Need for a D&RGW caboose

[Schraddel]

Hello,

at the end of this month there will be the annual meeting of the Fremo Southwest Division and therefor was need for a D&RGW steam aera caboose. And to make things worse, i model Rio Grande in standard gauge, not in narrow gauge. Purchasing NG is no problem, a widespread choice of D&RGW NG cabooses in all formats, style and lettering. And there will be no modules with dual gauge, so there will be no possiblties to use a NG caboose behind SG locos an rolling stock: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/81569/rec/5">http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/si ... 1569/rec/5</a><!-- m -->
So Standard Gauge is a problem. Here in Germany was nothing to purchase in this orientation. So i purchased a secondhand D&RGW Walthers wood caboose in the States via ebay.












That was i got. The previous owner has done some modifications, as Intermountain wheelsets, new number and Royal Gorge herald and some other imorovements. I was satisfied with this deal.

But ...(censored) Walthers has done here with this model lettered for D&RGW?
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Tell me about why the Walters wood caboose was done as it is. :? The end platforms differ completely in nearly all details from the prototype.

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And as this photo shows, these old wooden caboose made it into the Diesel aera.
For me it is a sort of challenge to get this caboose ready for the meeting.





First step for the word was demounting all parts. Here plastic profiles were put out and 1mm sheet was cut ready for new end platforms, also splices were scribed with rather butt cutter.





Second step was searching for suitable materials and make preliminary work.





Glueing "C"-shaped profiles under the body to make outer sills.





New platforms mounted by glueing.





End sills were glued onto. For lack of time i decided to use parts of the old underframe again. The wrong platform steps were removed.





Kadee coupler boxes were mounted too in this early stage to became fully integrated.
And a 3-point suspension was created. Left, washers were piled to get the right height. Right, on each side a pile of tiny plastic profiles and sheets were glued onto the traverse member. The air reservoir was monted by shimming a little downwards according to prototype photos. The AB brake will retained.



Cheers Lutz