Here is the latest on the caboose project: I finished the cupola & removeable roof section, so I have been waiting on a nice day to put the roofing on. I had a nice day off a couple of weeks ago, but realized that I didn't have the awnings built and installed. The cupola awnings were cut out of 20 gauge steel, then I hammered a folded edge on the outside of both awnings. The other edge was bent so that they would sit at an appropriate angle, then they were painted and screwed in place. The roofing was applied today; I still need to touch up the edges but at least the hard part is done. Next I have my choice of finishing the roof's battens & roofwalks or building steps... just depends what I'm in the mood to do! This is what it looks like as of this afternoon:
I took a hiatus from the big trains this winter, but I'm now back to work on the Frisco caboose project. The steps are finished and I've finally started working on the handrails and roofwalks. When those are finished, it will be time to paint the coonskin and reporting marks, as well as building the doors and smokejack. Hopefully I can get this thing done this month; I hope to have it at the Springfield, MO OMRA train show in April. This is how it looks as of today:
James, You have really done a nice job on this project. I think the siding you used looks just fine. I have been a slacker on starting my cab for the reason that YOU HAVE NOT PUBLISHED THE PLANS and that I have been too lazy to fetch the graph paper and start my own. I need to see what I can find - I really was leaning towards one of the earlier side door cabs if I can work up some dimensions and nail down a few good pictures to work from. May I ask what material you used for making your steps?
Looks great! I would only change one thing and that's the red roof slats. Unless its prototypical, I'd paint them the same color as the roof. The walk boards and their supports are fine. Nice job overall. How 'bout the lettering?
Sherrel, one reason I haven't posted my plans is that they are so pathetic! But, I'll try to get them scanned in someday and send them to you. The steps are made of wood... 1/4" birch for the sides and horizontal parts, 1" pine for the vertical back fillers. The pine gives me something substantial for nailing, and using it for the vertical fillers in back of the steps allows me to hide the thickness. Everything was glued, nailed and clamped until dry. I'm sure steel steps would be stronger, but the wood ones were easier to build. Manny, I think the red slats are prototypical, but I wouldn't swear to it. Period photos are mainly from ground level and in black & white, so it is hard to tell about the roof. There are some anachronisms with the paint scheme, but I'm not going to confess everything right now! I have the coonskin and reporting marks printed off full size, I just need to cut stencils out of poster board so I can trace them on the wood and then paint them by hand. I think it will look better hand-painted as opposed to vinyl graphics, since it is going over the wood siding. Thanks for the comments!
Caboose #56 is 98% done... so it's time for a test run. Took it out on the railroad today with the help of my friend Rick and ran it around some, as you can see in the attached pictures. That's yours truly standing by it to give you an idea of the size of this rascal. For the rivet counters, let's do a rundown of the anachronisms and compromises in this project... you'll remember that I didn't promise a museum quality model! Hopefully, this will help anyone wanting to scratchbuild or detail a model caboose of their own, so they won't be mislead by my mistakes. First, trucks are coil spring instead of leaf spring, strictly for the sake of my convenience. My railroad is set in 1939-'41, so I think that the handrails should probably be black instead of yellow, and the coonskin should say "Frisco Lines". Also, I went with the earlier straight ladders instead of the later ladders that curved over the top of the caboose - not sure if this class came out with the curved or straight as built. I left off some of the smaller handrails and end details, since such things tend to take a beating in service... simple is good. Also - and this is invoking every bit of my modeler's license - I left of the short roofwalks around the cupola. Lots of work in those, and most people won't miss them, plus I like the looks of it as is. Finally, I did not paint the horizontal white stripes between the logo & reporting marks - some cabeese have them, others don't, I'm not sure if these had them as built, but I prefer the simpler look without them. Whew! Confession is good for the soul... In spite of those items, I hope the caboose captures the feel and character of this class of Frisco cabooses. I still have to finish the coonskin on the other side of the caboose, but it should be done by the end of the week. The coonskin and reporting marks are all painted by hand, which is a bit time-consuming and tedious, but give better results on the uneven wood surface than vinyl graphics (like I used on the boxcar). I am planning on taking #56 to the OMRA show in Springfield on April 21st, so come by and say hi! - James PS - Sherrel, I haven't forgot about scanning my plans, I will get it done!
Blah, blah, blah... EXTREMELY nice looking caboose with lots of time and effort well spent. It's got that great Frisco feel to it. Doing the modeling in a larger scale makes a great project that you know will be an "only one in existance" model. I love it! Great job James!
Dang, any conductor would be dang proud to call that hack his own. Nice job! A few more details and you'll be all set! Nice job indeed!
Looks great Jim. In a moment of weakness a year or so ago I told a live steam friend who is building a 4100 that I could be talked into building him a proper caboose. Neither of us have done anything about it yet.
James, absolutely gorgeous! I understand your reasons for making in #56, but I would have been just as thrilled to see it numbered 86 (here's why:http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?1161-Cape-Girardeau-MO&p=44221#post44221).
With all the painting finally finished, it is time to begin "weathering" the caboose. I started today by applying cinders, soot, dust and pollen to the new paint! All joking aside, I took the finished caboose out for some test runs today using my 4-4-0 #205 and diesel #86. Since this was the first run of the caboose behind steam, and the first steam run of 2012, I shot some video that you can see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jldsZHImH90 Also, here are some pictures of the caboose earning its keep on the railroad. This project is done - at least for now - so I hope all of you enjoyed seeing the progress!
Very Nice!!!! Excellent. Looks great. Coonskin the boxcar and don't forget to turn your headlight on before moving! The RF will pull your card! (aka, wife!)
James: You have really captured the spirit with this video. I really like the load on the flatcar. Thank you so much for sending me the drawings - they will be a great help. I doubt that my attempt will come close to what you have accomplished. P.S.: Got a real kick from watching your Marx trains videos.. they really "fly". Love the old Stuff!
