12-05-2021, 09:34 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2021, 09:35 PM by nordk.
Edit Reason: typo
)
Hello everyone! I've been lurking on Big Blue for a while as I've gotten back into modeling, and I would like to share my current project in HO.
At a trainshow today I found a pair of Redball cardboard carsides printed for the Michigan Alkali Company, and purchased them out of curiosity thinking that I might be able to do something with them eventually. A plan began to develop when arrived home and rediscovered a bag of Mantua reefer parts in the junk box that I had previously purchased (and forgotten about). Both are 40' wood reefers, and between the two of them I have the better part of a car, so I figured I would attempt to make something out of a couple bits of almost-somethings.
Here is what I have to work with:
![[Image: 20211205_144104.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/agf165ljecdw87r/20211205_144104.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_144122.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/bczrna3cbxojwy7/20211205_144122.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_150755.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ikx3wdsl57osopi/20211205_150755.jpg?dl=1)
The cardboard sides are going to need bracing and support that the metal car's missing sides never needed, so the first order of business is to construct a a carbody to support and hold everything together. Using the underframe as a guide, I trimmed out the length and width of the car from 1/4" Basswood sheet to form the floor of the carbody. A test-fit revealed I was about 1/8"over-zealous with the razor saw, but a stripwood shim brought everything back into alignment. I then drilled holes in the carbody floor in-line with the bolsters on the underframe.
![[Image: 20211205_150723.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/135n7ycmzxbmscr/20211205_150723.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_152029.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/4fef83fz7nvtxs4/20211205_152029.jpg?dl=1)
At first I thought couplers might present a problem. The original coupler boxes are missing from the bagĀ o' parts, but cutting the underframe down to make room for Kadee boxes would make aligning the car ends a more finicky process. Through some trial and error I found that a Kadee No. 213 box is just about the right size and shape to fit, and with some MDC trucks from the truck bin this car will at least roll right.
![[Image: 20211205_152704.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/jrjbabavck0xkxw/20211205_152704.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_152633.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ovk2xkpkz2e6pgo/20211205_152633.jpg?dl=1)
With this project now looking quite feasible, I cleaned the metal reefer parts to prep them for some painting touch ups. I elected to keep the oxide red as it's plausible and I wasn't able to find any prototype information on Michigan Alkali's cars other than some lettering specifications. With that drying I turned my attention to bracing for the carsides, which I cut to length from 1/2" square stock and glued to the floor of the carbody and clamped to ensure a square and snug fit.
![[Image: 20211205_163805.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/p09umvgvqacwaqo/20211205_163805.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_163610.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7bkpcyzemre3t6f/20211205_163610.jpg?dl=1)
At a trainshow today I found a pair of Redball cardboard carsides printed for the Michigan Alkali Company, and purchased them out of curiosity thinking that I might be able to do something with them eventually. A plan began to develop when arrived home and rediscovered a bag of Mantua reefer parts in the junk box that I had previously purchased (and forgotten about). Both are 40' wood reefers, and between the two of them I have the better part of a car, so I figured I would attempt to make something out of a couple bits of almost-somethings.
Here is what I have to work with:
![[Image: 20211205_144104.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/agf165ljecdw87r/20211205_144104.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_144122.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/bczrna3cbxojwy7/20211205_144122.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_150755.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ikx3wdsl57osopi/20211205_150755.jpg?dl=1)
The cardboard sides are going to need bracing and support that the metal car's missing sides never needed, so the first order of business is to construct a a carbody to support and hold everything together. Using the underframe as a guide, I trimmed out the length and width of the car from 1/4" Basswood sheet to form the floor of the carbody. A test-fit revealed I was about 1/8"over-zealous with the razor saw, but a stripwood shim brought everything back into alignment. I then drilled holes in the carbody floor in-line with the bolsters on the underframe.
![[Image: 20211205_150723.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/135n7ycmzxbmscr/20211205_150723.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_152029.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/4fef83fz7nvtxs4/20211205_152029.jpg?dl=1)
At first I thought couplers might present a problem. The original coupler boxes are missing from the bagĀ o' parts, but cutting the underframe down to make room for Kadee boxes would make aligning the car ends a more finicky process. Through some trial and error I found that a Kadee No. 213 box is just about the right size and shape to fit, and with some MDC trucks from the truck bin this car will at least roll right.
![[Image: 20211205_152704.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/jrjbabavck0xkxw/20211205_152704.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_152633.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/ovk2xkpkz2e6pgo/20211205_152633.jpg?dl=1)
With this project now looking quite feasible, I cleaned the metal reefer parts to prep them for some painting touch ups. I elected to keep the oxide red as it's plausible and I wasn't able to find any prototype information on Michigan Alkali's cars other than some lettering specifications. With that drying I turned my attention to bracing for the carsides, which I cut to length from 1/2" square stock and glued to the floor of the carbody and clamped to ensure a square and snug fit.
![[Image: 20211205_163805.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/p09umvgvqacwaqo/20211205_163805.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_163610.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/7bkpcyzemre3t6f/20211205_163610.jpg?dl=1)
![[Image: 20211205_163731.jpg?dl=1]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/wbco63fafxmkosa/20211205_163731.jpg?dl=1)