Building the SL-SF 1268 Wide Vision caboose

Discussion in 'Cabooses' started by gjslsffan, Feb 11, 2019.

  1. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I recently purchased an older run Overland Models wide vision caboose.

    This all leads to more questions for me and I know very little about Frisco cabooses. I bought an older run of a Oriental brass Frisco caboose. The ladder tops are all wrong, (my bad) and the axle generator is a truck mount generator that was soldered to the center like the large generator that we have talked about in this post. So far so good. All I gotta do is remove the truck mounted generator and install the body mounted one as described earlier in this thread.
    This leaves me with several other questions. Please bear with me, and I will get to the questions soon. This caboose has the round smoke stack on top, and smaller battery/tool boxes on each side, with a long cylindrical appliance pointing downwards on one side.
    So my question is what numbers on the SL-SF were these cabooses in? Also given the ladder tops were all wrong (on the Oriental Brass model).
    Were there any cabooses that remained in the brownish paint that had the roof top walkways and end ladders removed (or modernized) during the final years of independent operation? I guess re-doing the ladder tops would be the easiest, being as if the ladders are removed the end handrails need to be rebuilt too.
    Any advise is a great thing here, not afraid of taking my resistance soldering system to work, but if I do, I want it to be correct.
    Been looking at images on Google and I cannot find any modernized SL-SF cabs in the as delivered scheme. I can also see that the only consistency is there is no consistency. Seems as every cab was as different even in the same # series too.
    Thanks guys for the help and advise.
     
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  2. RogerRT

    RogerRT Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom, I think I got the same model, the ladders come straight down instead of a slant on the roof walkway, none of Frisco's caboose had the ladders at this angle...I don't have the skill or nerve to take a soldering iron to a $150 brass model so it is what it is...True, each one had its own personality... You never knew what would bring up the rear, it could be maybe 1, 2 or even a half dozen in brown, red, R/W with bay-window, EV cupolas...The only time I was disappointed was when a UP hack came around the curve...

    "This caboose has the round smoke stack on top, and smaller battery/tool boxes on each side, with a long cylindrical appliance pointing downwards on one side. So my question is what numbers on the SL-SF were these cabooses in?"

    Short answer...200-274/1200-1274

    Long answer...I don't know much about the battery boxes & the other thingy, Paul Slavens is much more knowledgeable on those matters than I...But as for the round smoke jacks these were the ones delivered from the factory, most were replaced with the T-shaped model during their 1972-1973 overhaul but a few slipped through...

    "Were there any cabooses that remained in the brownish paint that had the roof top walkways and end ladders removed (or modernized) during the final years of independent operation?"

    Short answer...No

    Long answer...Three were confirmed with their ladders & walkways removed, 1243, 1249 & 1268 but all were eventually repainted in the R/W scheme by mid-1979...

    Roger
     
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  3. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Thats great info Roger. Thank You!. Just what I needed. Never enough info for me.
     
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  4. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

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  5. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Forgot to mention when I got the model in the mail, I was very disappointed in-that the roof top walkway on one end was soldered about a scale foot off center, so I think the ladders and roof walks will come off and be done as the SL-SF 1201.
     
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  6. RogerRT

    RogerRT Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Oh yeah, forgot about that one...I really need to write this stuff down instead of keeping it in my head...Roger
     
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  7. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Here are a few images of this OMI caboose.
    2019-02-11 00.44.29.jpg
    2019-02-11 00.44.45.jpg

    Below show the truck mount generator OMI put on this thing, I removed it and placed a appropiate generator in its place.
    2019-02-11 00.45.05.jpg

    Here is an image of the proper generator glued with epoxy.
    2019-02-12 20.01.33.jpg

    2019-02-12 20.01.44.jpg

    2019-02-12 20.01.56.jpg
    Those draw-bars are wrong too, so I have some Details West CC-1009 cushion draw-bars on the way, the look to be correct, the body is getting a lacquer thinner soking and will get that washed off tomorrow.
     
  8. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    An update, boy was this a bearcat. Taking the ladders and all off the ends was easy but man building the new handrails was sure not. Glad that is over with.Turned out OK. Now to fill in the holes on top and get some paint on this thing before it starts to oxidize.
    2019-02-16 15.48.30.jpg

    2019-02-16 18.32.25.jpg

    I did replace that top corner grab this is missing in the image.
     
  9. Nice work Tom. This has been interesting to follow.
     
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  10. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Nice work, Tom my boy!

    I "sort of" like working with brass. It's a very different medium, but what little I've done in the past I enjoyed.

    Andre
     
  11. paul slavens

    paul slavens Member

    Don't forget the funny window on 1201. The left window on the 2 window side was replaced with a larger window like the ones used on the 1700 cabooses, and it is a taller two piece window. Do you plan to replicate this curious feature? Fun project !
     
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  12. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Now you have my attention Paul :) What little window are you talking about here?
    Hopefully it wont be too much work I just painted this thing. I mean literally still in the paint booth.
     
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  13. paul slavens

    paul slavens Member

    The funny window dates back to at least the early mid 1970s because i have seen a pic of 1201 in fresh caboose red paint with this window. It is the same size window used in the 1700 class and 1400 class. I have wondered why it ended up in a 1200, they had to cut the walls inside and out to install it. Check out the pics in the archive for a good view
     
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  14. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    I'm stumped Paul. Are you talking about the small window that is just in front of and below the cupola on the opposite end of the smoke jack? Otherwise I can't see what you are referring to.
     
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  15. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom, take a look at this picture. I have circled the unique window, it is double hung; all others on the caboose are square.
    Caboose-11531-Frisco-1201-at-St.-Louis-Missouri-in-June-1981-Ken-McElreath-2.jpg
     
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  16. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    OK thanks Keith I got it now, I was looking for a small window, I mean small, didnt even notice that, don't know if I am gonna do that modification though, with taking out the soldered on window, enlarging, then coming up with the right sized window, think I may do a different cab now, thanks for letting me know. That is kinda strange modification. Having a hard enough time trying to find a "Ship It" logo with out the black to use on this thing too.
     
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  17. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Looks like 1268 fixes both problems, the battery box and original smoke jack will stay the same but the more I looked at that window the more of a problem it looked like to be.
     
  18. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    It finally made it out to the MRR and is now in service, called here on a local, waiting on a crew to come on duty. I decided I was not gonna touch those brake wheels, tired of monkeying with this thing LOL. Real glass in the windows sure makes a difference.


    20190224_172632.jpg
    20190224_172646.jpg
    20190224_172705.jpg

    Here we go.
     
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  19. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Tom - The Kadee brake wheels will add to the looks of your SLSF 1268 quite a bit. Your cab looks great as is, but I'd suggest some day when you have a moment, add the Kadee wheels. Just a thought!
    K
     
  20. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Nice Tom!

    Andre
     
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