Wagontop cabooses

[Triplex]

I'm not a caboose expert. I can't tell most railroads' cabooses apart. But there are a number of oddities I know. I have a liking for MILW ribside bay windows, B&O wagontops, and L&N short bay windows. (Why is it always bay windows?)


Anyway, how long did the wagontops last?

[skipgear]

The first was class I-5A #c-2501, rebuilt from a wrecked I-5 center cupola caboose. It was built as a test car in 1936. There was 1 more I-5B built in 1936, then 5 more built after that in 1939, all from wrecked I-5's.

The I-12 was the next wagontop built. 100 numbering c2400-C2499 were built in 1941-42. 25 more were built in 1945 numbering c2800-c2824.

The cars lasted into the 80's with a renumbering of remaning cars in 1982 to 902403-902499 and 902800-902824.

I've shown this before in the shows your equipment thread but here is a shot of the I-12 that I built.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1205/thumbs/B_OWagontop7.jpg (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/38540)

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1205/thumbs/B_OWagontop9.jpg (http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/12175)

[skipgear]

JNJ announced in an e-mail today that their resin wagontop caboose kit is ready to ship. No details on price or pictures available yet.

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

Tony - is that JnJ kit N scale (I hope)?

[skipgear]

Yes, sorry, forgot to mention that it is N scale.

[BnO_Hendo]

Funny, it's listed on their website, but you can't access it. Where did you order yours from?

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

I got my caboose kit from JnJ today - it looks like it will be great when it's finished. But now I need help - I can't find B&O decals for this - and not owning an Alps printer, sure can't make my own. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

Working on my JnJ wagontop a little this weekend. Picked up a set of Micro-Trains 003 02 140 Bettendorf Swing Motion Caboose Trucks. Mounted the trucks and discovered that the flanges on the wheels are too big for Atlas Code 55 track! Oh well. Had the guye at the local hobby shop trying to help me figure out what to do about decals for this - no answers yet. Need to figure out what couplers to mount on this...

[Tim Loutzenhiser]

Stopped by the local hobby shop yesterday afternoon and we tried the Micro-Trains 1015-1 Assembled Universal Mount Couplers. They fit right on the pin on the chassis.
Now I need to get an OptiVisor and some really small needle nose pliers so I can get started on bending the etched meal parts...

[skipgear]

I just got an e-mail from JNJ tonight that the next production of the N scale Wagon Tops is finally in process. Soon as I my kit's arrive at the shop I will finalize a decal sheet for them. I have everything drawn up but I want to confirm that the scale size will actually fit the caboose before printing them.

[marty coil]

ER....Not a JNJ...but my attemt using a coupla caboose and sanding my knuckles off.....

http://www.scalerailsonline.com/images/Galleries/martyscustomn/2102/DSCF0325.jpg

[BoxcabE50]

Nice work, Marty! Must have been a few loooong hours for that sanding.

Boxcab E50

[skipgear]

Here is a shot of the JNJ kit in process.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1205/Paint_and_End_Rails_1.jpg

I'm really impressed with the quality of the resin casting and the photo etch parts.

[N&W]

Wow, the kit's available?

Sure are keeping it a secret!

Looking good!

[OC Engineer JD]

That is a great looking casting! Going to make an excellent model! :)

[Sizemore]

Here is a shot of the JNJ kit in process.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1205/Paint_and_End_Rails_1.jpg

I'm really impressed with the quality of the resin casting and the photo etch parts.

Thats friggin gorgeous! I think I'll have to add a couple to the caboose fleet!! Currently I'm converting some Model Power baywindow cabeese to a simple B&O representation. I'll post some pics later this weekend.

T

[skipgear]

The JNJ kit built, decals are in process.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1205/Assembled_1.jpg

While I'm at it, another project I am working on for a trainboard member:

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/1724/B_O_Napanee_5.jpg

I have built one of these before using photo etch sides but now that I am into this one, I think I want to find another Rowa car and build a plastic one like this.

The car I built a year or so ago:

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/558/B_O_Wawanee2.jpg

I need to at least redo the antenna. I also want to add grabs and cut levers.

[CP&E 3207]

Thats quality work there, Marty.
Tony, that kit your getting started on looks great. A nice, clean body very good detailing.
I wish I wasn't born so late that the earliest railroading I can remember were Chessie & CSX SD40-2's/SD50's/C30-7's pulling coal trains to Grafton WV on the Cowen Sub.......Circa 1989-91....no cabooses, much less Wagontops.

[fjack12134]

The latest run of JnJ I_12 have arrived . I received mine yesterday. What's the latest on decals for these kits?
Thanks
Bigsix

[skipgear]

The sheet layout is complete. I am waiting on another member here and a customer at the shop I work at to get his Alps fixed so we can start printing. He has a couple printers for spare parts. Just needs to get things straightened out. I have considered Microscale or a few other of the smaller printers but I just don't have the spare cash to sink into a big run of these at the moment in hopes that they sell and I can recover my money.

[fjack12134]

Tont
If you would please keep me in mind I will need six sets.
Thank
Fred JacksoConway, SC

[fjack12134]

Skipgear
Hate to be a pest, but what paint did you use to simulate the Devil's Red?

[skipgear]

The red on the caboose, if I remember correctly, is Model Master Insignia Red. It was the best thing I could find. PolyScale Caboose red was close but not quite there. It is also important to use a white primer under the red to help bring the color out.

[fjack12134]

Hey Tony
A couple of questions if you don't mind?

You mentioned your shop in a couple of messages, what is your shops name and where are you located?

Are you planning to attend the n-scale convention in Louisville?
Reason for asking is I live out in the swamps here in South Carolina and finding anything for the B&O is hard. My nearest RR is the Carolina Southern, which runs from Chadburn, NC to Conway, SC

[skipgear]

I work at HobbyTown USA in Cincinnati. I will be at the convention but only as a spectator.

I try to keep a decent amount of B&O, C&O and other roads that served the area in the shop.

As far as the decals go, I an still waiting on John to get the printer opperational. He has all the files so it is now up to him. I'm still considering approaching MicroScale with them. I think the sheet I have come up with would cover a lot of missing graphics.

[fjack12134]

Hope to run into you there, I'll be spending my time with the three modules from the Grand Stran Western club from Myrtle Beach, SC. Thanks for the update on the decals. I can only guess on the amount of time a project like that can take.
Thanks
Fred Jackson