I actually started this project before the challenge started but it seems like an appropriate entry...especially since I don't have anything else in the works right now. If you've been following my blog you know I'm trying to make more realistic cabooses both for my freelanced road and the Penn Central trains I run.

My Spring Bash contest entry will be one of the N8's I'm working on. The N8 cabooses on the Penn Central are former Pennsylvania RR cabins. I'm creating two of them using old Tyco cabooses. I've been holding onto a Railroad Model Craftsman Article from 1970 that describes this conversion that makes a "reasonable looking N8". Here is a proto photo of an N8: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1076248">http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1076248</a><!-- m -->

Here's the classic Tyco caboose (purchased from the back room of my LHS for $2.99).


First step...change the shape of the Tyco caboose so it looks more like an N8. This involves cutting the roof so the cupola can be turned around and centered.

After that I needed to cut the small window so it matched the larger ones and then fill in the center window so there are only two as on the prototype.
I used Green Putty to fill in seams, sanded, and then primed.


A little more sanding and then time to paint the body green...


There seem to have been a variety of paint schemes for PC cabooses...all green roof, all black roof, green cupola on black roof, but it seems that most of the photos of N8s show the latter option. I masked the cupola and painted the rest of the roof black.


Adding decals is next. I needed to purchase some more PC lettering online from Microscale. They just arrived so I'll post pics after that job is finished.

Ralph

I found a few of those cabooses when digging through my junk box last night! I will forgive you for starting early

Woohoo, Ralph! Since your caboose mods were the inspiration which led to the inspiration that started the challenge, it is only proper and fitting that you be in the contest too. I'm glad you threw your hat, er, caboose into the ring.

Thanks guys! Yeah Nachoman, who knew that I'd be pre-coginzant about the next contest before it was even developed!

Here is the N8 decorated in appropriate number and decals. The little sun visors/ window sills on top of the windows were made from pieces I cut from heavy duty staples. The theme of my project is to use as many readily available materials as I can and keep costs down.



I'll be spraying a layer of Dulcoat soon and then will add window glazing. Then I want to focus on the details on the ends of the caboose. Prototype photos (like this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ohiorr.railfan.net/images/pc23207.jpg">http://ohiorr.railfan.net/images/pc23207.jpg</a><!-- m --> ) show the characteristic look of the back of N8s with their two heavy vertical beams that I believe were designed to help support the caboose for pusher/helper service from behind. I want to fashion something similar out of scrap parts and replace the not-so-prototypical details that originally came with the caboose...


Ralph

Ralph, I haven't ever seen a caboose with those big beams on the ends like that. Woah. That is some heavy duty stuff. And your project is coming along well.

Those are called collision posts and are a distinctly PRR trait on it's all steel cabins. The early N5s didn't have them, but many were retrofitted. I believe all N5B, N5C, and N8 had them.

Getting those end details on there will definitely improve the appearance of that caboose - make it much more distinctive. I am impressed with your progress thus far!

Thanks for identifying the collision posts Dave!

Ralph Wrote:Thanks for identifying the collision posts Dave!

No... thank you for posting your work! I am impressed with what you have done with train set quality rolling stock. I hope I get similar results.

I've been looking around for materials to construct the back collision posts and cage-like railings for the N8. After some experimentation it seems that Atlas flex track ties make reasonable posts while leftover Central Valley fence railing will do for the rest of the safety railing on the caboose. Here are a couple of trial runs.


Ralph

Looking good Ralph. Anymore progress?

I decided to go with this idea, mounted the cages and collision posts on the caboose chassis and primed everything that will be PC green...


I posted this pic and looked at it and realized I had added an extra vertical bar to the right of the collision posts! I drive myself crazy doing things like this!!!!! Sooooooo.... I clipped out the extra bar and will attempt to remove the little bumps where it used to be.


Does anyone else do boneheaded things like this!!!???!!

Ralph

Sorry Ralph, you made me laugh!

But I am laughing with you, not at you.

Yeah, we all make mistakes. For example, on my RF&P boxcar, I was looking at it the other day, and all of a sudden I noticed that I installed one of the ladders way to far from the end of the car. It should be right against the end, but no, there is a big ol' space rigth there. Crap. Oh well, not gonna move it now. I'll just hope that nobody notices. :?

Ralph Wrote:I decided to go with this idea, mounted the cages and collision posts on the caboose chassis and primed everything that will be PC green...
I realized I had added an extra vertical bar to the right of the collision posts! I drive myself crazy doing things like this!!!!! Sooooooo.... I clipped out the extra bar and will attempt to remove the little bumps where it used to be.


Does anyone else do boneheaded things like this!!!???!!
Ralph

Oohhhh Yeahhhh.......and every minute more that I am still around, more boneheaded, and more often! :oops:

Thanks guys! This hobby would be easy if I didn't make it so hard!

OK, so I did some careful filing and only needed to glue one bit of railing over again. After painting the assembly green it seems there is no harm done. When this is dry tomorrow I will it the caboose together!



Ralph