How to turn a Bachmann Refrigerator Car kit into a narrow gauge reeferIn this article, I’ll describe how to turn a Bachmann Reefer (or boxcar kit) into a representation of a narrow-gauge car. I follow no prototype, but upscale things to give it a ‘just right’ feel. For this conversion, you’ll need a reefer or boxcar kit, or, if you can’t find one, a car, and you’ll have to do some disassembly and cutting.The finished product, awaiting painting and weathering
First, some work on the roof
Cut 12 runners, about 1 9/16" long, out of 1/8" stock. Glue 3 of these around eachice opening on the roof. I placed the kit’s ice platform in the other side so I could fudge with alignment.
Next, cut 3 pieces of popsicle sticks the size of the ice hatch…
…and glue them onto the hatch.
This picture shows the 2 shims, cut from a popsicle stick, so the ice hatch will sitlevel with the icing platform.
Cut and glue popsicle sticks onto the platform supports, lining them up with the hatch boards,and making sure to have some overhang. Put the kit’s roof walkway in place so you leave enoughroom for the walkway.
Two views of a completed pair of ice hatches.
Next, we move on to the car body
Shave and sand off all detail from the sides and ends of the car body. Glue 16 popsicle sticks,starting from the ends, side by side. Use the model’s fake boards to make sure you have the sticksvertical. Dont forget small pieces below the door opening. Leave about 3/8" space from the door bottomto where you start your first stick.
Trim the boards to the top and bottom of the model. Use some irregularity of board length on the bottom.
Glue more sticks to the end. I first cut a 1/4" x 3/8" basswood board, and glued it in place. Then I cutthe boards flat on the bottom, and glued them in place. Once dry, trim these square, the same height as theside walls.
Cut the roof walkway now. I chose to make it out of 8 separate boards. However, you could just as wellmake it from 2, or 4 boards. Choice is yours.
1/4" square walkway supports, beveled to fit on roofline. Cut the center one with a center notch so theodd-shaped nub fits inside.
Glue in place.
Turning our attention back to the car body. We’ve added sticks to the inside of the body for the risersto glue against. Cut the 2 end pieces from 1/4" basswood to match the roof angle. The side pieces are more1/4" x 3/8" basswood.
Cut the 8 roof-attachment thingies from the underside of the roof. They arent needed, and are in the way.Shave a bit from the inside edge of the 2 side basswood risers on the body so the roof fits flush.
Flipping the body over (after its dry), cut, fit, and glue the undercarriage. I move the wheelsetsfurther out, just to the other side of the nubs. The 1/4" gap wont be noticeable, and if it bothersyou, fill it in.
Cut, glue and trim 2 pairs of doors to fit within the opening.
Glue the doors in place, and add 6 hinges. Drill pilot holes for the nubs on the original hinges, or trim them off. Conversely, get some Ozark Miniatures hardware.
About this time (adding hardware) I realized that the ice doors needed to be raised higher than thewalkway, so I added a 1/8" square glue strip in place of the thin one. Glue the doors in place, and addthe hinges and handles.
Add the ladders to opposite ends. Use 4 of the wide grab bars, spaced evenly, with 3 on the car end.Voila! Detail with NBW’s, brackets, and undersill steps.Steps Not ShownThe roof needs to be wider, so add about 1/4" of wood to each end, fill and sand to match.Don’t forget a brake wheel!Door latching hardware.