On30 Caboose

[tom mann]

I've always admired the Bachmann On30 equipment that MicroMark carries.  Last week, I decided to order some.   I was a little shocked when I opened the boxes: the quality was good, but they looked a little toy-like.  They looked too plasticy, without any textures.  This is ok in N and Z, but far too noticeable in O.  So let's do some weathering to capture a poor, depression-era narrow gauge railroad.   We won't go overboard like Malcolm Furlow would, though!

This is the out-of-the-box caboose (well, almost - I popped out the glass).  It's a lighted model with an interior and separate wire grabs, a great deal at $22!  But the wood slats have no grain!



The first thing that I did was sand down the model with 60 grit sandpaper to give the wood a texture.  I then followed the advice on the Pacific Coast Air Line site to make the plastic look like aged wood (http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/aging%5Fwood/).  I deviated from the directions a little, using a base coat of gray with a light coat of Kilz and paints instead of dye.

After the "wood" dried, I wetted the model and then sprinkled on a liberal coat of sea salt (not square), going heavier near the bottom.  I painted that with a coat of boxcar red and special oxide red, probably about 50/50.



The roof is toilet paper.  I was trying to go for an aged tar paper look, and really have no idea if I did or not ;D

A close up show off the texture and peeling paint:



This was a fun project to do, mainly because of the large size.  I have higher quality trucks and wheels on order, and I need to figure out what to do about the glass.

As always, I'll take your comments, both good and bad.

[Chris333]

Crap, that looks fantastic!!    I'm in love   :-*

I think the tar paper roof would be laid down in rolls like around 3' wide, with some possible patches (still can all be done with TP) I didn't even know they made a caboose like that, reminds me of my Grandt Line HOn3 C&S caboose that I shaved the cupola off of and added HOn30 trucks to it.

What don't you like about the trucks? I remember metal wheels and being free rolling, just needs brake hangars added.


Now excuse me while I go sell my blood to buy some On30...

[Chris333]

Now excuse me while I go sell my blood to buy some On30...

What is this nut thinking, $22 is just a couple dollars more than a MT N scale caboose!!!

[tom mann]

Now excuse me while I go sell my blood to buy some On30...

What is this nut thinking, $22 is just a couple dollars more than a MT N scale caboose!!!

And, the MTs do not have an interior and are not lighted...

[DKS]

But the wood slats have no grain!

Kind of startling, considering what Atlas has done with their recent N scale wood-sheathed boxcars and refers.

I think the wood looks outstanding with the Mann treatment! I do think the tarpaper roof is a bit unnatural-looking, however. Might consider tidying it up, and just have TP texture and seams.

[tom mann]

What don't you like about the trucks? I remember metal wheels and being free rolling, just needs brake hangars added.

The wheels and trucks are very nice.  Bachmann has newer wheels that are even nicer.  However, how can you argue with this:

http://home.inreach.com/jkitts/DetailPt.html

[Chris333]

I have seen those brake beams mounted to On30 trucks you just need to cut them down as mentioned here:
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=17676


Hey you could make a rolled tin roof out of aluminum foil, don't forget the nail holes! I have an article on it since most Maine 2' stuff had tin roofs.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/tarpaper/

[Sokramiketes]

...reminds me of my Grandt Line HOn3 C&S caboose that I shaved the cupola off of and added HOn30 trucks to it.

I remember how good your N scale logging caboose looked too.  Well, before you added the ugly mismatched cupola to it...

[Chris333]

Dang, kickin it old school on my A$$. I still have that logging caboose.   

[tom mann]

Kind of startling, considering what Atlas has done with their recent N scale wood-sheathed boxcars and refers.

Yeah, even more startling since it is O-scale grain on the N-scale models! (but a good example of exaggeration)

I think the wood looks outstanding with the Mann treatment! I do think the tarpaper roof is a bit unnatural-looking, however. Might consider tidying it up, and just have TP texture and seams.

I think I will use sandpaper for the next iteration.  The TP was too hard to place without ripping.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Try wrapping paper tissue. That might be stronger than the TP.

Or maybe kleenexes.

Overall very nice.

I think the window frames could use a little more attention though.

As far as the glass goes, well, what era / area are you modeling? You could always leave them empty if you're doing the south.

Look at this stuff: http://taplines.net/

[sparky]

Looks great as always, Tom.  Can you explain the "sea salt" technique a little more?

When are you going to do the 2-6-0? I can't wait to see that!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

On a second glance: the paint hasn't uniformly peeled under the handrails. That looks kinda funky.

[tom mann]

Looks great as always, Tom.  Can you explain the "sea salt" technique a little more?

When are you going to do the 2-6-0? I can't wait to see that!

Sprinkle on sea salt to a wet surface as a mask.  Paint over the salt, and after it dries, brush the salt away.  The areas underneath the salt  appear!  So in this case, I painted the entire side to look like old wood.  I sprinkled on salt, and painted the red.

Note that you should use sea salt because it is randomly shaped as opposed to table salt because it is cubes.  Yes, this shape difference is noticeable.

Ed, you are right.  An oversight thanks to a lack of salt underneath the grabs. ;D

[Chris333]

Could have pulled out the grabs for painting 



Hey here is my old HOn30 caboose when I pulled it from the parts box and sold it on Ebay:

No fancy weathering.
It started out as this:
http://www.grandtline.com/model_railroad/o_scale_car_and_loco_gallery/caboose%20o%202.jpg

And this is a On30 boxcar a was messing with:

There are brake beams on one truck. I think they are Grandt line shoes mounted to code 40 rail so I could slide them till they match the wheel gauge.

Hard to resist buying some more On30...