My latest project. This began as a Walthers RTR 25 foot wood caboose (C&O style) I picked up at a train show for $8.
I had to take it all apart to add the Walther’s supplied grad irons. The Walther’s grabs are nicely formed from thin iron or steel wire, very thin, wants a #80 drill, the smallest I have. Much smaller than the usual brass wire I use which wants a #76 drill. The plastic body had little nubs marking where to drill which helps. Notice the bright red factory paint and the C&O markings.
Here is my out door spray booth. No problem with fans, filters, and over spray. This is one coat of red auto primer with a top coat of bright red, both from rattle cans. Then a overcoat of DullCote to blend in the decals softens the bright red down to a more B&M like dull red. I’m working from an Arthur Mitchell photo of B&M 104647 taken in 1953. The Walther’s model is close enough in size and detail.
Walthers provided an interior, to which I added a crew member in the cupola. The black foreground object is a foot of the camera tripod.
The very handy vise is from Sears, it has a vacuum base that sucks right down on formica but has a little trouble getting traction on my workbench top. It makes drilling for the grab irons MUCH easier.
All assembled.