[wildbill001]

RE: Making own rollong stock

I'll second the Sidestreet Bannerworks plans. I've been collecting them for years and have almost finished my first set of cattle cars. I build in wood, which is what I am most comfortable with. My only complaint, and it is a really minor one, is that the lines in the plans are sometimes different thicknesses. This can lead to errors in measuring and fit. I would definitely advise using a trail-n-error approach to cutting and fitting pieces. Cut a smidge longer than the plan and trim as necessary.

BTW, smidge is a highly technical term--use with caution.

Bill

 

[wildbill001]

RE: Making own rollong stock

One often overlooked benefit to doing a "build it yourself" or a scratchbuild: You can quite often save thousands over psychiatrist bills

I'm building two cattle cars based on GR plans. Been working on them for several months. It's taken severall months for a few reasons:
1) I had to clear a space in my workshop, er, garage. Not a simple task unfortunately.

2) I hadn't made any models since I was a kid so I had to assemble some tools - about $20 for glue, tweezers, forceps, etc.
3) Actually assembly time - I'd work sometimes for 5min in an evening sometimes for 5 hours depending on what was on TV, "Honey-DOs", and my own state of mind.


I'm doing it not so much to save money but to give my mind a chance to relax and do something besides think about computer problems/software which it does the rest of my waking hours.

FWIW, my cattle cars have cost me about $20 ea in materials, paint, etc. for just the bodies. BUT, I bought my balsa in bulk so I have lots left over for the next set of cars. I built the archbar trucks just to see if I could and will be using metal Bachmann wheels. So total cost about $35-40 for each car. But they are mine, they are signed and dated, and already the grandkids want them for their room. THAT makes them priceless to me.


Bill

 

[wildbill001]

Does anyone happen to know where I might find a picture of the Charles Ro truck, #R2030, that is mentioned above? Is it about the same size as a Bachmann or Aristo or ???

When I go to the website, it does now show a picture.

Thanks!


Bill