Easy detail project

[Trainman203]

In the beginning of my involvemrnt in model railroading , I collected about a hundred relatively low end freight cars of varying origins.  Cars like these are made with coarse details  for durability and play value in train sets.  However, much of these car bodies feature reasonable rivet detail and cast on ladders that don't look all  that bad.

All of mine had been carefully selected for 1940s paint schemes and southern / southwestern road names. Overall they looked ok so I decided on a few to upgrade the two clunkier elements, the stirrups and the brake wheels.  Compare the original car on the right with the modified one:



The results were better than I thought they'd be.  While they aren't the same as $40 high end cars, they don't stand out as crude items quite so much and blend into a train of higher end cars better.

They next thing I'm going to add will be some coupler cut levers.  I'll add photos as this develops.

This is a nice project for beginners to try.  The brake wheels are a easy swap out.  The stirrups need to be carefully and smoothly removed, and no. 70 holes drilled with a pin vise for the new wire stirrups.

[jbrock27]

Definitely an improvement!

Have other pics?

[jonathan]

I like it!  I use those Details Associates (or is it Details West?) Stirrup steps--both type B and type C.  They are relatively sturdy and look good.

Good stuff...

Regards,

Jonathan

[Trainman203]

The stirrups are Details West type B.

I should have said drill no. 73 holes for the stirrups.

I forgot to mention that I'm going to put scale wood roof walks on these cars. I just have to find them. Look at how clunky the roofwalks presently are.  New roofwalks will help 500 percent on the car's overall profile.

All of this is lunch hour work.  That's where my RIP track is, my office.  After 5 or 10 minutes on a sandwich there's the better part of an hour left.  I have a toolbox down there and so I  do stuff like this every day.

[jbrock27]

It's not good for you to eat that fast .