11919 II

Start with a fishbelly frame

I started with this frame because it matched the style that was used on the prototype and because I was not interested in starting this project from scratch.

At this point, I also drilled out where the truck mount screws go. I machined down brass inserts (in my poor man's lathe) and added those for strength.

Ckick on the photos to enlarge...

This is where things started getting interesting. I made the end rails from brass that I cut to width on my paper cutter. If I ever build another one of these, I will use brass angle for the end rails

I used Athearn stanchions for the outters and made my rails from brass wire.

The side sills and inner stanchions are styrene, but I later changed these stanchions to brass angle for strength.

The cab and roof are made from styrene that is wrapped with aluminum tape (used to seal heating ducts). Nothing looks more like real metal than real metal.his is a photo series taken while I was building my HO scale Transfer Caboose 11919.

This photos shows the see through decking that was standard on these cabooses. I searched high and low to find the right stuff to use and I found it at Plano Model Products - part number 201 (go to www.planomodelproducts.com) for the decking. This stuff is perfect and has the correct Apex pattern. It is cut to fit and can't be beat, see for yourself!

Fitting the trucks was next. Taking the trucks on & off to file a bit at a time.