Large Scale Central

Nashoba Valley Transportation Company Boxcar

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

This one should be pretty “easy”.

Years ago, I bought some AMS flatcars. They were relatively cheap at $36 each…about what I would pay for couplers and trucks alone. Anyway, I never had any intention of using them as flat cars, but they sure make a great starting point for any car using a truss rod. I had earlier used some other frames for my ventilated boxcars here and here. (Those were even cheaper at under $30 a car).

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, Bob had given me a set of decals for his Nashoba Valley Transportation Company. Finally, it’s time to get another boxcar to run on my layout.

The flatcar provides the starting point:

I start by stripping off all of the useable stuff such as steps, brake wheel, trucks and couplers. The side pockets get ripped off with pliers.

Then the entire car gets ripped on the table saw. I cut it down so that there is just enough room to add on my wood siding pieces. Here’s a shot with the end platforms temporarily in place and the siding in the background.

Next, I’ll cut the siding to height and width.

ARTICLE: A Master Index for the J&B RR
#2

Nice start.

#3

Thanks, Daktah.

So, continuing on…

The end scribed siding was cut with an angle for the roof line. I had some 1/2" square stock that was then glued to the ends.

Meanwhile, the scribed siding was cut to length and glued to the base and clamped in place.

Once that had dried, it was time to do the other side.

#4

Nice progress, Bruce… I think you need more clamps, tho… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#5

I like that idea of clamping the square in there too…nifty…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#6

Ken Brunt said:

I like that idea of clamping the square in there too…nifty…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I didn’t see that. Good idea.

#7

Steve Featherkile said:

Ken Brunt said:

I like that idea of clamping the square in there too…nifty…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I didn’t see that. Good idea.

Hehe… Every now and then I get a good one…

#8

Next, I cut some doors out of the siding pieces. I was going to use thinner stock, but noticed that the doors on an AMS boxcar are just as thick as my siding. They’re pretty blah to start.

I just happened to have an Ozark Miniatures door hardware pack and use that to beef up the doors. Some styrene strips complete the look.

I do have some thinner siding that I decide to use for the roof. I cut them to size, apply some glue and weights and let it dry. Putting is upside down lets me see how even it is.

Once that side is dry, I do the other side. This time I use masking tape to hold it in place.

#9

Coming along nicely Bruce, Like the doors.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#10

And the doors are glues in place…

In the meantime, I had put the roofwalk supports in place as well.

The doors are non-functioning…

#11

nice work, as usual… (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-sealed.gif)

#12

On the real deal, would that outside framing on the door be steel angle? looks like it is going to make for an attractive and sturdy car.

#13

Looking good so far! Do you hand cut your roof walk supports, or do you have a source?

#14

Forrest Scott Wood said:

On the real deal, would that outside framing on the door be steel angle? looks like it is going to make for an attractive and sturdy car.

I suspect it would. I have some angle, but don’t know why I didn’t use it. Of course once it’s all painted it really won’t matter much.

#15

Daktah John said:

Looking good so far! Do you hand cut your roof walk supports, or do you have a source?

I wish I had a source. I had a few that looked like they were laser cut, but can’t remember where I got them. The angle was off a bit; I should have used THAT angle for the end pieces.

I made the others, but haven’t come up with any good way to make them.

#16

Thanks Bruce. I’ve only attempted cutting them for one car using 3mm PVC sheet. I cheated and drew them on the computer just slightly over-size, then printed a bunch on adhesive paper. I was able to use the cut lines to chop them with a utility knife and got pretty fair results.

This might be a great part to have printed – maybe a half dozen or more on a a tree.

#17

When I build my styrene cars, I just used one long styrene strip over two square ones at either end; a method pioneered by Gary Buchanan. It works quite well and you don’t have to cut any angles.

Looks good too, but I didn’t feel that the wood would melt together like styrene does.

#18

Hey, that works. Will have to make a note of that method.

#19

Bruce, I did that on my wooden boxcars. Here I thought that maybe I was cheating.

#20

I cut some basswood strips to approximately 3" x 3" scale, drilled some holes and bent some brass rod for the ladders.

I used some of the boxcar parts from Ozark (though they are WAY too short!) and added the trim on the sides.

Bent some rod for the lift bars and finished up the ends.

I’ll let it all dry, then I think I’m ready to start painting.