After two years of development, the CEMENTIPEDE has crawled into stock at Wit and Wisdom!
John Armstrong is best known for his track and layout designs. His book Track Planning for Realistic Operation (Kalmbach, Milwaukee) is the standard reference for model railroad track planning. His proto-freelanced Canandaigua Southern was the product of his approach to the hobby, and was the subject of multiple articles and photographs. John was also an accomplished model builder. Using his imagination, engineering skills, and knowledge of prototype practice, he “imagineered” and constructed a number of unique models. Wit and Wisdom Models has been given access to John Armstrong’s plans, photos, and project notes.
John’s model of the diner that was the subject of Edward Hopper’s famous painting “Nighthawks” was the basis for Wit and Wisdom’s first modeling project. He also designed and built a dual service Allegheny, the 4-6-6-6 Super Allegheny.
John built a third notable model: his 200-ton articulated covered cement hopper. It was inspired by the Southern Railway’s Big John and Santa Fe’s Super Hopper. Always the punster, John named his creation “CEMENTIPEDE,” after its multi-truck articulation and cargo.
John based the car on prototype design practices from the early 1960s, constructed the model out of wood, and painted and lettered it for Canandaigua Southern. It remained in service on John’s railroad until his death in 2004. The model was sold at the auction of John’s trains following his death. David acquired John’s original CEMENTIPEDE model in 2022, and was inspired to develop and offer a model of the car, as he had done with Nighthawks.
John never wrote a construction article on CEMENTIPEDE. The plans for the model were never posted. The CEMENTIPEDE was reverse engineered by Jim King of Smokey Mountain Model Works, in 2023-2024. He worked from John’s model and original drawings, using Solidworks CAD. The model is made from 3D-Printed parts, with 3D Printed and brass detail parts.
Jim modified John’s original model to better match Miner and Pullman-Standard car building practices, as shown in the 1961 Car Builder’s Cyclopedia: specifically, round roof hatches, “trough loading” ladder, roofwalks/corner platforms, air brake cluster, brake wheel, and brake housing. The model uses Tichy grab irons and end ladders. The new version includes a PS-2 brake system, which is slightly different than John’s design, but again, more prototypical. The rotating “couplings” between the articulated units are also closer to prototype.
The model is offered in kit form in O Scale 1:48 through this link. The kit is complete, comprised of three hopper units, with all detail parts, two pairs of Atlas 100-ton trucks and custom decals to replicate the number of John’s original model (CSRR 4315) or any other number in the series.
The model is the product of extensive design work, high production standards, and state-of-the-art materials. The kit is not cheap; it is, however, truly unique. This is a once in a lifetime model. To compare, think of it as three resin car kits, plus trucks and the custom decals. The pilot model is pictured below.
The kit sells for $529 plus shipping. To save shipping, pickup will be available at the 2025 Chicago March Meet and some other shows; please email witandwisdommodels@gmail.com for more information. Order the kit through the “Shopping” Section of this Website (Click Here).
The model will also be available assembled, painted and lettered for the price of the kit plus $460.00. (a total of $989 plus shipping). Jim King will be building the assembled models. He does a great job, as the photos of the pilot model show. The production run will be limited to 50 serially numbered models. The mix between kits and assembled models will be determined by orders. There will be no reruns in O Scale.