HOn3 cars for TrainNut

[doctorwayne]

Kevin, your lettering job turned out extremely well.

Now, my question ... you had to see that coming, right? I see what looks to be individual boards on those roof walks ... what is the thickness of those pieces? I have already cut 42 pieces for roof walks from styrene stock I decided was pretty much the correct thickness boards for the application, but I'd be interested in what someone else has done. Far be it from me to assume I know the answer ... I just made an "edumacated guesstimation." 8-)

For wooden roofwalks on my standard gauge cars, I use either 2"x6" or 2"x8" styrene boards, depending on the particular car. I use a couple of razor saws with different tooth coarseness to impart some exaggerated "wood grain" into full-length styrene strips, doing both wide surfaces of each strip. These are then cut to length to suit the roofwalk supports of each individual car. I stagger the individual boards accordingly, with the two outside courses identical (three boards each - the two end ones alike, with the middle one to suit). The centre run of the roofwalk is also three pieces, with the end ones alike (but not the same as the outer courses). This results in staggered joints, as is usually prototypical. If I'm doing multiple cars of the same type, from the same manufacturer, I distress and cut all of the boards, then toss them in a heap and pick out boards as required - this usually precludes matching "woodgrain" on adjoining planks. Roofwalk laterals, which weren't mandatory in my era, are usually included. I prefer the look of ones with the boards parallel to those on the roofwalk, although I try to match the prototype if possible.

This modified Athearn wood reefer got new wood ends and a new roof. The hatches and platforms are from Tichy, with homemade grabirons, and the roofwalk is 2"x8" styrene boards:


Another modified Athearn reefer, a steel one, retained its original ends but got a scratchbuilt roof to more closely represent its prototype. The modified Athearn hatches aren't exactly prototypical, but are close enough for me. The roofwalk here is built from three rows of 2"x6" "boards".


This re-build of an old Varney all-metal boxcar got a new roofwalk to replace the original cast metal one, which had broken in several places. For this car, it was easier to pre-assemble the plastic roofwalk, then secure it to the roof with contact cement. My usual practice, though, is to assemble them, piece by piece, on the car.




It's easier to see the individual boards here:




Wayne