I’ve been wanting to build one the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina’s unique hoppers. I decided to have it completed to enter in  the 2018  Narrow Gauge Convention Model Contest.

The hopper is built board for board with the visible brake detail. Each bolt is represent with a HO track nail representing the bolt head and an Ozark Miniatures 1/2″ nut-bolt casting. Other materials included brass wire, brass sheet and styrene. Other details from Ozark Miniatures- nut-bolt castings, brake cylinder and air tank, clevises, turnbuckles, brake wheels, rachets, etc.

The frame was assembled on glass over plans drawn in Illustrator. Braces and brake detail were added before the sides could be glued on. Because hoppers have open frames under the slope sheets, the entire truss rods and brake piping is visible and is modeled.

The sides were assembled from sideboards and stakes made of basswood. The basswood was distressed with a razor saw to impart grain on the boards.

The frame and sides under the slope sheets, as well as the bottom of the slope sheets,  had to be primed and painted before assembly since they could not be painted after the sides and slope sheets are glued to the frame.

 

Ladders were assembled using grab irons made from flattening the ends of brass rod, shaping and drilling a hole in the flattened end. Grab irons were fashioned in the same manner.

 

The slope sheets have been cut, HO track nails used for rivets, and the walk way cut and glued in place. The slope sheets are brass glued to the wood planks with E6000 adhesive.

All-in-all a fun project, but a difficult one. I was pleased the model won First Place at the Narrow Gauge Convention in Augusta, Maine.