Boston Air-electric PCC Model

It is anticipated based upon availability of parts that this car will be provided with Bowser B-2 truck sideframes with track brakes as shown in the latest photos and the new wheels with the simulated super resilient wheels. Modelers wishing to simulate the cars with the solid wheels used in Boston in the later years may simply remove the super resilient wheel covers and paint the wheels with a mixture of rust and weathered black. As is the case with most Bowser traction drive applications, the unit will accept the A-line #20040 Bowser Trolley Flywheel kit.

The next two photos show more of the front and rear of the car. Attention has been given to reproduce the uniquely shaped windshields on these cars.

PREVIEWS OF THE CUSTOM TRAXX / MINIATURES BY ERIC BOSTON PCC CAR!
This HO scale model is intended to represent the 3172-3196 and 3222-3271 classes of PCC cars built by Pullman-Standard and delivered to Boston in 1945/1946. It is their intent to complement models of the ex-Dallas 3322-3326 series PCC cars, the brass Type 4, Type 5, center-entrance cars and the Boeing-Vertol USLRVs previously available to modelers. The model will have a shell developed and produced by Miniatures by Eric (Eric Courtney) and Custom Traxx (George Huckaby) and use a pewter floor jointly developed by Miniatures by Eric, Custom Traxx and Bowser Manufacturing. This floor, based on the Bowser 1283 floor used with the 125210 PCC Streamlined Trolley and the 125141 Bowser PCC Mechanism, will be designed to accept couplers since all Boston single end PCC cars (except one, 3001) were capable of multiple-unit (MU) operation. Due to the nature of the Bowser traction unit, it is recommended that only powered units be used in MU operation since the Bowser traction drive was not designed to tow unpowered trailers. It will be also recommended that .25 to 1.0 ounce of weight be added under the floor between the trucks for satisfactory operation under overhead wire. This floor, which will be separately available from Custom Traxx, will be able to be adapted to other HO scale air-electric shells for those who would like the dependability of the Bowser traction drive. In some cases some minor filing may be required. The next photographs show a preliminary Boston PCC shell along with both Custom Traxx and MTS Imports resin shelled Boston PCC cars on one of the modules of the Southern California Traction Club.

It is anticipated based upon availability of parts that this car will be provided with Bowser B-2 truck sideframes with track brakes as shown in the latest photos and the new wheels with the simulated super resilient wheels. Modelers wishing to simulate the cars with the solid wheels used in Boston in the later years may simply remove the super resilient wheel covers and paint the wheels with a mixture of rust and weathered black. As is the case with most Bowser traction drive applications, the unit will accept the A-line #20040 Bowser Trolley Flywheel kit. The next two photos show more of the front and rear of the car. Attention has been given to reproduce the uniquely shaped windshields on these cars.

This project has been delayed in order to consider all aspects of the body shell, the floor, integration of the floor with the shell and the corresponding decal set being made to adequately finish the car. Unless major problems are discovered, Custom Traxx and Miniatures by Eric anticipate having the cars available by February 1, 2012. They believe that any resin bodied kit powered with a Bowser drive and a complete decal set for finishing should be available to modelers for no more than $200.00.