I finally finished my EBT coach #5. This is an Iron Horse Engraving wooden kit which I started a year or two ago, but as I spend winters in FL it languishes while I am away. http://ironhorseengraving.com/store/kits-and-models/
There was a detailed review of the kit done by Kevin in GR when he built his coach. It includes laser cut parts that are peel-and-stick, like the sides. As long as you get it aligned it makes assembly fairly foolproof. I wouldn’t call it a beginners kit though.
Construction progressed (for more than 2 years - this pic was taken in our old home and we moved in 2017! The date on the photo is 2016.)
I did have to do some thinking about the painting - the instructions just tell you how to put it together, without any regard for how you paint the final coach. For example, the 1/4 round ends of the sides are glued in almost last, according to the instructions.
I used Scalecoat2 GN green spray paint, and set up various pages of small parts, stuck to upturned blue tape.
One of my pet peeves with wooden kits is that it is difficult to get rid of the grain. A few more coats of paint help.
It has a full interior, so I covered the toilet windows and installed a 9V battery, plus some LEDs in the roof. A few people make it look more used, and an open window. Dry transfer decals from the FEBT store were used, though they are getting so old the glue seems to be gone - it takes some heat to get them to peel off the backing and stick. The roof is alum pipe tape. The trucks are Bachmann without the wheel pickups, and the couplers are Accucraft 1/32nd, which are correct for the EBT 3/4 size couplers.
This is my display shelf in a hidden corner of our apartment.
Of course, the coach was purchased from another eastern road, and could be used for almost any narrow gauge railroad layout. The prototype is at the ET&WNC and is still in use.
