Santa Fe Caboose Project

A few days ago, I started a scratchbuild/detail project on a Bachmann HO wide vision caboose. I've made some modifications so it is closer to prototype. Windows have been filled in to match a CE-11 Class caboose. Some things I won't change are the offset cupola should be centered, and the roof pattern is different on the prototype. The interior is scratchbuilt from plastic containers cut up.
Here is the caboose before starting. End of day one.

Window gaskets.

End of day two with my schematics for what details I will add. The old paint has been stripped off as well. The bare shell is visible at the foot of a dinosaur coin bank.

This is the interior built out of a strawberry container lid. Some benches still need to be added. The stove is a repurposed drinking straw.

That is my progress so far. This is the end of day three of the build. I will continue to post my progress here, even if it takes a few days for me to get to it. Below is a photo of the prototype.

Happy Railroading!

 

Here is today's progress:
All the holes for grab irons have been drilled on the shell. All have been dry fitted. The curved and end rails are shaped by hand.
I finished day four. The interior is finished with weights glued behind the cupola seat towers. It weighs a little over an ounce. The weights that were in the car originally weighed 2 ounces. I think the detail is a good trade off. I am looking into rebuilding the floor of the car with upgraded brake equipment and getting etched steps for the end platforms.

 

I forgot to post yesterday, so before I do any work today, I'll give an update on yesterday's work.

Yesterday I painted the interior details and the inside walls of the shell a green color I matched to prototype photos the best I could. I used Burlington Northern Cascade Green in a white base. I found some photos on osagecityareahps.embarqspace.com.
The color I made is more green than this turquoise appearing color.
Here is everything after airbrushing, and this is the car interior with details painted.
One of the seats broke off, and a bench of another, so I will repair those today. The missing parts are clearly visible in the foreground.

 

Today I cut up the frame, looking to salvage the frame bolsters and end steps.
The end step sides were cut at an angle, as the prototype is. The inboard side of the steps still has part of the vertical side attached in anticipation for side sills being attached.
The window gaskets were airbrushed aluminum, and some of the grab irons white. The rest will be red like the body.

 

Thanks for the advice. I was worried about the same thing. They feel like they are not exactly flat; they bow slightly in. I will fill them again and sand accordingly.

 

Amazing work! I wish I had your patience!

 

I worked on the underframe of the car today. I also did some other small details on the end platforms.
I added some ribs on the underside and the two main support beams down the center between the bolsters. It is kind of shadowy, but there are also two triangular brackets on the ends too. Barely visible on the end of the roof on the bottom is a triangular plate that a tail light would be attached to. I will get some better pictures when I work on the end platforms.

 

Are you reusing the original floor of the car, or is that a new floor you are building?

Thanks,

 

Looking very nice; it's going to be a showcase piece when done

 

I cut up the floor for the end steps and the frame bolsters. The rest is being built out of strips of plastic.

 

Thanks subwayaz, I hope it turns out good as well.

 

I really respect the fact that you are going all in to model this caboose. Pushing yourself like this to get it right elevates your game for this and every model you build in the future. The little details that you're modeling - angled steps, straight carbody sides, gaskets, interior - all indicate some serious studying of the prototype. These are some of my favorite cabooses and I look forward to the rest of the build all the way to the finish.

 

Thanks guys for the inspiration, it's great that you like it. I'm not done today, but I'll post progress anyways. Work today was on the end platforms and steps. I need to make the other end, so posting twice today would be pointless.
I completely cut off the steps that were molded on the deck and rebuilt them. Looking at photos, they seemed to be closer to the ground than the ones already on it. The steps have holes poked in them by a pin to simulate etched steps. The Plano ones I was thinking about purchasing only appear to have two steps and the deck, while the prototype has three steps. The roof piece I was talking about on the previous update is easily visible now.

 

The Moloco step kit is quite good. You might find that you like it if you get your hands on one. I like the fact that it's made of styrene, which makes it easy to assemble with liquid cement. What you've done with this transparent material is impressive.