Caboose conversion in O scale

[Kozma Minin]

This is my first project in O scale trains.


The kit I'm starting with is by M.T.H. Electric Trains, Premier series, Bay Wndow Caboose, kit No. 20-91436.

This is what I'm going for as the final result -
rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1564106


I started right away with disassembly and removal of parts that won't be used; roof walk way and ladders. ..


…The roof ends were cut away. Both end walls were also carefully cut and removed for relocation later.

During progress of this project, I'll need to dry fit and take apart this model many times for my style of eye-ball-building-accuracy. I glued in plastic strips to set the correct depth and position of the bed part.


Those CC sent in junk-mail ads were sliced up for this strip material.


They were glued in place with CA through the opening for the bay windows while I was holding it together with my hand


I can now carefully cut the bosses off for relocation later. They are marked and ID'd for correct positioning


thanks for checkin in …. progress continues

[Kozma Minin]

The main body cuts are made. Putty on the roof is where the roof-walk part was attached. Window openings and various gaps filled and covered with styrene. Putty and sanding will follow


More of that junk mail CC material is used to cover the obtuse cut-outs along the bottom skirt


I used superglue to glue this material in. Putty and sanding will be needed

[Kozma Minin]

progress continues . . .

There is a window on this one side of the caboose that I added using the measure, mark, drill the corners, then cut out - method


pilot holes first. Notice the obtuse angled gaps are filled along the bottom of the skirt on both sides.



holes drilled now I will cut this out with a razor saw then shape the corners.


The kerf of the blade used to cut out these end wall pieces are shimmed with styrene at just the right thickness. These end wall parts were glued back into place further into the cab, prototypically.

[Kozma Minin]

Now working on the bottom and repositioning the bosses further inland. When I build 1/24-1/25 car and 1/35 tank models I usually build them 'curbside', so this is how I'll build the caboose. I rearranged certain details that will be visible from the sides only



I switched the sides of the air tank and removed one of the (equipment bins?) for use later

Since the end walls needed to be moved further into the cab, the bosses also need to be repositioned.


The new holes will be drilled where I can use a screwdriver while the trucks are installed. These locations were found, measured and marked . . .


. . . Then drilled with a 1/8" bit


The bosses were then screwed into place following the positions that I marked earlier before removing. A ball of epoxy putty was stuck to all four tops of these. Then the cab body was squished into final position over these


The spacers are from the end walk parts that I cut these from


Epoxy putty secures the new locations. I added more once the first batch cured


Now that the end walls and bosses were relocated, the floor of the frame is exposed revealing the old screw holes and screw for the trucks

[Kozma Minin]

[Kozma Minin]

I don't like the look of the flat floor like that. The prototype has a grip grated floor so I similarly replicated this by using the roof walk grate part that I removed earlier.




cuts in the miter box


I like this look much better. The amount of material only gave me this much for both sides but I like it. It is the exact thickness as the two end walkway parts so the fit was perfect.

I've already started work on the uprights using styrene angle strips. The rails that were removed earlier were also reinstalled

[Kozma Minin]

There are objects on each end of the caboose. One looks like a storage bin and the other looks like a fuel tank. I'll make these from material cut from the kit


The storage bin (fire fighting equipment bin?) I cut from the bottom piece earlier


Fuel tank parts being fabricated from the roof parts cut off earlier


These wil be painted and glued down into position

[Kozma Minin]

All the mods are done now and the model will be under a coat of primer shortly.


Detail shot of a fuel tank on this end


Detail shot of the storage bin on this end

[Kozma Minin]

I almost forgot the pulley system for the (power generator?)

This was made with parts from the parts box including cassette tape cartridge parts, a 1/72 tank road wheel and other parts I don't remember where they are from.

This will be non-op and just for looks

[Kozma Minin]

Before the base coat of UP yellow, I pre shaded with Rust-Oleum red primer and flat black. This way the Krylon yellow that I already have won't look to bright.

[Kozma Minin]

The roof was masked off then a base coat of an old ass can of a Krylon bright yellow was sprayed on. A close match to the prototype I think
rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4163473

[Kozma Minin]

Decals set and some pre-weathering

[Cole Only]

the sickness is real! d**n

[Kozma Minin]

Thanks for the compliment. The graffiti will be next as it looked in 2008. I have pictures of both sides

[Kozma Minin]

This model is to replicate how the prototype looked during a time within 2007 - 2008. This side and the other side

Resized (scaled) prints were made for the hand painted names on both sides of the prototype. These prints were cut out as stencils to get the proportions and styles just right. These stencils were held in place with my thumb while I painted in the fills with hobby brand acrylics. The outlines, clouds, shadows and details and touch-ups were later painted in freehand with a fine brush





While studying this print of TLOK, I notice the original UP deco that was covered up except the top was still visible. This deco was the KEEP ON TRUCKIN' . . . BY TRAIN. I started searching through my collection of decals