Not even close. The window and cupola placement is waaaay off. The MT wooden caboose is closer but still lacking.
John, The MT caboose can be bashed into the correct GN/SP&S prototypes. I cut out the sides and saved the window castings. These were put into new styrene sides for correct placement on the 30 foot caboose. The cupola then needs moved toward the center. And lastly the ladders need to be moved to the left side with new squared off GN style top (One missing in photo). A 24 foot GN style can also be made as in the prior photo I posted. Custom decals were made to represent the older paint scheme. These were fairly easy, but still attempting the wood bay window versions. Rick
Nice job, Rick. I have been wanting to model the 880-891 series steel caboose as well. I have made a couple of swipes at it, but just can't nail it.
Just a shot of some of the roster. Since I have had to put a layout on hold pending my move back to the midwest, these haven't seen any action other than the test track. I am especially fond of the Life Like RS-2's (had the Atlas RS-3's but they are a pain to DCC and the Life Likes are DCC ready and run great). The Life Like FA-2 is from the last run. The only engine not custom painted is the Life Like C424. Note the token EMD engine (and the only non-Life-Like) thrown in the mix....
John, Quality paint work there! Good to hear about the Life Like RS2 performance. I never purchased these as have a few Kato RS2s already. These were drop in decoders too. The Atlas RS3 is not too bad to do with the new split board decoders. I built a few of the 890 series caboose, but they never made it to the paint booth. I should look back to finish these. I mostly model the older paint schemes. A bit more difficult to paint. Here is a Kato NW2 in as delivered. Rick
Sure is nice to see these modeling efforts. I have been surprised that we do not see more. Note that we also have available our Fallen Flags area, open for SP&S history discussions!
I will have to confess that the paint jobs are not mine. When it comes to shells that are difficult to get replacements for, I entrust that work to guys that do it frequently. I stick to painting Atlas engines because if I screw up I can get a replacement and try again....LOL! I look forward to seeing your work on the 890 series. You aren't by any chance the gentleman who had listed the nice GN custom caboose jobs on Ebay a while back are you?
Lovely NW2 NBR, here's mine in a simplified/freelanced scheme scheme. the other two will be in broadstripe, as I've shifted my modeling date to 1964.
Hey BC... been awhile since I last visited this place... and what a Surprise I find: SP&S!! :startled: WOW!!
There is a guy on ebay named Marty Coil that does some pretty good SP&S (and WP) kitbash/scratch builds that he sells.
Marty is a member here. He's done scads of cabooses, and shown many of them to us. Some real rare stuff most of us would never see in N scale.
I've seen Marty's work on Ebay, but the one I refer to was not Marty. He had four listed at $130 a pop. Really nice work, just out of my price range. Here is a link to one of the auctions. He seems to re-list from time to time. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CUSTOM-MTL-...Caboose-Diesel-Era-X218-N-SCALE-/321256334576
John, No I have never sold any of my cabeese, but have done a few structures. #750, NW2 looks good in pin stripes. Here is a couple more. First one is another second hand 24 foot GN style. SP&S had a few of these too. Its a MT kitbash again. These are pretty easy to work with. Again new sides with original windows moved to proper places. ladders moved to left with new curved wire handrails. I thought the safety decal on the end railing a nice touch. Second is an old Roco caboose turned into a MOW. Notice no roofwalks or end ladders and boarded over cupola windows. I should have switched the couplers, but this was sold to a friend as is with a whole set of MOW cars. I really like this part of the hobby. I will admit to the NW2 was not painted by me. Jim Vaughn did this excellent work. He has a website for custom painting. Thanks, Rick
I'm curious on how you made that safety sign, I feel it would boost the character on my few SP&S cabeese. would you mind giving me some tips or hints on how to do that?
The decals were custom done by Echo Mountain here in Portland. Jim Oliver , 503-246-4403. They do add a NW feel to the cabeese. Are you coming down for the SP&S swap this Saturday? At the Holiday Inn on NE Columbia, Portland. It does conflict with the Monroe show, but we will have quite a few tables with N scale for sale. We will also be at the Meet N March at the end of that month.
Unfortunately I will not even though I gave work two weeks notice, they did not give me the weekend off.
Some of my SP&S motive power. The E7 is a stock (save for the horn) Lowell Smith unit with a DCC/sound chassis. The others are custom jobs. I prefer the "tiger stripe" scheme to the "broad stripe scheme. I have the Lowell Smith RS3 and a custom NW2 on order through the Hobby Smith.
John, who did the FA/FB paint.........I have an undecorated LL set I want to get painted like that. I have the LL FA2/FB2 in the "as delivered" scheme, and a set I painted in broadstripe, plus a set I did in the experimental scheme (857 & 202). But the masking on those are straight lines........I don't do curves very well, so I'm looking to let someone else do the curved nose designs. I agree with you and the tigerstripe is my favorite scheme.
