Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

HO caboose stoves

936 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,247 posts
HO caboose stoves
Posted by tstage on Sunday, October 22, 2023 1:40 PM

Greetings,

I've been working off & on on a AMB NYC "long" wood caboose and finally have all the exterior parts painted.  I also have the interior walls painted and added a wood floor made from Evergreen 2040 V-groove styrene sheeting:

It will hide the subfloor lead sheeting used for weight:

Although it's not going to be very noticeable through the windows, I'd like to add a stove, sink, desk, and task lighting to the interior.  However, I cannot find a stove similar to the one pictured below, which are the ones used in the NYC cabooses:

I can find various quality potbelly stoves on eBay (like the following) that are somewhat similar but more rounded and smaller the NYC caboose stoves:

I may just go with this type but..

Does anyone know if the larger and more square type of stove was ever produced in HO scale?

Thanks,

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,481 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Sunday, October 22, 2023 1:57 PM

You're right.  Any details inside a caboose will likely be almost impossible to see, particularly if you don't illuminate the caboose while running.  I know because I've done it.  The parts are cheap enough, but it's a bit of labor and the results are pretty much unnoticeable.  I've done the same with structures, with the same result.  Now I save my interior detailing for big store or factory windows.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,247 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, October 22, 2023 3:59 PM

I agree to some extent, MB.  That's why I wanted to add interior task lighting - e.g. one at the conductor's desk and another next to the sink, as pictured above.  There are three sets of windows on each side.  So, although limited, it could allow for some minimal viewing of the interior.  Is it worth it?  Maybe.

Hmmmm.  I have an extra TCS FL4 (function-only) decoder that's small enough to easily fit the interior of the caboose at the back (non-window) end.  Maybe I'll use that to control each task light and possibly add "stove flicker", which I can remap to and control from a funcion button.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, October 23, 2023 7:32 PM

Hi Tom,

I do that sort of detailing just for the sheer pleasure of doing it. As has been suggested, any fine details inside the caboose will be very difficult to see, but I know that they are there and that makes me happy.

If you want a closer copy of the stove, why not make one yourself? All it takes are a few bits of styrene sheet, a tube or dowel for the chimney, and some gluing and filing. I made this stove for the Cook Car on my rotary snow plow train. I used a hole punch to mimic the element plates:

Unfortunately, once it is painted black, it is barely visible when the shell is on. However, I have made the shell easy to remove so, if I want to show someone the details, its easy to do.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!