A scratch built DSP&P Waycar (caboose)

[nkp174]

Roof is nearly completed now. I worked a little yesterday and as soon as I got home from work today. I first cleaned the clay off of the car's parts...I'd used the clay over a week ago to hold the sign boards as I glued them the end pieces in place. A little clay got in the way of one of the joints...so I finished it up yesterday (my Bears' poor game encouraged me to work on trains instead of watch the New Jersey Giants-Philly Eagles game). In the future, I'll just use clips as the clay was a mess. Note: I added a temporary stiffening piece to bend the sides back to square...the sides were bowing out...I think I added that before the windows...but I don't remember.

So next I glued a pair of supports above the window panes. These are to reinforce the top of the car as well as to firmly anchor the roof supports. I had to slightly file one side to fit. I used spacers to match the roof support elevation with the end pieces (they sit 0.040" above the bottom of the roof assembly). I then filed notches into the top of the sides midway between the 4 roof supports...added styrene stiffeners...and added roof supports to these.

It was now time to re-boil the roof to the right degree of curvature. After much time molding it...I noticed that the roof was too short for the roof frame I don't know if it is something along the lines of poisson's law or what. So on to roof plan B

I took a piece of 0.010" thick sheet styrene and cut it to size...approximately 2"x4.12". I then glued one edge to one edge of the roof frame. After it had dried for 30mins...I then bent it the rest of the way around the frame. Here's the pics...

[nkp174]

quasi-completed

[bigsteel]

fantastic work nkp174 .thats a level of craftsmanship i could never acheive scrtchbuilding! great job,can wait to see it finished.--josh

[nkp174]

Originally Posted by bigsteel

fantastic work nkp174 .thats a level of craftsmanship i could never acheive scrtchbuilding! great job,can wait to see it finished.--josh

You just need to try your hand at it.

The first time I scratch built a frame...it was crooked. The first time I scratch built caboose windows...it was far more tedious and they weren't as good. Both of those parts were for an NKP caboose in HO scale. I've found that by screwing up...I find better ways to do things...and that I do a better job of picking up on other peoples tips.

I've decided that the greatest limitations that we have in model building are tools and knowledge of construction techniques. I've learned to trash parts which I don't like.

[nkp174]

Nothing quite like the resin parts that make me go yuck! So, I sent most of them to where they belong...

I made my own running gear parts and took the car for a test ride. I'm pleased! I still need to make the brake parts.

[tetters]

Holy snap! I don't know why I didn't see this build until now. That is just awesome.

[nachoman]

that's some good modeling. Maybe one of these days, you will get one of your projects completed! I bet your workbench looked like mine did a few months ago - a dozen projects between 50 and 90 percent completed That was until I decided to finish projects I had already started rather than buy more new stuff

Kevin

[ocalicreek]

Excellent work! I've kitbashed and scratchbuilt structures partly because, well, they don't have to roll! But you've done a great job and what you've acheived, completed or not, is still an accomplishment. This from a fellow modeler fitting Kevin's description...more than a few incomplete kits & projects lying around. I wish I had his fortitude & stick-to-it-iveness!

[nkp174]

Yep, incomplete projects are a part of my life. The thing is, I shuffle my projects. Whenever I get frustrated with one...or need to purchase parts...I switch to another. I always switch back in time...and these cars are so cheap that it doesn't matter.

Currently:
-the stock car will be resumed...although I need more #62 NBWs.
-one of the gondolas needs stake pockets, the other needs paint.
-the 27' boxcar needs me to derive the 2nd generation of working door hardware
-the passenger car needs me to make more of the new carlines
-the ore car needs me to decide on how to design a few of the details.
-both flat cars are progressing nicely.

Thank you for the compliments.

Michael