1:8 Scale Conrail N9 Caboose Build

[rswinnerton]

Hello fellow  , long time no modelling. Tom Mann said I should post progress here so, I'm going to chronicle my build of a Conrail N9 transfer caboose in 1:8 Scale. 7.5" gauge. My original plan was to build a mechanical reefer, but it was recommended to me to tackle an easier project first, so here goes.

Step 1 is to review prototype photos and drawings. From that I reduced to 1:8 and made a scale drawing which I'll be using to make the parts necessary for the model...


I scaled them down from the Penn Central/Conrail drawings


Speaking of the prototype, here she is in fresh Conrail paint...


So, with that, I ordered 1"×2" box channel steel cut to length for the frame and a couple shorter pieces with which to make supporting parts.


I also test fit a coupler to make sure I ordered the correct part and sure enough, fits like a glove...




I'm not sure how fast this will progress, but I'll keep posting here as it does. I've ordered the trucks, so once those arrive, I'll get the frame together. In the mean time, I need to go take some measurements of the real thing and do some more scale drawings.
Russ

[rswinnerton]

Estimated finished stats....
Length: 63"
Height: 18 1/4"
Width: 15 3/4"
Weight: 400 Lbs

[Dave V]

 

[Philip H]

So this is your response to "Go Big or Go Home?"

[rswinnerton]

Yeah. Gotta go big! Lol

Speaking of big, here's where I'll be running the stuff. It's called The Mill Creek Central. Here's a video to show you the 4 miles or so of track.... (time lapse)

[tom mann]

Very cool, @rswinnerton ! Looking forward to seeing the trucks and frame built.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Very cool!!!

[rswinnerton]

[attachimg=1Trucks have been ordered from. Titan Trains.


Not 100% accurate as they are 100 ton trucks, but a quick rebuild of the spring rigging should solve the issue.
Russ

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Heh, a Boober caboose.

[rswinnerton]

Lmao!
Heh, a Boober caboose.

[GaryHinshaw]

Estimated finished stats....
...
Weight: 400 Lbs

Very cool!  How about some pics of your  shop?

[tom mann]

Estimated finished stats....

Weight: 400 Lbs

And this will run on Ed K's benchwork you say?

[rswinnerton]

Very cool!  How about some pics of your  shop?

Wish I had a shop. Currently using a friends garden shed as a makeshift shop. Otherwise the stuff lives in my storage locker. I also work on it at my girlfriends place occasionally. My hope is to soon have a small shop made from 2 40' sea containers welded together with the interior walls cut out to make a space that's 40'X16'.

Until then, it's "have welder, will travel"

[rswinnerton]

Got 2 more drawings done. One is a "top down" of the frame. The other is the end view (minus handrails). I've also talked to a shop with a plasma cutter to cut out the sides l, ends and roof of the car from a CAD file. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[davefoxx]

Wish I had a shop. Currently using a friends garden shed as a makeshift shop. Otherwise the stuff lives in my storage locker. I also work on it at my girlfriends place occasionally. My hope is to soon have a small shop made from 2 40' sea containers welded together with the interior walls cut out to make a space that's 40'X16'.

Until then, it's "have welder, will travel"

You know, I know a guy who built a kick-a$$ chicken coop earlier this year.  If he evicted the chickens . . .   

DFF