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I just finished my latest project â€" a much-needed 2nd caboose for the Dulles & Reston Garden Weeds Railroad. On eBay, I was lucky enough to score a Hartford laser-cut wood craftsman-type kit for a D&RGW (coincidence? â€" I think not…) “longâ€� caboose. This is the second Hartford caboose I’ve built â€" I did a Hobart Estates logging caboose a while back. (If you’d like to see it â€" just click on my name below and go to the “Rolling Stockâ€� drop-down menu and look at “Hartford’s logging caboose.â€�)
Building it was challenging and fun. It’s bigger than the logging caboose, but I did not include an interior this time, so the amount of work was about the same for both. As typical with Hartford kits, there isn’t much that needs to be added to the stock model but, being true to my nature, I did add some extra stuff.
Here are the “builder’s photos� first:
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… and some “quarter-shots� from both ends:
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The biggest additions, I guess, were the working cut-levers and the piping, hoses and “glad-hands� for the air brakes. I also added some working marker lamps. (They get power from a rechargeable 7.4v DC lithium-ion battery pack, like the ones I used in my Jackson & Sharp coaches.) Oh yeah, I strung a safety chain between the platform stanchions and added thresholds and brass lock plates for the doors.
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I used my masking tape and Krazy Glue method to simulate a tar paper roof. And, rather than using the supplied eye-bolts, I soldered the middle supports to all the angled grab-irons on the cupola roof and cabin ends.
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The 1:20.3 scale marker lamp castings are from Trackside Details. I used the ends of colored plastic push buttons (for lighted switches) to simulate the fresnel lenses â€" I thank my friend Roger Cutter for that little trick.
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Since there’s no interior detail, I frosted the inside of the window glazing with some Testor’s Dull Cote to let light shine through from the opposite side. The beautiful decals are, once again, from MLS'er Stan Cedarleaf.
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The window shades are just thin brass strip, about 5mm wide, with ends cut to a 90° point, then bent over at a right angle. Gel-type CA glue holds them at the top of the window frames.
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Here’s a shot of the under-side showing the air brake piping. The rest of the brake rigging and truss-rod detail is stock from the kit.
This pretty much fills out my roster of freight-related rolling stock. Until I get some more storage room (which isn't likely,) I don’t think I’ll have many more freight car projects after this. I’ll just be upgrading and replacing stuff from now on. After all, I’ve got to get busy and start laying some track in the backyard for them to run on.
As usual, your questions and comments are welcome. Meanwhile, I hope y’all have a safe, fun and productive summer.
Building it was challenging and fun. It’s bigger than the logging caboose, but I did not include an interior this time, so the amount of work was about the same for both. As typical with Hartford kits, there isn’t much that needs to be added to the stock model but, being true to my nature, I did add some extra stuff.
Here are the “builder’s photos� first:
… and some “quarter-shots� from both ends:
The biggest additions, I guess, were the working cut-levers and the piping, hoses and “glad-hands� for the air brakes. I also added some working marker lamps. (They get power from a rechargeable 7.4v DC lithium-ion battery pack, like the ones I used in my Jackson & Sharp coaches.) Oh yeah, I strung a safety chain between the platform stanchions and added thresholds and brass lock plates for the doors.
I used my masking tape and Krazy Glue method to simulate a tar paper roof. And, rather than using the supplied eye-bolts, I soldered the middle supports to all the angled grab-irons on the cupola roof and cabin ends.
The 1:20.3 scale marker lamp castings are from Trackside Details. I used the ends of colored plastic push buttons (for lighted switches) to simulate the fresnel lenses â€" I thank my friend Roger Cutter for that little trick.
Since there’s no interior detail, I frosted the inside of the window glazing with some Testor’s Dull Cote to let light shine through from the opposite side. The beautiful decals are, once again, from MLS'er Stan Cedarleaf.
The window shades are just thin brass strip, about 5mm wide, with ends cut to a 90° point, then bent over at a right angle. Gel-type CA glue holds them at the top of the window frames.
Here’s a shot of the under-side showing the air brake piping. The rest of the brake rigging and truss-rod detail is stock from the kit.
This pretty much fills out my roster of freight-related rolling stock. Until I get some more storage room (which isn't likely,) I don’t think I’ll have many more freight car projects after this. I’ll just be upgrading and replacing stuff from now on. After all, I’ve got to get busy and start laying some track in the backyard for them to run on.
As usual, your questions and comments are welcome. Meanwhile, I hope y’all have a safe, fun and productive summer.
