For years now, many HO scale modelers have noticed the numerous releases of exquisitely weathered N scale rolling stock produced by Micro-Trains as part of its “Grit N’ Grime” series. Now, Micro-Trains is collaborating with Accurail to deliver HO scale freight car kits with this same level of highly intricate weathering. Its first HO “Grit N’ Grime” series release is a trio of 2-bay ACF covered hoppers painted and prototypically weathered after actual cars from three different railroads – NS/ex-Southern, BN/ex-Frisco, and Union Pacific/ex-CNW.
Each of these models begins with Accurail’s standard 2-bay covered hopper kit that represents a 2970 or 2980 cubic foot car built by American Car & Foundry (ACF). Micro-Trains applies paint and lettering followed by its proprietary high-resolution weathering process. All that the modeler needs to do is to put together this easy-to-build “shake-the-box” kit.
We received a pre-production sample of CNW 175505, representing one of 300 covered hoppers from the group CNW 175500-175299 built by American Car & Foundry between May and June 1976 for the Chicago & North Western. Like most ACF covered hoppers of similar capacity, these cars spent their careers hauling cement, silica sand or other dense granular non-agricultural commodities.
The model replicates its prototype in its heavily weathered appearance as the car looked from the 2000s forward. Comparing photos published online of the prototype CNW 175505, the model accurately replicates all of the rust streaks, cement buildup and worn green paint giving way to the prototype’s original factory gray paint and brown primer coat underneath. Observers will note that each side of the car exhibits different weathering, matching photos of this car in nearly all respects for color and opacity. Such a rust bucket!