imagine the effect is easy to replicate if you were using brass car sides. Just whack at it with a hammer here, there and everywhere :)
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Hey
I had no idea there were two versions for the on and flat car!!!!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 22, 2025, at 8:55?PM, R. James Whipple via groups.io <rwhipple@...> wrote:
?
The Rex gondola was a Southern Railway prototype. Here's a beautifully detailed example by my dear friend, the late Dave Felmley. All cast grab irons were ground off and replaced with real wire ones, steps are by Grandt Line (now San Juan) -
perhaps the original cast ones had broken off - , a complete brake system was installed, a Mantua stamped brass brake wheel was used, and Kinsman trucks and Kadee 802 couplers were installed as running gear. These cars track well because the weight is close
to the rails.
Just a couple years ago I saw one in MW service on the Wheeling & Lake Erie (Southern to NS to WLE would be the ownership route), so a few of these may still be around. It was coupled to a small crane being used for trackwork on the west end of the old
Pittsburgh & West Virginia line, near Cecil PA.
The underframes were one part of a multi-part die, so they could be swapped out. Bob Werre is quite correct in that there were therefore four versions of the two car styles: AF and hirail/scale for the gondola, and the same for the flat car. Also attached
is a picture of the unpainted flat car, AF version. I have a small supply of the AF-version flat cars; see me at the NASG convention if you would like one.
Jim Whipple
Pittsburgh PA
<Rex-SOU.55400_5978.jpeg>
<Rex-SOU.55400_5979.jpeg>
<Rex-SOU.55400_5980.jpeg>
<AF-Rex-underbody_5981.jpg>
Sorry about jumping the gun on this, but the Rex instruction sheet Bill references does indicate the difference between the AF and scale versions if you pay close attention.?
Bob Werre
Phototraxx
The Rex flatcar was my first scale car I ever bought.? Eventually I was able to buy my first bottle of Floquil black paint and some GN decals. I was pleased with it's detailing and it till runs on the layout.
However, it's been years since I've been 'hawking' used stuff from 0thers--but Rex actually made two versions of both the flat and the gon.? The underbodies were different--four cars total!? One version must have been for the hi-rail version as the underbody
was much more basic and suited for AF trucks.? I don't recall the particulars.
Bob Werre?
From:?Corbin Bates
Date: Thu, 22 May 2025 01:52:51 PDT?
. . . I got a Gondola from a friend . . .?I found it was made by REX . . .?The gon is fairly well detailed for its time.
The NASG web site has the kit?.
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Gordy: Thanks for the history - neat...? You're talking about the one I still use!? When I was a kid, my dad would say, "get the tinker, tinker, tinker can", from the sound it made.? Since, to a little kid, tools had funny names, I could probably remember that better! Since I sort of inadvertently started the thread, let me try to put it to bed - if that is ever possible on this group!
The main reason for the effect was the more widespread use of thinner, cold rolled steel for side sheets.? Mills could make it just as strong but now thinner and lighter, which had weight advantages for freight cars.? The fact that change more or less coincided with the transition from riveted to welded cars is a bit of a red herring.? Like the 1930's Pullman photo I posted earlier and the two attached here, there are plenty of examples of riveted cars that show the oil canning effect.? Also, at least one company has been selling HO models with sides 3D printed to mimic oil canning for several years now, apparently not hard to model in 3D... A final non sequitur regarding the attached photo of the GAEX boxcar.? To bring it back to our home state of Michigan Gordy, you'll note that freight car is riding on Chrysler FR-5 trucks.? Enjoy! Jim Kindraka Grand Rapids, MI
On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 10:59?AM Gordy Michael wrote:
It¡¯s called ¡®oil canning¡¯ because the distorted metal will pop back and forth like the bottoms of older oil cans. You know the kind that allowed you to dispense a small amount by flexing the bottom usually with your thumb.
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By the time the effect is scaled down, it would likely fall under the heading of "not worth the trouble" and probably look more like a bad paint job.
?
Rich G(ajnak)
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It¡¯s called ¡®oil canning¡¯ because the distorted metal will pop back and forth like the bottoms of older oil cans. You know the kind that allowed you to dispense a small amount by flexing the bottom usually with your thumb.
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After completing this River raisin brass hoppers. I wanted to put removable coal loads in them. So I reached out to Dennis Brennan and Purchased his number two broken anthracite coal. This stuff is pretty nice. I thought I would share a photo of the two cars.?
--
Mike Swederska
Meramec Valley Lines
Modeling Mopac equipment in 3/16
https://www.youtube.com/@mikesscale3149
Don't let perfection get in the way of good enough! Keep model railroading fun!
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Bill Lane
Roger Haag
Roger Nulton
Bob Werre
Tom Lennon
