I’ve decided that I really need to have one of these, so that I can run my Lackawanna Trainmaster:
Since these cabeese were made by the Lackawanna and no one else made them, I figure that the prospect of getting one already made in “O” is probably near zero, so I have decided to try my hand at making one myself. This will be my first attempt at kitbashing a car.
I’m gonna start with a Weaver northeastern caboose that I picked up on eBay earlier this week for $20.
I figure that all I have to do is just [:-^] cut off the two sides of car and make my own sides using styrene. I will leave the two ends and the roof intact.
I’m looking for any suggestions that I might get with this project. For example,
What’s the best way to cut up the existing caboose? Could I use a Dremel (if so, what type of bit), and then maybe use a fine file or sandpaper to smooth and straighten out the cut?
When I cut the new windows out, I figure that I need to add temporary straight lines to the sheet styrene. Is there some type of pen or marker, that modelers typically use?
When I cut out the windows on the sheet styrene, would it be easier to cut straight lines into the styrene, or maybe drill a hole, and then cut and file out the square shapes?
Is there any type of putty or filler that is good to use to fill in seams?
Any assistance would be appreciated! [bow]
I will try to take some pictures as I progress. If the project is successful, I’ll post them.
Try disassembling the car first to see how it goes together. You can get filler putty, I prefer Squandron Shop Green or White putty. The best way to “mark” styrene is to use an Exacto to scribe the plastic. Re cutting new windows I tend to find it easier to drill holes slightly smaller than the window hole and then cutting out the window and filing/sanding the window to it’s final shape. The cupola windows may be harder to do than the main side windows. Also, do you have access to scale drawings of the prototype? This will make it easier to kitbash. You can check the magazine database tied to this site:
Instead of making new sides from scratch what would be the feasability of , after disassembly, cutting the sides free from the main body, removing the cupola side then cutting the sides between the window pairs. Determine the required window spacing on the prototype. The piece that you would have to cut from the center section below the cupola to achieve the required spacing could be used to fill between the left and right window pairs. You would still have to do a little filling and smoothing of seams but maybe not to much, the hardest part would probably be keeping everything plumb and square. Almost forgot, the seams would require some form of gusset maybe like a lap joint on the inside with some thin styrene maybe.
Let’s say for a moment that ol’ fifedog was custom painting again, and you handed me this project. First off, if you’re not a rivet counter, I would say let me paint it first before lopping the sides to pieces. I’d replicate the window down spouts with sheet styrene strips. Then I would strip off the old lettering. Next, I’d take her over to the spray booth and give the whole thing an even coat of primer grey. Next, I’d separate the underframe and trucks form the rest of the body, and paint them black. Then, a couple coats of boxcar red on the body. Not sure what’s available for decals, but Woodland Scenics Roman RR white dry transfers should do the trick. Then I’d hand paint the aluminum window casings.
I may be out in left field, but why not just paint her up and see how you like it with the slightly incorrect windows? I’m assuming thats what you would need to change to make it closer to right.
I do want to try to make some changes to the body. The original cabeese were made by the Lackawanna, and it is the uniqueness of the car resting on the frame (recycled from tenders) and the evenly spaced windows that I would like to try to duplicate.
I figure that if I screw it up to much, I’m only out of the $20 for the caboose and $10 for all the other materials. Worse case, I’ll just buy another one of the the bay, and just paint her up without cutting her all apart.
Doug, your suggestion about replacing only part of the sides is one that I will consider. This would maintain some more of the structural strength of the original shell.
I’m hoping that the mailman brings the Weaver caboose tomorrow, so that I can take a look at her!
