Phil Buchwald wrote:
"My plan was to use the ends from the X29 for the CP box, and then
use the underframe parts to do a PRR X29B kitbash. Sort of a two-
fer. (I've already got the MDC car for the CP roof, plus a
Branchline 40' box quivering on the chopping block to make the
superstructure of the X29B!)"

Phil, after seeing some of your other kitbashes, the X29B shouldn't
be much of a challenge to you. The bulk of the work is in modifying
the sidesills and underframe. (One caveat - make sure you use a 7
ft door post-retooling Branchline kit.)
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=x29b.gif&fr=cl
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/freightphotos.html?
photo=BuildersPhotos/X29b_E18815_Side_BillLane.jpg&fr=clX29
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/freightphotos.html?
photo=BuildersPhotos/X29b_E18817_BEnd_BillLane.jpg&fr=clX29

FWIW, the Class X29B is the only confirmed legit 40 ft PRR boxcar
for the MS1 "Merchandise Service" scheme. (Still looking for photos
of the two Class X26C cars in LCL service to confirm whether or not
they got the MS1 scheme).


Ben Hom

If the MS1 scheme is the one which is shown in the second of your
X29 articles, then maybe I've found something. In that Milwaukee
Road book by Jim Scribbins, on page 113, there is an infuriating
photo....
It is a down-on high angle shot, so you can't see the car number
(that's the infuriating part!), however it shows an "original" X29
(11 panel riveted roof, wood running boards) with a wide white
stripe and a big white circle to the right of the door with a
keystone in it.
Were the original style X29s painted in a different, but similar
scheme, or could this be the MS1 scheme?

Regards,
Phil Buchwald

FWIW, the Class X29B is the only confirmed legit 40 ft PRR boxcar
for the MS1 "Merchandise Service" scheme. (Still looking for

photos

of the two Class X26C cars in LCL service to confirm whether or

not

they got the MS1 scheme).


Ben Hom

Phil Buchwald wrote:
"If the MS1 scheme is the one which is shown in the second of your
X29 articles, then maybe I've found something. In that Milwaukee
Road book by Jim Scribbins, on page 113, there is an infuriating
photo...It is a down-on high angle shot, so you can't see the car
number (that's the infuriating part!), however it shows
an "original" X29 (11 panel riveted roof, wood running boards) with
a wide white stripe and a big white circle to the right of the door
with a keystone in it. Were the original style X29s painted in a
different, but similar scheme, or could this be the MS1 scheme?"

To meet increased demand for LCL boxcars, PRR placed unmodified
Class X29s into "Merchandise Service" in 1950. These cars received
MS2, which was a simplifed version of the MS1 scheme that lacked the
aluminum stripes and the toludine red backgound for the keystone and
shadowing for the "Merchandise Service" lettering. NO CLASS X29
BOXCARS WERE EVER PAINTED IN MS1.

For more information, see my article on page 47 of the October issue
of The Keystone Modeler on Merchandise Service boxcars:
http://www.prrths.com/Keystone%
20Modeler/TKM_Images/Keystone_Modeler_NO15_files/TKM%20No.%2015%2010-
04%20PDF.pdf


Ben Hom