Northern Alberta Railway crane and idler

[cnrglen]

Got a new project for another modeller:

   

A rather interesting crane and idler car  from the Northern Alberta Railway.

[cnrglen]

Now I don't believe that there is a diesel crane like this one available in HO scale so I'm going to use the larger Athearn crane and modify it just a bit to dieselize it. the Idler car will be a bit more acurate as it looks like it was a prototype kitbash as I will be doing.

   

The two main parts for the idler will be an Athearn 50' flatcar and a Branchline 50' plug door boxcar. I used my athearn crane to figure out the clearances and mde some measurments for cutting.

   

I stripped the UP paint off the boxcar shell. and made some tape lines right behind the door on both sides, then the razor saw came out.

   

After some careful cutting I have a clean straight shortened structure. Branchlime boxcars have their floor molded in to the box and the roof is seperate. I had already glued the roof on so it was cut square with the rest. I did have to sand the underbody detail flush with the floor so the body would sit flat on the flatcar.

   

I did shave the stake pockets off the flatcar and then the body slipped perfectly over the sides. The prototype doesen't have pockets anywhere so those will all be removed.

   

The last thing I did today was to add the front wall tool the tool cabin.  I'm going to have to order some Tichy doors and windows for it.

[hillyard999]

really looking forward to seeing more of your build!

[TMo]

Another great project, Glen... I predict that the customer will be very satisfied when you're finished.

Are the NAR decals available? I'm guessing the paint scheme is Black, Yellow and Gray like their locos?

[LiveSteamer]

Another great project underway. I will be watching this one and the progress. It's always a learning experience when you do projects.

[cnrglen]

actually it will be dark blue, yellow and gray. I built an NAR bay window caboose for another modeller several years ago.

NAR Bay window Caboose | ModelRailroadForums.com

It was a kit from Miniatures by Eric. Unfortunetly it's not available anymore.

[cnrglen]

I got a bit more work done, starting with the idler flat

   

I sanded the stake pockets off as well as the top row of rivets. I also shaved the molded-on have grabs and the stirups. The stirups were replaced with tichy parts and I hand-bent new grabs.

   

The crane I'm converting to diesel so I sanded off the smoke stack and plated it over with some styrene.
   

I fabriucated a wuffer and exhaust from some styrene tubing and brass rod. I made a grill in the back from a piece of tichy metal roofwalk and some 1X3 styrene strip.
I have the windows and doors for the idler car ordered. I'll continue the project when they arrive.
There are Northern Ablerta decals made by Highball graphics. Unfortuently they are only for locomotives but I believe I can adapt them for this project.