Scaletrains SXT40324 5188 Covered Hopper, MBKX/Patched #481798 HO Scale

Scaletrains SXT40324 5188 Covered Hopper, MBKX/Patched #481798 HO Scale. Picture may show a different road number.

Designed from builder blueprints, the Rivet Counter™ HO Scale Gunderson-GIMSA/Concarril 5188 Cubic Foot Covered Hopper features four different body styles, two different hatch types, three different outlet gate options, and numerous factory-applied parts. With production beginning in 2007, thousands have been produced in the United States and Mexico, they are commonly seen in unit grain trains as well as mixed manifest freights. They’re also frequently found alongside Trinity 5161cf Covered Hoppers.

Grain and grain products are one of the leading commodities hauled by railroads today. Typically carried in covered hoppers, designs have evolved over the years to increase the efficiency of handling this vital commodity. One of the more popular designs in recent years is the Gunderson-GIMSA/Concarril 5188cf Covered Hopper.

The Gunderson 5188cf is a large 3-bay hopper that measures 58’ over the coupler centers and is built to fit within the Plate C clearance diagram. These all-steel cars feature a capacity of 5,188 cubic feet and are equipped with trough-style loading hatches for efficient loading. The hatch covers can either be made of metal or non-metal materials depending upon customer specifications. Each of its three bays features a 30” x 30” outlet opening, which can be outfitted with various outlet types depending on customer requirements and/or commodities to be handled.

With the production of these cars starting in 2007, they have gone through several design changes including the quantity and width of panels used to construct the car sides, addition of two or four large horizontal ribs on the car sides, and placement and design of pulling loops.

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

• New roadname
• Era: 2022 to present 
• Series 481729 to 482015; ex-AOK 66510 to 66909, built 11/2007-1/2008
• Fully assembled
• Multiple road numbers
• 12 panels,10 intermediate panels, all the same width
• Roping eyes mounted on the underside of the car bolster 
• Composite ATP Quantum Plus Roof Hatches 
• Miner AutoLok II Gravity Outlet Gates for grain
• See-through photo-etched stainless-steel metal roofwalk with metal grab irons
• See-through photo-etched stainless-steel metal end crossover platforms
• Factory-applied ladders with metal rungs
• Photo etched metal stirrup steps 
• Finely detailed brake plumbing, linkage, triple valve, air reservoir, brake cylinder and actuator
• Brake wheel, stand, and chain
• Factory-applied wire trainline pipe with brackets
• Factory-applied shaker brackets, metal grab irons, coupler cut levers, and trainline hoses with silver gladhands
• Semi-scale coupler boxes
• Durable body-mounted die-cast metal semi-scale lower shelf Type E couplers
• Highly-detailed ASF Ride Control 100-ton trucks with finely rendered raised foundry data; rotating black Timken three-sided bearing caps; separate “truck-mounted brake” brake beams; and side bearing detail
• Printed reporting mark and road number on all four trucks
• 36” machined metal wheels with accurately profiled .110" wide wheel tread 
• Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
• Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
• FRA-224 yellow conspicuity stripes
• Paint colors match Tru-Color Paint color: TCP-173 Weathered Iron Oxide
• Weighted to Industry standards for reliable operation
• Packaging safely stores model
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”