I needed some Erie wood cabooses to run with my steam locos. With none available I tried kitbashing one using a Micro-Trains wood caboose. The result was good but it took longer than if I had scratch built one. So, I scratch built one.
Erie wood caboose in N scale
- Thread starter Blake
- Start date
Excellent work, Blake! 
I think we'll have to add you to the list of N scale Master Craftsmen around here. Between you and Charlie and Tyson and the others, there is some genuine N scale talent on this forum.
I think we'll have to add you to the list of N scale Master Craftsmen around here. Between you and Charlie and Tyson and the others, there is some genuine N scale talent on this forum.
Beautiful work.
I cannot believe the scratch building some of you N scale guys accomplish. I think there are a lot of HO (and larger) scale people who wish they could do this well.
Be sure and show us how it looks when finished.
I cannot believe the scratch building some of you N scale guys accomplish. I think there are a lot of HO (and larger) scale people who wish they could do this well.
Be sure and show us how it looks when finished.
C
Catt
Thanks for all the kind words, I appreciate it. As far as material and technique, the material is Evergreen Styrene. I use the N scale car siding for the sides and various strip and sheet for the rest. I have a Gloor Craft HO wood caboose kit that has a full HO scale set of drawings within the instructions. I photo copied it at 54% which gives you N scale drawings. Then I just worked off of that. There are things that I like about working with styrene as opposed to wood (should I duck now!! I know there are allot of guys who like working with wood here). First, it is easier to cut. Just score and break. Second, it doesn't warp as long as you go easy on the glue. Third, you can texture it to look like wood. I have built some wood kits and enjoyed them. The one that got me off of wood was a TK models kit of the Ramsey NJ Erie station. Beautiful kit, wood and metal parts, shingles, the works. I spent allot of time carefully building it, repairing the parts that I messed up (because I was used top styrene!!). Then, finally, there it was, a wonderful creation ready to paint. 2 days later, it rained. The structure didn't get wet or anything. Bamm! Roof turned into a canoe, sides all warped, looked like that guys face in Raiders of the Lost Ark when they take the lid off that box!! I tried to fix it, but with no success. Finally, I kitbashed it......WITH A HAMMER!! And that's why I stick with styrene. I have allot of respect for those of you who work with wood and have the stuff turn out right.
That's a nice looking caboose Blake. Now we can look forward to more photos as you progress. Isn't scratchbuilding fun!
Blake,
Sometime back, there was a thread on windows, and I posted pictures of a small, freelance, freighthouse I scratchbuilt in 1961, using Northeast scale basswood. That building is still in great shape, and the windows still work!
I do like working with styrene, and use it as my primary building material. I will build a Gloorcraft kit now and then, just to work in wood again.
Sometime back, there was a thread on windows, and I posted pictures of a small, freelance, freighthouse I scratchbuilt in 1961, using Northeast scale basswood. That building is still in great shape, and the windows still work!
I do like working with styrene, and use it as my primary building material. I will build a Gloorcraft kit now and then, just to work in wood again.