Thanks, getting the running gear to work was the tricky part, now it’s just letting the parts tell me where they go! 
Progress!
Since I will be painting, don’t mind the visible glue…
An Aristo bobber volunteered it’s windows too! How nice of it, methinks.
A smaller gas tank has been found; a cap to an inhaler.
Onwards and upwards!
John
Very cool, John. I love the prototype picture for a start!
You did some really fine work on that undercarriage and drive mech. Somehow, you’ve managed to put one of those dang silly Aristo Bobbers to good use, which is pretty darn clever in itself.
The body of your build, especially that wonky corner post, has me truly baffled. If you think you can actually incorporate it, you’re far cleverer than me!
I’m gonna watch with great interest as you work towards the finish - good luck as you carry on!
Side walls are done and I got to playing. The Aristo track cleaner shares the bobber’s body. Since I went batty, track cleaning isn’t an issue. The little beaut has been parked outside for years. Sure enough more windows and sadly the axles all broke at the plastic tubing…
Anyway I cut a door out of the caboose and hinged it and painted it silver, a simple hinge; a thin tube glued into a half round channel in the door’s edge.
Spring wire into the threshold and roof will let it open for battery replacement, should I ever let it run… Got dark too soon, better pics tomorrow, but I got to playing, as mentioned above, like the new roof line?
If I keep it, the roof will be modified…
Also made the 4 getonthecar thingies for the corners and first coat of paint…
More to come…
John
It is coming along nicely. It reminds me of a tiny house which is the new fad.
Yep 64 sq. feet plus loft!
Looks great John. Watch out for low overhangs.
A house boat on wheels!?! Very nice!
I added the Penthouse this morning…
The top part isn’t fixed in place yet, I can still paint the interior… and do the back wall around the door, 3 window fromes on each side, like the front.
Time to run errands.
See ya later.
John
Oh ya, the smoke jack… er um whimsy?
For the barbecue when we tailgate at the games.
John
If any crewmen from the Gorre & Daphetid sits up there, thats going to pop a wheelie!
HA, and I thought I made my figure fat. Those are some robust gentlemen
Meanwhile back at the shops… surprisingly stable on a rise. I added the back wall and am ready to get some MIK green paint! Hopefully I’ll get a good cover like our inspiration!
The door swing both ways for visibility, it’s so hard to see out, y’know.
I did the hill test and she’s rock steady!
I never set out to make a rivet counters copy. I used the prototype for inspiration. More to come, it’s doodad time!
John
Doodads
Going to town, won’t come back without paint. All my old stock dried up…
John
lipstick on a dancing pig…
“And Where do you think you are going looking like that???” Screamed my better judgement. “You are not a painted lady! Back to the shop!”
Cooler head prevailed. Patience scrubbed and the thick glop was mostly removed and brash restrained.
Satisfied for tonight I’ve had enough fume. Pics tomorrow to make sure it happens.
John
Chicago Hardware and Foundry was more than the name reveals. A large sprawling plant, they had many tracks for heavy loads and supplies. Loads in and loads out called for a box car mule to operate within the factory complex.
A sideline of CHF was salvaging RR cars and motors from the interurbans and trolleys. In 1949 or so they dismantled a Buro crane. The superstructure removed as well as the prime mover. A 1947 truck engine, the burro running gear for the chasis and recycled street car bodies for the structure.
The complex became the holding ground for a future Chicago Railroad museum, I want to say Chicago Electric Railroad Museum, but I won’t quote me. The museum eventually found another home. Only mentioned to show size of complex.
My fantasy model is nothing if not completely Artistic License. Inspired I went for the feel. My junk box is slim to nothing… 'cept 4 wheelers, good while money went to track…, but sent to scrap asap.
Holy Moose Muffins! My eyes were full of envy! Trick Paint!!! That’s what I need to compete… I kinda like the Chocolat Pearl, but the hammered green needed 7 time wasting hours to dry flat! 35 hours plus application! I tried thicker and the pig applied lipstick without a mirror… almost comical… well you can see above. Somehow the camera was inconflict with my mind’s eye, Better Judgement to the rescue!
The pearly brown mimics recycled varnish and the sides suffer early fade/ peel. India ink alcohol wash tamed the cupola. A home made long lost formula rust all and dirt blended it together…
My eyes soothed, I built a ladder and formed a brass exhaust pipe.
There is a motor, but she has a real bad; track leaving toonerville hop. Should I get better Ozark wheels, I’ll complete the battery box. There are 2 missing details; headlamp and markers on 4 corners… I do have some O scale markers that I could make into class lights and blank out the extra lenses… We’ll see what a week brings…
My Dancing Pig likes her skin.
John
Nice work and great interpretation of your prototype. How does it run? I know I’d ask her out on the floor for a dance.
You’d best take her to the Hop!
Reversing the gears to reduce the size, keeping the axle gear smaller than the wheels, I lost speed reduction.
If I get real wheels I can make it run smooth.
Now she’s got the Toonerville hop.
Add footboards to this weeks jobs…
John