Picked up an HO MDC Roundhouse old-time truss rod wood caboose kit cheap at a swap meet. We talked about this a while back and you fellows directed me to several options for wire because the railings were missing. I've successfully added rails and even hand grabs on the cupola. Ladders were in the box, but they're lame. They're bowed plastic ladders, for one thing, and for another they are too thick and flat. I was up at the Northwest Railway Museum yesterday staring at a Northern Pacific wood caboose in the same number range as this kit, and the ladders are round pipe, both rail and rung.
I found metal ladders for sale on ebay, but they all have flat steps, not rungs. I would make a couple of ladders myself if I thought I could do it, but as far as I can tell it would require microscopic soldering of rungs to rails, and I know I just don't have the skill for that. Plus each joint would be a big knob of solder.
So two questions. Do you know of metal ladders for sale anywhere that are round instead of flat, and with the big curve at the top for heaving up onto the roof? And if you make your own caboose ladders, how do you do it?
Thanks in advance,
-Matt
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
This prolly wont help you, but I had to 3D print mine. Same reason as you, couldnt find any that matched what i was looking for.
If molding wasnt too big or bulky, the ladder itself wasnt right design, shape, or size to fit specific model. I needed many, so soldering was out of the question too.
Tis why I like 3D printing, it fills the niches open in model railroading. We cant have everything all the time, which is just fine. I feel it gives printing a good place to fit in, in this case.
A#1 North!
PMR
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
As Wayne said. Either going to have to solder your own. Or buy general purpose ladders and cut them down to what you need. There is a chance you could find them tho. Would require much digging and emailing through manufacturer that make similar cabooses Might be able to get them as parts that way.
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Thanks guys. Not a lot of great news, but thanks. Bear, I now recall that jig post you linked and being flabbergasted by the beauty of Wayne's caboose ladders.
The way I see it, I have several options. First, I know a guy with a bank of 3D printers who would happily make some for me, even design them (he loves the computer work). Second, my LHS guy has baskets of Grandt Line and Classic detail parts for a buck a piece. For that matter, there are always bins of knick-knacky stuff like ladders and brass detail loco parts at all the swap meets I go to. And third, I suppose I might be skilled enough at soldering to make just enough joints to add some length to some shorter metal ladders I see online. I don't really see myself doing rung-by-rung construction, though.
Precision Scale makes really good caboose ladders, but they are pricey.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for tip, Kevin. I had a look. Prices weren't that bad, it's the shipping that kills. But I didn't see any that had the full loop up and over, and also I didn't see any that looked like they had round rungs.
Some have these "extensions" that curve up as if to attach to something, but they end in mid air and I don't see how those would ever work on a caboose. But even Precision Scale's flat-rung'd types are preferable to plastic ladders, which always look too thick and tend to bow, like the ones in my kit.
Not sure what I'll do. Considering following in the Path of Wayne, but it freaks me out just thinking about trying such tiny, fine work.