Tichy Train Group - 2707 - Gondola, Sugar Beet - Undecorated

Specific Item Information: THIS IS A GENERAL SERVICE DROP BOTTOM GONDOLA WITH WOOD SIDE EXTENSIONS TO INCREASE THE CUBIC CAPACITY FOR HAULING SUGAR BEETS. THIS KIT IS MOLDED IN GRAY STYRENE. TRUCKS & DECALS ARE NOT INCLUDED. N SCALE.

Model Information: These kits are molded in gray polystyrene. Trucks and Decals are not included.

Prototype History: Originally, beet racks (as they wee always called) were flat cars with plank sides built up. These were called racks. The name stuck when they went to the drop bottom composite gons in the early 50s. These were used without extensions in the 50s but the extensions were added to increase capacity.

The beet gons were really a piece of junk, equipment wise. They were only used for a few months out of the year. Their trucks had friction bearings, and they had AB control valves which contributed to the brake system not being quite as good as a freight car equipped with an ABD control valve.

Road Name History: Although they may be molded in color, unpainted and unlettered, undecorated products are marketed to modelers who seek to custom decorate their models for private roads and/or road and/or company names that were not commercially produced by any of the major manufacturers.

Undecorated models are frequently also unassembled or only partially assembled and required modelers to be comfortable with glue, paint and sometimes solder in order to prepare their models for display. Materials for these models can vary but often include plastic, pewter and resin. Models may or may not come with decals or other decorations such as plastic signage, railings and ladders to enhance the appearance of the final product.

Brand/Importer Information: We bring together the best of two worlds, combining the fun and reward of fine model building with the rapidly growing interest in prototype railroading, freight cars and structures, in particular. The preservation of prototype history in miniature. The key personnel at TICHY TRAIN GROUP are active model railroaders with over fifty-five years of collective experience in the hobby.

Advanced technology and old world craftsmanship combine to produce the finest plastic kits available. Since all aspects of the manufacturing procedure done in our own plant, we have complete control over the quality of out product. Our extensive research library helps us to ensure the accuracy of every detail. Our fully equipped toolroom enables us to translate the design into permanent metal tooling, using cutters ranging from three inches in diameter to as small as a human hair. Each kit may represent several thousand hours of design, engineering, template and model making, engraving and hand polishing. However, this painstaking attention to detail makes the final product speak for itself.

Our kits conform to all applicable NMRA standards and recommended practices. They accept Kadee® #5 or equivalent style couplers (not included) and we provide special molded washers to allow correct coupler height with other trucks.

Tichy is located in Alamance, North Carolina.