So, I was cruising through a Branchline Yardmaster kit today and thought I
should review the PDF at the Steam Freight Cars website to check on the
roof, doors, handbrake and running board.

http://www.steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1937aarpdfmain.html



The 1937 AAR box car I am building is painted and lettered for the Detroit &
Mackinac with number 2702. From the data on the PDF, the prototype car has
the standard panel roof, wood running board, Ajax handbrake, and..Superior
doors. The kit comes with Youngstown doors, BUT I happen to have a set of
Superior doors from an old IMWX kit, and these are even in the same shade of
red.



Of course, there is a question in here somewhere. A few questions, actually.




The doors I have are seven-panel Superior doors. Is this standard of the
1940 era? Or were there five-panel doors?



Has anyone seen a photo of these D&M box cars (2700 to 2704)? If you have
seen an image of these cars, then how many panels are on the doors?



I'm just trying to find some closure here.and maybe the right door. I'd like
to finish up this car and get it into revenue service.



Eric Hansmann

Morgantown, W. Va.

On Monday, November 1, 2004, at 05:30 PM, Eric Hansmann wrote:

The 1937 AAR box car I am building is painted and lettered for the Detroit &
Mackinac with number 2702. From the data on the PDF, the prototype car has
the standard panel roof, wood running board, Ajax handbrake, and..Superior
doors. The kit comes with Youngstown doors, BUT I happen to have a set of
Superior doors from an old IMWX kit, and these are even in the same shade of
red.

Of course, there is a question in here somewhere. A few questions, actually.
The doors I have are seven-panel Superior doors. Is this standard of the
1940 era? Or were there five-panel doors?

Has anyone seen a photo of these D&M box cars (2700 to 2704)? If you have
seen an image of these cars, then how many panels are on the doors?

Eric,
The D&M cars in series 2700-2704 originally had 7-panel doors as seen in the P-S builder's photo. The 7-panel design was used from circa 1940 to 1952. The 5-panel design came into existence circa mid-1952 at which time the 7-panel design was phased out. That being said, the design of Superior 7-panel doors changed over time with variations in the spacing of the panels. The 7-panel door in the IMWX kit is good for the D&M car.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins

Ed Hawkins wrote:

Eric,
The D&M cars in series 2700-2704 originally had 7-panel doors as

seen in the P-S builder's photo. The 7-panel design was used from
circa 1940 to 1952. The 5-panel design came into existence circa mid-
1952 at which time the 7-panel design was phased out. That being
said, the design of Superior 7-panel doors changed over time with
variations in the spacing of the panels. The 7-panel door in the
IMWX kit is good for the D&M car.

Regards,
Ed Hawkins

===================================



Thank you, Ed! I had thought there were a couple of versions of the
Superior door, but I wasn't certain which came first.

Doors and roof are now attached, as are cut levers. Tack boards and
air hoses are next, then weathering.

Thanks for the off-list suggestions as well. I may get three cars
out of the shops on this election day off.

Eric Hansmann
Morgantown, W. Va.