Large Scale Central

My first build, A&NCRR Conductors Car No.1

Modeling
#1

http://picasaweb.google.com/Bunky39/Trains?feat=directlink

This is my first attempt at building my railroad stock. It is modeled after a photograph of Atlantic & North Carolina RR Conductor’s Car #1. The trucks and couplers are different, of course, and I added windows in the end doors. I’d like to change the trucks out to look more like the original prototype.

It is all cut from a chunk of a cedar 4x4 post I had in the lumber pile. It glued up well and has nice straight grain. A few detail parts from Ozark Miniatures are evident but the frame, truss rods, decking and walls are all fabricated in the workshop using a jig I made to keep the framing square. I can now “bang out” as many frames as I want easily.

#2

Looking good. Do you have the original photo scanned as well? It looks like a neat prototype.

#3

Good idea, scanned photo added.

#4

nicely done!

#5

Nice work!

#6

Great job. Building a jig was a good idea. I’m sure you will be “banging out” some more.
Piccassa must shrink your photo on the web album. I see the prototype photo was 1600×1158 pixels, yet it looks to be much smaller. Hard to see any detail in the prototype photo.
Ralph

#7
Ralph B_rg said:
Great job. Building a jig was a good idea. I'm sure you will be "banging out" some more. Piccassa must shrink your photo on the web album. I see the prototype photo was 1600×1158 pixels, yet it looks to be much smaller. Hard to see any detail in the prototype photo. Ralph
They are shrunk but if you click on them they enlarge to a better view.

Thanks, all for the kudos. I’ll have some updated pics to add to the web-album later.

#8

That looks great David. This scratch building out of wood is kinda fun! I just tried my hand at it as well with a flat car. Those cast details make it easy to get something really pretty from a simple wood structure.

#9

I added two more photos of the progress of my new conductor’s car. It is close to completion, I just need to change some details. http://picasaweb.google.com/Bunky39/Trains?feat=directlink#

I used fabric on the roof to simulate canvas roofing material. I don’t know what color the car would have been painted, so I used red-oxide primer. The lettering is on temporarily, although it doesn’t look toooo bad. I may have to build the correct style trucks myself.

This was a fun project to build, now on to the next piece.

#10

Nice job!

#11

Nice job! I like those old obscure prototypes…:wink:

#12

These are the Ozark Miniatures 12 pounder cannons I painted and added “Sophisticated Finishes Rust” on the metal parts. The “limber”, (a two wheeled caisson for transporting and carrying powder and ball) I built from scratch with Ozark wheels to match.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/LimberCannon.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/LimberCanno56.jpg)

The Conductors Car build is DONE! I am going to try some weathering and then all that is left is the lettering.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/CCdone.jpg)

#13

Nice build Dave. What are the small cubes on the roof for? I’ve seen them in other photo’s and can’t figure them out.

Dave

#14
David Marconi said:
Nice build Dave. What are the small cubes on the roof for? I've seen them in other photo's and can't figure them out.

Dave


The conductor would place oil lanterns inside them. Since I do not have a ladder I will make a hook for him to reach the lantern handle. That should work.

#15

Thanks for the quick reply. Was this use end of train or conductor on board?

#16

Wow?

I visited a friend and fellow modeler yesterday with the two cars I built. He pointed out, under a bright light, the areas I need to tune a bit finer. What a difference from the stuff he builds and my first best attempts. I was truly humbled, by what he showed me.

The afternoon was worthwhile as I got some great hands-on tips on weathering and detailing and was able to talk trains for a few hours with someone involved in the hobby for a number of years.

Further updates to follow.

My thanks,

Dave

#17

Build to whatever level of detail you are comfortable with.
Some of these guys are true craftsman and I don’t have the talent or the time.
Ralph

#18

I did the highly detailed stuff fer a while…then ened up picking up bits off the right of way…thats why Bob and I are building “operational quality” cars now…no every nut and bolt ain’t there, but its visible as a specific car…

#19

Dave, Thanks for the kind words. I am glad to be able to assist you in your projects and help you learn this fun hobby of railroading. In our 20 plus year freindship you have given me so many tips I don’t think it possible to ever repay them!
Don’t worry I wont make you a rivit counter, it’s self taught anyway!!

I agree with Bob, Bart and others on the "operational quality’levels of construction. When I build things I pin them and reinforce seams and joints to handle the rigors of lots of handling and outdoor operation. I only model what is readily seen,and dont do underbody details except for brake cyl.,if Accucraft wants to put all the details on the bottom of a car I won’t complain.

#20

I added lighting in my Conductor’s Car and modified the trucks to more closely resemble the ones that would have been on the prototype. I still need some weathering and lettering.

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/LightCar.jpg)

(http://www.lscdata.com/users/lastmanout/_forumfiles/BoxedTrucks.jpg)