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I Still go back to John Sethian post about re-detailing the Lionel N5B in March of 2016.  Ever since I saw that I’ve wanted to add some PRR Cabins to my collection.  I have a Penn Central N5B as a candidate but i decided to try the MTH N5C first since it was less of an investment.

I’ve got it started by rebuilding the ends railings. I’m using Tichy NBW and rivet castings along with Tichy .015” and .020” PB wire.  John used brass but I am sticking with the known and using styrene.  This is the re-detailed end railing pictured.  I was disappointed in the thick running boards until I took them off and flipped them over.  They have a raised border on the bottom that can be carved and scraped off as you can see.  They are much  thinner and will look a lot better on the finished model.  The body is in the stripper and I will start on it tomorrow as soon as it is dry.

I’m about to build some shelves in the “sky” of my backdrop for my collection.  I am already fascinated by Penn Central cabins,  might as well as a couple of PRR cabins too.

CAFA8CDD-434B-4693-BBB1-070475F0ABA1

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Last edited by Brother_Love
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Hi Malcolm,

I have always admired your work, and I bet this will one will be exquisite!  Keep us posted on your progress. 

John

By the way, I originally used Protocraft couplers, as their boxes were the only ones small enough to fit between the crash posts. Unfortunately, they would sometimes uncouple from the Kadee on the last car of the train.  Literally leaving the caboose behind.  I found that with some judicious filing I could get a Kadee to fit into the Protocraft box, thus solving the problem.  I left the Protocraft coupler on the rear.

Jonathan, chunky is the word but fortunately the chunky parts come off easily. Thank you

George & Tom, I recently got the Morning Sun book on PC cabins and I cant put it down.  I am about to send Southern fans into orbit as I am painting a b/w cab in the PC scheme. I apologize to them in advance.

HS Curve, I have 2 stripped N8’s also. One will be PC as I am using the train phone antenna on the N5C. I haven’t decided if I am going to fill all those holes on the roof or overlay it with styrene.

John, Thank you for starting this with your beautiful conversion. I have a PC N5B I want to re-detail too but I’m being told i should not strip that model because of its scarcity.  That has never stopped me before.

I’ll post more pics as I get deeper into this.  Thank you all.

Its interesting you removed the chunky handrails yet left the chunky Trainphone antenna supports. You are aware of Brass O scale Trainphone Antenna supports from Bill Davis of American O scale as well as Bowser [Cal Scale]?

Yes, someone else contacted me about them also. I have a set of the Cal Scale on hand but I’m saving them for the N5B.  I just cant justify using them ona $20 caboose.  Thanks

Well after YOU get through modifying the cabin car, it will certainly not be worth $20.00!

Thanks. I decided to splurge and add the brass antenna parts.  I will get those off next week and get them replaced. As they say, “its only money.”

You know, the antenna brackets did not look bad when the cabin was on my desk but the more I study the photos the worse thy look.

Last edited by Brother_Love

5C326A21-54A7-4665-A8C8-1500B96A995BC383F830-1CAA-4D58-A7E1-D2A1E04B0FFFYou guys were right, the scale antenna kit makes a great difference! I drilled out the MTH smokestack too, the crews will appreciate that.

@Brother_Love

That is GREAT work!!!!! Where did you get the scale antenna and the cabin car grab irons including the ones on the cupola roof and the curved ones on the car-body sides for the steps?

Thank you.

Randy Harrison

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