Thanks for the encouragement Dave. If this wet weather continues, I just might start another project!
I can't seem to get much done outside!
Along those same thoughts, it was the overhead crane scratch build that got me going on the caboose, one led to the other!
Mike.
My You Tube
The caboose looks really nice, Mike. With Kadee 5s and similar sizes, I suspect the size of the couplers (close to S scale actually) is most noticed in photographs rather than actual viewing.
Don't switch to structures. Now is the time to build another one -- right now. Or some other complex piece of rolling stock. You know exactly how to do what you did right, and it is clear in your mind what you'd have done differently.
Dave Nelson
Thanks Bear, much appriciated!
A great result, Mike. Very nice.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I would definitely say I’m a rivet counter, but I prefer regular KDs (i.e. #5s) just because they operate better. For me the only thing more important than looks is how well something runs, I would never sacrifice looks for operations.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
BNSF UP and others modelerWow, having KD's on a car like that really puts the oversize into perspective!!!
I know, and it really stuck out to me, as well. I mentioned that in one of my post.
They do have an option, the #158 whisker coupler is more "prototypical" in size. I didn't have any, so I used my "go-to", the #148. medium shank.
If I would have used the #158 short shank, it would have looked spot on.
Wow, having KD's on a car like that really puts the oversize into perspective!!!
I wonder if I can 3d print my own scale couplers...?
My whole fleet is KD'd right now. Horrid bad for rivet counting snobs.
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
That Caboose looks outstanding Mike, I really like it. Really, the thing looks Factory.
Great job. No one would ever know that was your first build if you hadn't told them
TF
A nice final segment to this project, I have been following it earnestly for the past few weeks and am impressed buy the final result! A very close representation of the prototype!
mbinsewi At some point, I might patch it for my short line.
At some point, I might patch it for my short line.
I would eventually if it was my railroad, more plausible, and the prototype you used was bought by a shortline after all! It looks a bit strange in old MILW paint next to your moder boxcars and locomotive. When you do patch it I’d give it a heavier weathering job, if it were to still in MILW in the modern era.
You could also keep it in MILW paint and say your short line did it up as a heritage paint. I’ve heard of the real thing doing that, I recall an blerb in Trains a bit back were CSX painted a caboose in Chessie System colors.
For now I hope you can at least enjoy it in the scheme of a famous fallen flag!
One last time!
I put on the decals, the way the prototype did it on some of their cabs, and did some light weathering.
I was just trying to fade the orange slightly, along with the roof, and add a little corrosion to the vent stacks. I also gave it a shot of dull coat before I started with the weathering.
That's it! Done. At some point, I might patch it for my short line.
Thanks for all the comments, and the views.
Hi Mike,
You have done a great job, especially considering that it is your first rolling stock scratchbuild! Regardless of the tiny imperfections that the camera shows, it just looks 'right'. The decals and weathering will add a lot to it.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I think that you did a terrific job on the caboose, Mike, especially for your first time at scratch building. Are you going to release it as RTR or a kit?
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
Thanks Ed, that means a bunch, coming from you!
Thanks SP.
SPSOT fanI didn’t realize how small that caboose is compared to that boxcar
The prototype was 34' 3" from pulling face to pulling face on the couplers. Mine turned out the same, and If I would have used short shank couplers, I'd be right on. I used what I had, #148 whiskers, medium shank.
Of all the couplers I've put on my cars, during the last 9 years? converting to Kadees and metal wheel sets, this is the first time I've noticed how much the #148's are out of scale, and perhaps the #158's would look better.
I like the performance of the #148's, so I'll stick with them.
Looks great! I didn’t realize how small that caboose is compared to that boxcar you put it next to. It really is quite small!
Looks like a nice 1st scratchbuild for you roster, and certainly something unique and different!
Great job, Mike!
I especially like the way you captured the extremely "solid" looking underframe. One can spot at a glance that there's a former tender underframe there.
Everything about your model exudes "character".
Thanks for posting the progress,
Ed
Mid morning rain here in SE. WI., has given me a chance to do a little finish-up on the caboose project.
I added the trucks, couplers, and painted the newly added hand rails, and put it on the track for a test.
It's a little light, at 2.5 oz, NMRA suggest it should weigh 3.5 oz, but I think it will work fine. Later today, I'll hook it a string of cars, and take it for a ride.
I'll have the decals next week, do a little fading and weathering, and call it a done deal!
It's got some flaws, and I made some compromising, but I'm happy, for my first, and that's what counts!
Maybe I'll stick with buildings
I'll post a couple of pictures at that time, to finish this off.
Thanks for looking, and tagging along!
Thanks a lot guys! I'm humbled.
It's looking great Mike. Glad I could be of whatever help I was. I remember those terminal cabooses - and the Fairbanks Morse switchers that usually accompanied them. Those frames from tenders made them strong enough to be part of very heavy shoves up the grade that gets to Burnham St Yard.
Great lookin' results, Mike!
Wayne
Excellent progress Mike!
Your painting skills are impressive especially since I believe you are using a brush. My hands shake too much to get anywhere close to the straight edges that you have achieved.
Thanks guy!
The MILW. called these terminal cabooses from the start. Most know them as transfer caboose, because they were used when moving trains from yard to yard.
The MILW. had yards all over the metro Milwaukee area. Articles I've read about the railroad, talk about 100 car trains going from one yard to another.
The decals have been ordered. I got lucky and one of my favorite suppliers had 1 sheet of decal for the MILW steel caboose from 1950 - 1980.
I'm decaling it from what prototype photos I can find, of my series. It changed numbers as it went from one road to another, as talked about in a great post in here from Dave Nelson. Thanks again Dave for all the info you provided.
I will weather it as I see fit, going off of photos. I've already started that by weathering the under frame and brake gear, as I've shown in previous pictures, and the diamond plate deck has been painted and weathered.
Thanks again for the comments!
I'll show some finished photos, except for decals and weathering, and then at some point, I'll show the fully completed car.
Now I can clean up my work area. A complete mess. Next project? I have many in the works to choose from.
maxman It is very discouraging reading this forum. Everyone seems to have an affliction, a relative with an issue, a dying pet, a poopy job, a crappy boss, and so forth. And now you tell me your caboose is terminal?
It is very discouraging reading this forum. Everyone seems to have an affliction, a relative with an issue, a dying pet, a poopy job, a crappy boss, and so forth.
And now you tell me your caboose is terminal?
Ok, I think that was supposed to be a joke. Because its a Terminal caboose? Haha. Good one. I liked it. Anyway...
Excellent work Mike! Even if I could never produce results like that, its still fun to see others pull it off. I should buy more styrene, actually...
I don't know Mike. Since this is your first scratch build of a rail car, I think you have more than just a little to be proud of here.
Lookin good kid TF
I know, I probably should've put this in the diner, where such things are discussed at length.
That caboose it looking great! Just a few more handrail details, trucks, couplers, decals, and some weathering and you’ll have an excellent piece of proundly sractchbuilt rolling stock!
I'm getting to the end of this project. This is my first actual scratch build of a rail car, not counting the things I used to do to old Tyco and Life Like cars back in the 80's and 90's to turn them into something I might have seen on a train. Lots of hacking.
Buildings, no problem, many of the buildings on my lay out are scratch / kit bashed. I didn't have to pay strict attention to dimensions, just make it fit the space I had, and make it believable.
This little caboose! a whole different story. I have dimensions I have to follow, from a drawing, from the engineering office of the MILW.
Anyway, continuing on, the inside railings have been painted, and I have started the outside railings, and brake wheel stand.
I couldn't find a stand that looked like my prototype, so I made my own.
My first attempt and the end frames didn't look right.
So ripped it all off and tried again, and again, and I finally settled with this. Not quite as "chunky".
I then added the coupler cut levers on both ends.
I gave them all a coat of paint, and then realized I forgot some air piping and a valve.
Now I have the missing air piping in place, and ready for paint.
Everything in place, and painted.
I placed the cab on the frame, and glued it in place, now ready for the last of the railing work.
I'll be back with the finish-up. It's nice and sunny out today, and I have some out side stuff to catch up on.
Thanks for looking!
Thanks TF and Chuck! Been working on it today. Working on the railings, I'll have more to show tomorrow.
Very nice!
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge