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 Posted - January 17 2014 : 5:50:16 PM
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I got this caboose ready built because I wanted a Colorado Midland caboose, and, when I got it, I thought it was really cool because it was "weathered". Recently, I began looking at it with a little more scrutiny and began thinking that the weathering was a little "over the top" . . .
I wanted to remove the weathering and preserve the factory (Roundhouse) painted Colorado Midland lettering scheme. Well . . . after rubbing and rubbing with a q-tip and alcohol, I was able to get enough of it off that I could live with it for awhile ("push comes to shove" and I'll strip it and just do without the lettering, but for the time anyway . . .) and I didn't destroy too much of the lettering.
Then, I couldn't resist messing with it. I have another of these cabooses without the lettering and on that one, I'd cut out one of the side doors to be able to model it partially open. This time I decided to get after one of the end doors. It turns out that a razor saw was easier for me to work with (less straying from the cut) than a knife . . .
There was something with this model that I had never seen before and that was the way the glazing was done. All the windows were glazed when I got it, but while it was a very tidy job, the windows looked phony because they were a bit convex (equally convex, but convex none the less (you can see this a bit in the first photo above). It's like the windows were made out of something similar to that stuff they use to sell to kids where you squeeze it out of a tube and it's like a permanent bubble; if you recall anything like that. Anyway, that stuff was quite a pain to remove . . .
This next photo is putting the door in place (you can also see how I painted the interior (though if I do get around to really detailing the interior, I will need to redo my glazing; mine looks good from the outside, but I was rather cavalier about cutting the glazing to exact size) . . . Also, in this photo, you can see how most of the weathering came off; now maybe just enough left to look a bit more realistic.
I also replaced the ladders (one day perhaps, I'll try to get serious about the quality of my bending and use a jig . . . not very happy with the curves over the roof . . . seems like real ladders would be made of heavy enough steel that they wouldn't get beat up like these). The Roundhouse ladder set-up has the ladders ending underneath the roof . . . need to be Spiderman to get on the roof.
Anyway, here's a few photos of the "finished" caboose . . .
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Posted - January 17 2014 : 5:55:32 PM
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That's a great looking piece!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - January 17 2014 : 9:29:33 PM
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That's a cool looking caboose. I like the added touches like the open door and the painted interior.
That's also a rare bird. I've never seen another MDC caboose quite like it. I have an MDC side-door caboose, but the cupola is more like the one they use on their other cabooses, and the windows are arranged differently. It looks good with your other period equipment.
By the way, is the roof fastened down yet? I think the cupola might go above the end that does not have windows. Typically, there are cabinets and closets under the cupola and the seats and bunks that would be by windows would have more head room if they were not where you put your feet when in the cupola.
Carpe Manana!
Edited by - scsshaggy on January 17 2014 9:32:57 PM
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 02:10:12 AM
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I was wondering about the position of the cupola Don (and regarding that, the Colorado Midland was one of the few . . . I wont say only . . . that used that style of cupola) . . .
I should have reviewed the above photo, but . . . the roof is only attached as much as the ladders are, so I think I can get it off and put it back on without too much damage.
I need to review more photos of caboose (with cupola) interiors to see how that plays out in terms of steps or a ladder going to the cupola seats, etc.
Thanks for the tips Don.
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 02:12:42 AM
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| And, Don, actually looking at that prototype photo again, I see I should redo the ladders anyway and just have a grab iron on the roof. It's interesting to me that the cupola seems set off to one side in the prototype photo.
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 08:51:01 AM
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quote:It's interesting to me that the cupola seems set off to one side in the prototype photo.
Originally posted by Barry - January 18 2014 : 02:12:42 AM
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I think that may be an illusion caused by the camera angle. The roof walk is centered on the roof and the center window of the cupola is centered on the roof walk and appears to be centered in the cupola. Funny, though, that the roof walk goes around one side of the cupola but there are grab irons on both sides.
It'd be interesting to know more about why things are how they are on that design.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 11:57:24 AM
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Plus it looks like the roofwalk goes AROUND the cupola 
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 12:30:18 PM
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| nothing wrong with caboose,just perspective of photo makes it look offset but its central,line up window and roofwalk ken
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 12:45:52 PM
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Well I just couldn't sit still and live with that ladder error . . . Don, I want to thank you again for pointing that out. That emphasizes to me once again the value of this forum.
Plus an alternate photo of a Colorado Midland caboose . . .
Thank you all. Barry
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 12:51:56 PM
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| You know, sometimes it seems like it just never ends . . . I'm looking at what I just posted and see that I should have put the ladder on with the rails welded to the interior side (comparing to the prototype photo) . . . the value of a camera! Well . . . at least that glue seems to pop off easily.
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 1:04:16 PM
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hi barry,we have to pick whats not available but if you want it,you got to do it yourself, ken
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 4:56:32 PM
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Ken, do you know the story behind a caboose with a Great Northern herald and PCRR reporting marks? Maybe some kind of subsidiary?
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 5:52:01 PM
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| hi scsshaggy,cannot find out a thing about the p.c.r.r. ken
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 6:08:43 PM
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Pacific Coast...
Sort of a personalization of a particular use for the caboose. I believe it is also a precursor to an international use caboose, since the Great Northern had lines into British Columbia.
The streamlined caboose was an experiment, albeit there were about five or seven of them.
To ward off the hard cold air as it struck the cupola during the winter seasons. Also note the high-speed trucks!
That's what I know.
John
p.s. You must respect the nicknames of these "end of train" devices... The prototype and model of your rehab is a "Waycar"...
Cabooses, Hack, Crummy, Glory Car, Waycar ... these are merely five of approximately 30 different names of these things.
I say "Caboose" 
I don't have a one track mind. It depends on the turn-out.
"I love your catenary!"
Is that a power-trip or just another pick-up line?
Edited by - zebrails on January 18 2014 6:16:03 PM
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Posted - January 18 2014 : 7:25:48 PM
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plus it does kinda resemble a Tyco caboose
BUT the cupola was based off the B&O cabooses
Also next time I get a chance to go to Colorado Railroad Museum I'll look for CM stuffs
Edited by - microbusss on January 19 2014 1:01:23 PM
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Posted - January 20 2014 : 6:13:54 PM
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Barry, I think the window glazing was Microscale Krystal Kleer, a type of white glue that dries transparent.
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MI-9&Category_Code=FINPROD&Product_Count=8
You can make windows and lenses by backing the opening with waxed paper and adding thin layers. I'm surprised you removed them; they look good in the photos and are flush fitting as opposed to acetate glazing.
I just use it for installing glazing, lenses, and other detail parts because it holds tight, doesn't mar paint or plastics, and everything can be removed with a soak in warm water if a repaint is desired.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - January 20 2014 : 8:24:08 PM
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| Hey Nelson, I wouldn't have removed them if they still looked good, but these had distorted such that they looked phony; sort of bulged outwards, and there was excess material on the exterior window framing (the inside was fine), subsequently, they reflected light in an odd manner. I do agree though that they fit very nicely and it is interesting to hear the name of that material. It might have been nice if I had just left this model alone as an example, but I had looked at it for several months and finally picked up the sledge hammer.
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Posted - January 20 2014 : 11:24:52 PM
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Yeah, I only tried making a lens with the stuff and wasn't happy with the results, even though the guys at the LHS highly recommended it. It's great for installing glazing; much better than watch crystal cement, which doesn't melt styrene, but if it smears or runs is impossible to get off the plastic.
Anyway, great work. I've never seen that style cupola before. Was there any reason for the wavy roof other than styling?
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - January 21 2014 : 10:43:51 AM
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| Hi Nelson, I just posed that question to the Colorado Midland group, though I believe the answer will be "style" was the reason. In googling it just now, I see the Wabash Road supposedly used some of the Bombay style as well. From what I have read, the Colorado Midland invested a lot of money to put on a good show; most powerful locomotives of the day, etc. If I find an answer other than style being the reason, I'll post it.
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Posted - May 27 2017 : 2:00:13 PM
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Ya gotta love those old black and white 1800s and 1900s photos. Google came up with these while I was looking for something else.
“There are a thousand things that can happen when you go light a rocket engine, and only one of them is good.” — Tom Mueller, SpaceX, 2012
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