Whew! This was harder than I thought!

[JohnT14808]

I have to hand it to you modelers that do all this. I know the rolling stock REALLY LOOKS GREAT when you put these on, but WOW....what a lot of work!!

[doctorwayne]

Yeah, the more you do, the faster you get. I just finished doing six Proto1000 Fowler boxcars. In my opinion, the plastic ones that the cars came with were kinda clunky. 36 grabs on each car plus 6 drop steps and 2 roofwalk corner grabs. The drop steps are A Line, everything else was formed from .012" brass wire since the widths are slightly different from what's available commercially. Removing the originals while trying to retain the bolt head detail was actually more difficult than fabricating and installing the new ones. I find it's easier to do all the drilling at the same time (or until your fingers get sore), then make all the grabs and then install them. When I have all the grabs inserted into the holes, I slide a spacer of appropriate thickness between them and the car side and while pressing on the grabirons from the outside with my finger, I fold over the legs sticking through on the inside of the car using a small screwdriver. After removing the spacer, I apply a.c.c. from the inside. When this has set, I use a pair of smooth-jawed pliers to grasp the individual grabs along their length and gently twist them to align them horizontally. It is quite easy to line everything up by eye, probably 20 or 30 seconds for each of these cars. And yes, I've gotten pretty quick at doing grabirons, but I've also gotten pretty bored. However, I think that the rebuilt cars are quite an improvement over the originals and I wouldn't hesitate to do more.
Wayne

[Anonymous]

Wow, finally got the grabs on two cars!!! Total of 20 grab irons, but I did get faster as I went along. Only two cars left, but that's a project for another day. I'll post a pic as soon as I figure out where our digital camera went!

[waltersrails]

Detailing is fun but like you all said hard. As long as it looks real to me thats all
that matters.

[Darth Santa Fe]

I nkow it's hard adding grab irons the first time, but the more you do it, the quicker you get![:D] I've done enough detail work on my engines that I could install a grab iron in about 5 minutes. Maybe you'll get that quick too![:D]

[csmith9474]

That is one of my favorite steps in the process. Sometimes it can get a bit frustrating without starter points. I gave up on using a #80 and use either a #79 or #78 depending on how lazy I am. Also there are come cruddy bits out there. I have found the Walther's bits do really well. A good bit will save a lot of time, but make sure to have plenty of spares.

[orsonroy]

I'm amazed at how long it takes me to finish adding wire grabs to resin boxcars. Building the basic box is a snap, and even the brake piping doesn't take nearly as long as getting all those drop grabs to line up straight!

[cwclark]

that's what makes it fun...it's hard to do and it's a good feeling of accomplishment when you're done...those little parts are good for my blood pressure...it relaxes me when I do the small detail stuff....chuck

[emdgp92]

I was going to say that too. If I'm installing grabs, I always paint them last. That way, you don't have to be as careful.

[modelmaker51]

The more you do the easier it gets!

Save some time by waiting to paint them after they've been mounted.

[joeyegarner]

I know what ya mean, sometimes I have the same problem with grabhandles. i've seen couplers take me just as long, not on the cars so much but on some older locos. Good luck. Joey

[Anonymous]

I just got done spending an hour and twenty minutes putting on 5 wire grab handles on one side of a Rivarossi Passenger Car! This isn't counting the time I spent painting the grabs (have to repaint, scratched them with the needle-nose[:(]) and drilling the holes!

I thought it would only take a few minutes, since the holes were pre-marked and the grabs pre-bent. What us Modelrailroaders do to add detail! But, I must say they sure finish off the exterior looks of the cars! I'll post some pics when I get one totally done!

Only 3 1/2 cars to go!