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As I mentioned in the Public Forum last week, here is information concerning the Playmobil double tip bucket ore car that I purchased at Watts train shop. The car cost just under $30, so I thought I could convert it from a toy to a model without too much trouble.
The first view shows how the car would look when assembled per the manufacturer's instructions.
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The second view shows the car after I removed the buffers and the coupler hooks. I saved the buffers. They will make nice lunch counter stool seats. I had also replaced the stock wheels with Gary Raymond steel wheels by this time.
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I found that Kadee 779 couplers would mount to this car, so I cut away the coupler loops and the buffer mounts to clear the 779 couplers. Then I mounted the 779 couplers. The car is short enough to handle body-mount couplers on fairly tight curves. Next I added a car number, weathered the carbody and added a spare LGB brake wheel. I sanded the graphics off the tip bucket frames and the tip buckets with disposable nail files. I sprayed the tip bucket frames and buckets with gray primer.
I found a spray can of Rust-Oleum American Accents Cinnamon at the A.C. Moore craft store. It had a satin finish, but it did look like a good industrial base color. I decided the weathering would dull it down, and it did. Once everything was painted and weathered, I lubricated the bucket trunnions with a mixture of Labelle 107 oil and graphite (lock lubricant). I put a drop of oil on a Q-tip, then dip it into a small pile of graphite, then spread the mixture around each trunnion.
Anyway, here is the finished car. I did not add grab irons, as I decided riding this kind of car would be too dangerous. My rules book states the end steps may only be used when the car is stationary.
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Have fun,
David Meashey
The first view shows how the car would look when assembled per the manufacturer's instructions.
The second view shows the car after I removed the buffers and the coupler hooks. I saved the buffers. They will make nice lunch counter stool seats. I had also replaced the stock wheels with Gary Raymond steel wheels by this time.
I found that Kadee 779 couplers would mount to this car, so I cut away the coupler loops and the buffer mounts to clear the 779 couplers. Then I mounted the 779 couplers. The car is short enough to handle body-mount couplers on fairly tight curves. Next I added a car number, weathered the carbody and added a spare LGB brake wheel. I sanded the graphics off the tip bucket frames and the tip buckets with disposable nail files. I sprayed the tip bucket frames and buckets with gray primer.
I found a spray can of Rust-Oleum American Accents Cinnamon at the A.C. Moore craft store. It had a satin finish, but it did look like a good industrial base color. I decided the weathering would dull it down, and it did. Once everything was painted and weathered, I lubricated the bucket trunnions with a mixture of Labelle 107 oil and graphite (lock lubricant). I put a drop of oil on a Q-tip, then dip it into a small pile of graphite, then spread the mixture around each trunnion.
Anyway, here is the finished car. I did not add grab irons, as I decided riding this kind of car would be too dangerous. My rules book states the end steps may only be used when the car is stationary.
Have fun,
David Meashey
