Workshop Wednesday

Figure I started this thread ages ago and should probably consider contributing something.

This arrived today. I’ve accumulated a hefty backlog of resin kits and have some structure and rolling stock scratchbuilding plans where I think it’ll help.

 

Thanks to the oppressive heat last week, I spent more time inside and not in the garden.

Finally started cleaning the flash off of a Westerfield USRA DS boxcar (one-piece body) that I picked up from Jim James. Nicked one corner by the poling pocket so I need to decide if I want to fix it or live with it.

I also started on one of the AMB Frisco laser-cut kits -was able to get a couple from Tony Lalumia. Based on a post from Don Wirth on caboose color, I used a rattle can of red oxide primer and, with weathering, it might work. I had a rattle can of gray primer that I used for interior pieces. While I don’t plan on detailing the interior, the gray was too dark for my tastes, so I brush painted it a lighter shade with some acrylic craft paint on hand.

 

I say just weather it and let it go. Nobody will notice but you. And freight cars got beat up regularly.
I forgot all about that kit!

 

Another thing you can do is add a white square with black lettering to the tack board.

HOME SHOP
FOR REPAIRS
DO NOT LOAD

Add a little different, and a totally prototype thing. I Bad Order cars at op sessions, some go to the home shop, some get set out into the RIPS, some stay with the train with speed restrictions. You can use these things to offer operating interest, turn misfortune, into an opportunity.
Just a thought.

 

It’s been busy with work and a 9-day Amtrak trip (more on that in the “Off-Topic” section soon), but I’ve managed to order some parts here and there.

I recently grabbed an Atlas O/W wide vision caboose from David Gaines; it’s a bit out of my era but I thought it might be fun to gussy it up.

I want to add a roofwalk with ladders, and have an Overland metal walkway I got from Ken Wulfurt some time ago. Found a Plano Caboose ladders and roof walk support kit for left-hand style, which I thought was correct. Until it arrived and I double-checked my pictures. I hope I can make it work.

 

Meant to get this posted yesterday, but never did. Updates from last week and this Monday - had to pause the modeling the last 2 nights in order to cook and can 17 pints of green tomato salsa from the garden's final output of the season.

AMB Wood-Sided Caboose
Progressing slowly along with one of the 2 cabeese I picked up earlier this year from Tony Lalumia. I've finished adding the outside trim to the windows. I've officially reached the age where I need my magnifying lamp to see where I'm putting them. Admittedly, they are pretty tiny. Has anyone else found that the tiny trim pieces don't stick so well on their own after peeling off the white paper backing to reveal the adhesive? I've been using a thicker CA to make sure they're secure. Started on the cupola Monday night - I'm going with the wood cupola design since I want this to be a pre-1946 caboose.


Tichy 50-Ton panel side hopper
This is one I took off of Brad Slone's hands way too long ago. You can almost tell that a topside gusset is missing in the upper LH corner - it was lost, so I ordered some extras off eBay and have fixed that little glitch. The piece of styrene is 1/16" thick with #79 holes drilled for pre-formed grab irons so that I can cut them down to an appropriate length. Once grabs are installed, all that's left is truck installation, paint shop, and decals.



On John Golden's blog, he'll periodically share one of the nice German ales he's found and is enjoying with his modeling. I've found a good deal of pleasure in both getting back to modeling a bit more and capping an evening with one of our locally-brewed offerings.

 

Looks great! The models are looking good as well. I’ve built a couple of those caboose kits and those window sills do need some adhesive assistance.
Don’t forget the cool looking cable hanging under the left side. I love that detail. This photo was taken before I added the LED marker lamps. Not sure why my rear ladder isn’t in the second photo!

 

Good to hear from you, Jim-I’ve missed seeing your work, even if it’s only from Mr. Peabody’s Wayback Machine. This is also very timely, as I’ve assembled the cupola this morning and now have questions:

1. Did you apply any gloss coat pre-decaling / dullcote/weathering? I’ve not installed window glazing yet, thinking that I should decal and weather it before installing glazing and roof/underbody.

2. Jog my memory: where did you get those fabulous marker lights?

I may be setting myself up for failure, but I’d love to go to Collinsville/STL RPM next summer and take along the following finished items:
-1 if not 2 AMB wood cupola cabeese
-Couple of Hallmark steel cupola cabeese
-Ex-ATSF 1100-series caboose
-Atlas super detailed 1200 caboose in orange/white

 

I believe Tomar makes the lamps and I’m almost sure I would’ve used gloss coat before applying the decals followed by Solvset and then Dullcoat.
Definitely added the window glass last. Maybe some half drawn window shades made out of paper for visual effects. Been a while since I built those. Those are fun kits. Not as fun as scratch building my side door caboose
Keep us posted my friend.

 

Tomar is sold out. Try here https://www.onlytrains.com/model/tr...AoB_4gFF9L3DF1tZzQ8BBR-g7vy859v8aAjPCEALw_wcB

 

Sorry for the false lead

 

Meant to post these last week, but didn't. Work's slowed a bit but I have gotten a bit done.

AMB Wood-Sided Caboose
I've test-fit the cupola and roof and all seems to work well. Next up, I want to decal, weather and seal before putting in windows. Has anyone used Tamiya TS-13 Gloss Clear Coat on wood models? The rattle can says for plastics, but a wee bit of research seems to indicate that it would be okay on a wooden model?





Tichy 50-Ton panel side hopper
Still working on grab irons. I'd forgotten that I'd had a little piece break off when originally assembling. I remembered it when it broke off again while fitting drop grabs and it fell into floor oblivion, so I'll pull some Evergreen strip styrene and fill the gap.



Roundhouse Kit #2130 - SL-SF Single-Sheathed 50-foot auto boxcar
I managed to snare a Roundhouse shell that was the basis for the 2025 Naperville RPM meet mini-kit for conversion into a SL-SF 50-foot single-sheathed auto boxcar. George Toman provided a really good write-up of his work on the mini-kit, which will serve as the basis for my project. I tried uploading the PDF of his instructions, but it's too large, so if you'd like a copy, send me a private message and I'll email it.


In addition to getting the Roundhouse shell last week, I picked up another Sunshine CBQ gondola kit. It's now on the shelf with the other "to do" kits. I'm under a self-imposed kit-buying moratorium until I can finish a few.