Nicely done!

Where did you ever find one of those kits??!!??  Have not seen one of those of the bay window version for several years.....  Serious kit envy,

It's not a kit, I built it up from scratch. My first foray into building an O scale pattern, pouring RTV, then casting in resin. Up until now all my pattern efforts have been in 5" scale. Thanks for the encouragement!

Chris

that's cool!

So did you use a boxcar as a jig for the mold?

AG.

I obtained drawings for the car from our archives in Portola and made the patterns up from styrene. I would like to modify the patterns to build a Pullman boxcar, but that may have to wait a while...

Outstanding!!!!

Some one had made resin kits of these cabooses in the past and you totally fooled me into thinking you had one of those!

If you want to sell a few sets of sides, ends, etc. and enough info to build this as a kit, I think you'll have a few takers right here,

Thanks! I have considered selling complete cars, or just the sides and ends. I am going to finish up this "pilot" model and work out the kinks. I also need to find a good photoetching place for the brass parts.

I have about half of one of those old kits, been meaning to build up another side and try to get one together.  If you start making kits, full or partial, I sure could use one.

Chris,

Beautiful model, can't wait to see it finished. I have been wanting to try resin for a cab too but I am chicken. What brand of casting resin/RTV did you use?

Keep the progress photos coming.

Malcolm

Malcolm,

Any time you want some help on getting started on resin casting, just shoot me a note - you already have my e-mail address.

I used Bluestar V-340 RTV from Miapoxy.

Not real happy with the resin I used, a friend has recommended Burman Industries TC-1630.

What I did use was cheaper, but I experienced some amount of warpage due to the thin section of the cast.  I was able to straighten it with ribbing but I would rather pay more and have straight castings.

Chris

Interesting recommendation - that's a lot of resin!!  I'm always looking for different resin to "play" with in the shop.  I'd need to pull out a lot of molds to get my investment back out of that amount.

What was the stuff you were unhappy with using?

I used Alumilite Super Plastic, which handles great and would likely work well for thicker castings.  I don't anticipate any problems straightening them, just a bit of a pain...

I am going to call Burman eventually and see if they offer their resin in smaller quantities. That would be a lifetime supply for me.

Thanks for the input!

Chris

Ok, I moved away from Alumilite resins years ago primarily since the working time was so short with their products.

I read above that you used the Miapoxy RTV; I use a good bit of their resins (Freeman) and have found them suitable for the kits that I've produced.  6 min working time and smaller amounts than gallon sizes, too.

I am still shopping around for someone who does brass etching in small quantities...any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Chris

Crummy cellphone picture (pun intended) of the painted model. I am still waiting on some photo etching to complete the steps and ladders. I used some of Norm's fine Protocraft decals as well as some of my own to finish it off, modeled circa 1940. The trucks are modified Andrews from San Juan with Grandt elliptical springs, by my friend Paul Zaborsky. Time to take a break and work on some big train parts for a while.

Chris,

It looks great! You have inspired me to think about casting myself.

Great work!

Malcolm

That is some great modeling and craftsmanship, great work.

Very nicely done. Thanks for posting the shots of progress.

Great looking model Chris.  Speaking of the TS, I took this picture one cold Janurary day in Modesto.  It had been retired and when I went back to get better pictures in the early morning, it was gone.  It had been replaced by a 1955 model steel bay window.  That caboose lived on in memory for yrs though, the conductor used that number to call the office via radio to get car info while doing the local work.  The caboose 308 replaced was lettered Tidewater Southern and it had the tender steps like yours IIRC.  Still any thought on selling a limited # of kits?

Greg

Hey Chris,

  Nice work!  Been a long time since bridge building at the JT&S!

Welcome to the forum and keep in touch.

JZ

Interesting.   Thank you for posting   One of my extended (time) projects is a Mullet River caboose kit.   There are some very nice brass etching in this kit.  I'm not sure how they get done, but they are relatively easy to work-with.  The Mullet River kit is laser cut composite/wood in addition to the brass.  Note: There are tools required for bending, applying rivet detail, and assembling the brass.  Your pictures show some great detail, indicating you have some very good tools and skills. Thanks again  Best wishes Mike.    

I haven't decided if I want to put this out as a kit, or finished models just yet. The only problem with a kit is writing the instructions.

First thing O scale modelers do with instructions is to place them firmly in the trash can and then go build the kit the way they think it's supposed to be built,

I'd actually be happy to just get a set of the castings!

"First thing O scale modelers do with instructions is to place them firmly in the trash can and then go build the kit the way they think it's supposed to be built, "

Being somewhat dyslexic and never a real fan on instruction I tend to agree.

The Mullet River kit on my desk, has (8) pages of detailed drawings with notes. And (4) pages (14 steps) of written assembly instruction.  There were additional instruction on the website about using a bending brake to create the angled pieces from the flat stock etched brass.  This model was complexed to the degree I shelved-it and have just recently returned to it.  Probably an issue of any high detail kit offered. 

I admit to having built one of Martin's kits.  I thought the instructions to be very good.  Mike

Thank you.  I always thought they might be too long........

Some of the largest,, best known railroads, have the most boring cabooses.  (Uh, not this one) I wonder if this WePac caboose had any side door or combine, frieght door variations?  Third Rail's brass U.P. caboose was modeled as the two variations, in two colors.  I had that problem with Mullet River, which seemed to select just those prototypes, perhaps a teensy more exciting than a Northeastern.   Every time I'd see Mullet River set up at an O scale show, I'd go through the list....I think they finally got one side door on their roster, but I haven't acquired one yet.  I would like something different from Bob Peare's 1940's kits, but Peare is still the only source for a variety, so provides fodder for kit bashes.

Finally finished my "pilot model". Turned out fairly nice, now I need to build one to sell at O Scale West. Unfortunately the Andrews trucks are not currently available from San Juan, at least for the moment. Hopefully that will change once he gets the molding issues worked out. Thanks for all of your encouragement and kind comments! - Chris

Absolutely STUNNING!!!!!!!

Malcolm

Chris,

Check the Caboose Hobbies website, they might have Andrews trucks.

ChipR

 Ted Schnepf at Rails Unlimited posted in another forum that he had some San Juan Andrews trucks still.

Charlie

Verry nice!

Larry

Wow, what a stunner of a piece. Love anything WP! Superb craftsmanship, Chris.

Finished a few more to sell at O Scale West next month. Hopefully someone takes a liking to them. Still need to build a TS car for myself...

Great looking cabooses!!!! the word is CRAFTSMANSHIP!

Thanks! Some days building is the only way I can stay sane! My wife's cutter plotter used mostly for scrapbooking worked out well for the white vinyl end striping.

I also built a couple of San Juan cars for a friend with some decals I made up for the as-delivered lettering:

Thanks to Rail Graphics for the superb job of printing and excellent service!

Very nice.