Making a MA&PA Bobber

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, while my engine is in progress I figured it was time to start a caboose.

The easy thing to do would be to use the ubiquitous Bachmann bobber. Except... that car has so many issues it's got a subscription: too many windows, chunky molding, etc....

So, what to do to create a nice MPA bobber?

Well, originally I was going to take the shapeways bobber floors, build a new body on top of them, and use some shapeways MTL caboose cupola replacements.

But then... I realized that doing the body would be a challenge, and I might want to try just shortening an MTL wooden caboose to fit the bobber frame.

So that's what I'm doing!

Here's the progress.



Is it going to be a spot on accurate model of MA&PA 2006?
Nope!

Am I going to be able to live with that?

You bet.

[DKS]

Way better than a Bachmann bobber (and way easier than bashing one): an Arnold bobber:



http://www.spookshow.net/freight/arnoldbobber.html

[wm3798]

Yes, this.
I've seen them out there in my various forays into retro land.
Lee

[Mark5]

Way better than a Bachmann bobber (and way easier than bashing one): an Arnold bobber:



http://www.spookshow.net/freight/arnoldbobber.html

That's my pic. 

Anyway, some info on these here: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=44845.0

Mark

[Point353]

Ok, while my engine is in progress I figured it was time to start a caboose.
The easy thing to do would be to use the ubiquitous Bachmann bobber. Except... that car has so many issues it's got a subscription: too many windows, chunky molding, etc....
So, what to do to create a nice MPA bobber?

Possibly an Arnold Rapido bobber with a Panamint underframe?
http://www.spookshow.net/freight/arnoldbobber.html

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't know, that Arnold car doesn't look perfect either.
But it may be a backup if this plan doesn't pan out for some reason.

That being said, if this DOES plan out, anyone with some resin casting chops want to borrow the shortened body for a master? I'd like a few more myself and I'm sure some other folks (like @Mark5 ) might enjoy them as well. With a ready to go body, it's should be a quick assembly job.

[DKS]

That being said, if this DOES plan out, anyone with some resin casting chops want to borrow the shortened body for a master?

Probably not, if only to avoid potential IP issues. Better to have a chat with a Photon owner and have a much better model made from scratch.

[delamaize]

I know that some people don't like the Bachmann Bobbers, But I have a soft spot for mine..... Had it a long time.

[davefoxx]

I think you're going to have a hell of a time hiding that seam in the siding.  I suggest just scratchbuilding the body with some Evergreen freight car siding, basic styrene parts, and some Tichy or Grandt Line windows and doors.  Much better end result, and you can build a much closer facsimile.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think you're going to have a hell of a time hiding that seam in the siding.  I suggest just scratchbuilding the body with some Evergreen freight car siding, basic styrene parts, and some Tichy or Grandt Line windows and doors.  Much better end result, and you can build a much closer facsimile.

DFF

I don't think I'll have any problem with it. Obviously there's lots of fitting to do in the image you see above, but the wood siding can make this VERY forgiving.

If it doesn't work I'll be onto the siding option, but I'm trying to avoid having to deal with the window trim or the roof trim.

[randgust]

Oh, Ed, I had to look that up.   

What a honey of a little ex-PRR ND that is:  http://www.maparailroadhist.org/histimg/2006.jpg
And it's preserved too! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/New_Oxford_PA_Caboose.JPG/800px-New_Oxford_PA_Caboose.JPG

There's a few PRR style points on that, but what would really kick would be if you could find one of the old Quality Craft PRR caboose kits, as there was enough material in there to build it on top of a good frame.  But it sounds like you've got a good plan.   One thing I really notice is those four-pane windows, that is a signature item - and the QC kit had those as castings:  http://www.spookshow.net/freight/gloorn6b2.jpg
I'm not sure what you'll find on Shapeways, could even be better.

David Bevan, the treasurer of Penn Central, had an ND as a swimming pool cabana on his property.  That's the one that ended up as a pile of parts at the RR museum of PA as the termites quit holding hands. 

If you REALLY want to fall in love with it, go see the restored and operating ND over at Strasburg:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cemeteryrodeo/2049011904

Back in April 2010 SRC was running a photo freight special and I got to ride in that caboose behind a dozen restored 1915-era freight cars and #90.  I rode the cupola, unforgettable experience.    But there's really good reason why crews HATED those, it rode as rough as anything I've ever been in, crabbed and hunted down the track like crazy, and when slack ran out about knocked you off your feet as the draft gear was pretty much nonexistent.  HANG ON was emphasized!!!    It gave you a lot more respect for the crews, and you understood why they fell out of favor rapidly.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh I know. The ND is a really sweet car. I've got a kid to do one in O (eventually). I love that Strasburg has one (if only they had had it back when 1223 was running, can you imagine...).

I can only IMAGINE how much fun it must've been riding that thing around on the MA&PA. BANG. BANG. WOMP.

That's an interesting idea about using the Quality Craft kit for it. I might try it if I come across one. However, if I had one of those in my hands, it'd be awfully tempting to hand it over to my dad (who can REALLY use a PRR ND).

[mmagliaro]

Oh I know. The ND is a really sweet car. I've got a kid to do one in O (eventually). I love that Strasburg has one (if only they had had it back when 1223 was running, can you imagine...).

I can only IMAGINE how much fun it must've been riding that thing around on the MA&PA. BANG. BANG. WOMP.

That's an interesting idea about using the Quality Craft kit for it. I might try it if I come across one. However, if I had one of those in my hands, it'd be awfully tempting to hand it over to my dad (who can REALLY use a PRR ND).

I do like your approach.  I think if you use a steel square and some sandpaper to really true up those cuts, you should be able to hide the seam right down in a joint between the siding so it won't show without too much trouble.


The Quality Craft N6 kits are terrific.  I still have one I built years ago.   They are much MUCH easier to build than the brass Quality Craft N5c kits.  I'd highly recommend going that way if you find one.  And if you put it on the new Shapeways frame with nice wheelsets, it would be killer.

[narrowminded]

Probably not, if only to avoid potential IP issues. Better to have a chat with a Photon owner and have a much better model made from scratch.

If you've got parts and/ or drawings I'd give that one a look.  It'd be useful to future plans to have such a thing in the queue.

[randgust]

My 1941 Model Railroader Cyclopedia has drawings of a PRR N5D in it if anybody cares.   PM me, I'll supply a scan.  It has a scale on it.

It's always a crapshoot on finding drawings, bingo.