Asheville, North Carolina: Tangent Scale Models is happy to announce our fourth production run of our PS-1 40’ “Mini-Hy Cube” Box Car. These distinctive-looking “short yet tall” box cars are distinctive looking due to their ten-foot door openings and high cube height! Today, we are releasing these 1967-1968 built prototype models with 5 original paint schemes, as well as eight repaint schemes. If you think you “already have these,” take another look! There are some very neat paint variations here! This is not a pre-order announcement — the cars are available right now!
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 September 2023 release includes the following 13 RTR paint schemes:
– D&RGW Brown Delivery 11-1967 brings back a popular roadname offering for the Tangent Mini-Hy Cube line. This Rio Grande group of cars was assigned to Whirlpool service on the Erie Lackawanna in Marion, Ohio. This scheme is sharp, from the large “Rio Grande the ACTION road” stacked graphics, down to the smallest Pullman-Standard builder data and Lot number. The cars also have black ends, adding an extra little bit of class. The models feature 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. We are pleased to offer two new, accurate road numbers for 2023. SKU 18011
– IC Orange Delivery 1967 replicates two Pullman-Standard orders of IC cars delivered back-to-back. The IC Orange “Main Line of Mid-America” slogan and “Split Rail” logo is hard to beat on this tall car body. The IC models also include correct draft gear and coupler lift bars. Illinois Central (and ICG) Mini-Hy Cubes served far and wide in their appliance pools. Our photos document the cars in places like Minneapolis, MN, Goleta, CA, Provo, UT, Tempe, AZ, McComb, MS, Topeka, KS, Los Angeles, CA, Council Bluffs, IA, Eugene, OR and even under the PC/CR catenary at North Elizabeth, NJ. For this release, we have two new numbers for 2023 (SKUs -05, -06) that are assigned to Whirlpool on the NYC in Evansville, IN. Two more new 2023 numbers (SKUs -07, -08) are assigned to the A.O. Smith’s Permaglas Division (water heaters!) on the IC in Kankakee, IL. These cars will be hot. Don’t miss them! SKU 18012
– MILW Brown Delivery DF2 1-1968 shows off a great Milwaukee Road brown box car scheme, as applied by Pullman-Standard. The large Bold “Milwaukee Road” proudly displays the owner of this car that was built to take care of its appliance loads. The large DF2 stencils on the doors boldly advertise the use of Evans DF2 belt rails to help secure shipments. The “star” next to the Load Limit stencil points out MILW’s use of a softer truck spring package. By reducing the spring group, the car allowed a softer ride for the appliances inside. The star denotes this lower-than-expected LD LMT to make sure shippers didn’t overload the car. One thing is for sure: the Milwaukee Road wanted those appliances to arrive damage-free. We are offering two new numbers for 2023, both assigned to Whirlpool appliance loading on the NYC in Evansville, IN. SKU 18013
– CB&Q Chinese Red Delivery 11-1967 is lettered for the largest owner of the P-S Mini-Hy Cube design. The CB&Q received two orders in 1967, totaling 50 cars. The cars are rather striking in the Q’s red, which featured prominent markings for “Hydraulic Cushioning.” These Tangent models feature accurate draft gear with the large weldments on the side along with 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Brenco-6 caps. These two new CB&Q car numbers for 2023 also feature a new Whirlpool-service return route: NYC RR, St. Joseph Michigan. Available in 2 new numbers for 2023! SKU 18015
– NP Delivery Green 1967 is back with 3 rerun numbers and 3 new numbers for 2023! This offering sold out a little too quickly way back in 2016, and we promised a rerun. The NP scheme is big on this car, with the tall NP letters and Monad. The roof is correctly painted black, and the model features 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. The NP’s entire fleet of cars were assigned to the IC at Kankakee, IL for loading of water heaters at A.O. Smith’s Permaglas Division. Everyone knows the NP’s North Coast Limited was “…one of the world’s Extra-Fine trains…” but we would like to think any train with one of Tangent’s NP Mini-Hy cubes is “Extra Fine” in its own special way. Do not miss out on a rare second chance at a hot scheme. Available in 3 re-run numbers (SKUs -01, -02, -03) and 3 new numbers (-04, -05, -06). SKU 18018
– BN Cascade Green Repaint 1975+ looks back to the 1970s Bulington Northern and the repainting of some of the Ex-Q Mini-Hy Cubes. These two BN 1975 SKUs model individual cars repainted at the ex-CB&Q Havelock Car Shop in Nebraska. One of the neat things about repaint schemes is that they are all just a little different – and we have duplicated the differing placement of individual lettering elements based on real photos. These Tangent models feature accurate draft gear with the large weldments on the side along with 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. Available in 2 new numbers for 2023! SKU 18020
– BN Cascade Green Repaint 1977+ replicates another Havelock Car Shop repaint. This particular car is interesting, because it is actually wearing its second coat of BN green! It features big BN graphics placed higher on the car body, along with all the small data exactly matching the prototype photo on our website. With its CB&Q heritage, this BN 1977+ model features accurate draft gear with the large weldments on the side along with 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. Available in 1 new accurate number for 2023! SKU 18024
– BN Ex-NP Patch 1979+ gives modelers a glimpse of how one of the NP cars looked later in its BN service life. The box car received orange primer-painted doors and was renumbered rather haphazardly into its BN number and reporting marks. Notice the “PB 11-79” reweigh date down by the CAPY block. That tells us that the new black patches and data are the work of the former SP&S Vancouver, WA RIP track. This former NP paint job boxcar worked for the BN and is available in 1 accurate number for 2023! SKU 18025
– CB&Q Chinese Red BN Era 1982+ models another BN family car later in its life. It’s 1982, and the CB&Q paint job is still hard at work, although it has received various patches and touch-ups over the years. By the 1980s, the BN’s fleet of Mini-Hy Cube cars were being pushed out of appliance service and were seeing second lives in revenue paper loading and BN company services. This particular car was chosen from prototype photos and features updated COTS stencils, U-1 Wheel inspection dots, CB&Q truck lettering and other various patches. We even duplicated the hand-drawn “BLT 11-67” data, reapplied to one side of the car. (It was in the photo!) The roof is silver, to mimic the galvanized roof and its long-gone paint. All you have to do is supply some weathering! This scheme is available in 1 accurate number for 2023. SKU 18026
– D&RGW Brown Repaint 1976+ replicates a member of the Rio Grande fleet in a distinctive appearance. This prototype car was damaged and sent to Midwest Freight Car in Clinton, IL on the ICG. Midwest Freight Car repaired and repainted the one affected side and both ends of the car only. This D&RGW Brown Repaint scheme features a repainted “right” side of the car, with different locations for the MFC-applied Rio Grande lettering and modified small data. The other side of the car shows off the original Pullman-Standard brown paint and white lettering with various accurate paint patches applied by MFC shops personnel. Each end of the car features slightly varying MFC-applied stencil locations, based on prototype photos. The car even received new white paint and black lettering at the top of each end. What an interesting paint job! This one-of-a-kind model is equipped with accurate draft gear with the large weldments on the side along with 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Brenco-6 caps. SKU 18027
– IC Orange Repaint 1972+ illustrates an Illinois Central Mini-Hy Cube that has been repainted by the IC’s Centralia, IL paint shop. This new coat of orange paint was applied in 1972, and the data shows many little changes for the era. Notice the new 6-digit number: The IC-GM&O merger is coming soon, and both railroads have already moved on to a 6-digit renumbering scheme. Centralia applied yellow and black “Excess Height” boxes on the car, along with IC-style stenciling. The return route still specifies the NYC (not PC!) in Evansville, IN, proving that old railroad habits change slowly. The tops of the ends are silver on this car – a neat touch by Centralia to emphasize the excess height nature compared to a “standard” box car. This IC replica features accurate draft gear with a smaller key slot opening on the side along with 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. Available in 1 accurate number for 2023! SKU 18028
– ICG Orange Repaint 1977+ offers another example of Mini-Hy Cube paint scheme diversity. The Illinois Central added a “G” in 1972 when it merged with the GM&O. The IC’s 30-car Mini-Hy Cube fleet continued to generate revenue and the ICG continued to repaint cars! This 1977 example was repainted by the ICG’s other ex-IC car shop in McComb, Mississippi. The model features 18” stacked “ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF” lettering and a condensed “CUSHION UNDERFRAME” tucked in after the word GULF. The now-standard ICG “I-Ball” logo has replaced the IC “Split Rail” on the right side of the car. This ICG replica features an orange over-spray roof, accurate draft gear with a smaller key slot opening on the side and 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. This new ICG scheme is available in 1 accurate number for 2023! SKU 18029
– ICG Orange Error Repaint 1977+ replicates a single ICG Mini-Hy Cube box car with a unique paint job. This car was repainted in 1977 by the ex-IC McComb, Mississippi Car Shop. The model features 18” stacked “ILLINOIS CENTRAL GULF” lettering and a condensed “CUSHION UNDERFRAME” tucked in after the word GULF. The now-standard ICG “I-Ball” logo has replaced the IC “Split Rail” on the right side of the car. The only problem? McComb shops mis-numbered the box car, with the application of the 468509 digits. (The correct series is 480050-480079.) This ICG one-of-a-kind paint job has an orange over-spray roof, along with accurate draft gear with a smaller key slot opening on the side and 70-Ton Barber S-2 Roller-bearing trucks with rotating Timken caps. This new ICG scheme is available in 1 accurate number for 2023! SKU 18030
– Unpainted Kit gives the kit builders a little bit of love. We get it — sometimes you just want to build your own model, paint a scheme we have not offered, or weather your car prior to decaling to preserve the stenciling. This unpainted kit includes all of the necessary parts to build our kit, and our website has the instructions ready for you to download at your convenience. The kit includes our beautiful Barber S-2 70-ton roller bearing trucks. You supply your own favorite couplers. SKU 18000-01
– Unpainted Ready to Run model provides a “ready for paint” version of our assembled model, complete with Barber S-2 70-ton roller bearing trucks and Kadee couplers. SKU 18005-01
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 $50.95, 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!