Many household appliance brands rode the rails: Admiral, Whirlpool, or Roper, to name a few.
Nicknamed “baby hi-cubes” by shippers, railfans, and rail employees alike, the PS-1 40’ “Mini-Hy Cube” boxcars were early examples of purpose-built boxcars, built by Pullman-Standard in Bessemer, AL.
At 4900 cubic foot capacity, most of these distinctively small yet tall cars were purchased for appliance loading out of origins in U.S. Midwestern states.
Five railroads bought these cars in 1967-1968, and they were sent to destinations all over North America delivering appliances to warehouse receivers and team tracks.
Because some of the cars were pooled, any roadname could be consigned to literally any destination, making these cars “nationwide roamers,” meaning you can justify any roadname anywhere.
Later in their service lives, most cars were repurposed for paper loading, and by the 1990s many remaining cars were utilized in MOW and other company service roles.
The Tangent Scale Models HO scale PS-1 “Mini-Hy Cube” Boxcar replica features a prototypical “slight peak” roof, separate underframe brake components with wire piping, narrow
ladders and sill steps, and “see-through” crossover platforms. These replicas include the “near-scale” draft gear that has been standard on all recent Tangent releases, which includes the “side key” detail with Kadee all-metal couplers.
Detailed “trombone style” coupler lift bars are also present on our replicas with one of two styles to match the prototype.
Finally, the models are equipped with the correct Tangent Barber S-2-A 70-ton roller bearing trucks and 33” CNC-machined wheelsets, so our models look as good as they operate.
These small yet tall models are sure to be stunners on your layout!
Our August 2017 release includes the following 6 RTR paint schemes, mostly focused on repaint paint schemes.
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CB&Q "Havelock Repaint 1970"
in a unique Havelock-applied green, applied in June 1970 and is a great and unique car for 1970s/1980s modelers. Like the prototype car, this model is stenciled with a return route stencil to ATSF Galesburg
IL and has Havelock-style lettering on the car side. With its large spelled-out “Burlington” graphic against the green, this car is a stunner and is a great compliment to our CB&Q red cars, as well as our new BN variants released above (assuming you model
early BN). SKU 18021-01.
These awesome Tangent Scale Models replicas are shipping now.
Features for our RTR replicas include:
- Dimensional accuracy - designed from actual Pullman-Standard blueprints
- Designed, tooled, and plastic parts produced in USA!
- Highly correct “true to life” colors
- “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
- Genuine Kadee® scale couplers
- “Near-scale” draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
- 2 different draft gear and trombone-style coupler lift bar variations that represent those pesky prototypical details Tangent is known for
- Lacy details - wire grab irons, coupler lift bars, and stand-off ladders and stirrup steps, brake system piping
- “See through” crossover end platforms
- Separate air hoses
- CNC-machined 33” wheels in high quality Tangent Scale Models 70-ton Barber S-2-A Roller Bearing trucks (with semi-scale replacement wheels available separately)
with separate brake hangar parts for extra realism
- Recommended age 14 years and older
Even if you do not model one of these roadnames, you should consider the Tangent PS-1 appliance and paper haulers for your layout.
Any roadname(s) would be perfect in a through freight or spotted at a local team tack or appliance distributor industry.
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard PS-1 “Mini-Hy Cube” Boxcar, a necessary cog in the unique 1960s box car boom.
Pricing for RTR models is $44.95, with quantity discounts for direct purchases from Tangent Scale Models.
That wraps up our update for today, and thank you for supporting the family-owned businesses in our industry!
David Lehlbach
Tangent Scale Models
PO Box 6514
Asheville NC 28816
828-279-6106