I built and upgraded a Bowser Rock Island (RI) covered hopper kit.  I built the Bowser covered hopper car in RI class LO, numbered 491.  The Bowser covered hopper kit is an excellent match for its RI prototype.  Upgrade includes brake components piping, cutting off molded grab irons and ladder rungs and adding wire grab irons & ladder rungs, underbody details, etc.  If you are interested in the build of  Rock Island hopper 491, photos and write up of the build process are now available on my blog I have to share photos and writeup of modeling projects on my Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company.  If you would like to take a look please do at the following link:

http://mnrailroadcab100.blogspot.com/

Lester Breuer
Plymouth, MN