trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t

I try to run something different each time I take the trailer out. As I'm out Thursday with it, I thought I'd have a look at a logging train. I've been using B'mann 2-axle cabooses with the logging flats, but always intended to make one out of the numerous ones I have in stock.
So here's one that has only been painted (to fit in with various railroad consists - no name, no pack drill)...

I bought another Santa Fe caboose (I already had one still in the livery) with the explicit intention of doing something with it. At £14 it was fit for carving up.
I can't show you any pics of the process - the longest part of the job was waiting for the rattle can primer to dry!
The body unclips from the chassis - sometimes the retaining lugs might break off as it seems they are quite brittle! The roof and body are all one moulding (apart from the Cupola). So the cupola also fits in with two push retainers. They both snapped off!
Then the ladders came off, plus the roof boards and stove pipe. The grab rails followed suit.
A quick clean up (sand) of the SF logos, and a rub over for what remained of the roof, and spray over of the body (placed resting on the roof). Once dry, the body was stood up in normal position so that any ledges or window frames could be touched up (not spraying roof of course).
What to do with the opening in the roof? Just a piece of wood running along the line of the body to support the roof covering.
The roof covering was a nice shiny piece of card (ex shirt packing or other). Then out came the double side carpet tape - just two strips did the job with care taken on placing the tape right to the roof edge.
The card was 'curved' over the edge of the table and on it went. Any excess was trimmed off with a sharp knife (nice one Stanley) with the roof resting on the table and rolled to follow the knife. Then it was out with the rattle cans - black for the hand and grab rails - grey for the roof.
Once all was dry, the stove pipe was the first to be screwed on, followed by the handrails. Then it was just a case of fitting metal wheelsets and clipping the body back in place - three of the four clips were still in position! Then it was testing time....


So that's it - warts and all! Wheels £13.00, paint £2, and donor caboose - all adds up to £29.00! Might (I say might) make some Ox Mountain stickers.
So here's one that has only been painted (to fit in with various railroad consists - no name, no pack drill)...

I bought another Santa Fe caboose (I already had one still in the livery) with the explicit intention of doing something with it. At £14 it was fit for carving up.
I can't show you any pics of the process - the longest part of the job was waiting for the rattle can primer to dry!
The body unclips from the chassis - sometimes the retaining lugs might break off as it seems they are quite brittle! The roof and body are all one moulding (apart from the Cupola). So the cupola also fits in with two push retainers. They both snapped off!
Then the ladders came off, plus the roof boards and stove pipe. The grab rails followed suit.
A quick clean up (sand) of the SF logos, and a rub over for what remained of the roof, and spray over of the body (placed resting on the roof). Once dry, the body was stood up in normal position so that any ledges or window frames could be touched up (not spraying roof of course).
What to do with the opening in the roof? Just a piece of wood running along the line of the body to support the roof covering.
The roof covering was a nice shiny piece of card (ex shirt packing or other). Then out came the double side carpet tape - just two strips did the job with care taken on placing the tape right to the roof edge.
The card was 'curved' over the edge of the table and on it went. Any excess was trimmed off with a sharp knife (nice one Stanley) with the roof resting on the table and rolled to follow the knife. Then it was out with the rattle cans - black for the hand and grab rails - grey for the roof.
Once all was dry, the stove pipe was the first to be screwed on, followed by the handrails. Then it was just a case of fitting metal wheelsets and clipping the body back in place - three of the four clips were still in position! Then it was testing time....


So that's it - warts and all! Wheels £13.00, paint £2, and donor caboose - all adds up to £29.00! Might (I say might) make some Ox Mountain stickers.