Model Train Journal

Since painting is off waiting for good weather, it's off to a project that can be worked on inside for a few weeks (months?).

Got this in a semi-disassembled state several years ago in a box of passenger cars some of which fared well in shipping and other not so much.



Actually has a prototype and was originally a powered with controllers at both ends; this model appears to be the later unpowered coach/trailer. Trucks were included so there's that detail taken care of.....pair of steps missing.....





Going to take a wee bit of time,

Not sure how to restore the end railings - paper and brass...



First order of business will be to strip the interior down and clean it out, and then stabilize the sides.

Interior cleared and cleaned. Sides stabilized with some rectangular brass box stock. Took Goo & CA and a lot of clamps. The width of the car is not consistent and I'll have to pull it together with some cross bracing.

Getting the basic structure straightened/squared up would seem critical, and you seem to have achieved that quite nicely. I’ve often wondered how easy it is to straighten up bent brass sides. I know it’s a pain with the heavier gauge material found in tinplate items.

healey36 wrote:Getting the basic structure straightened/squared up would seem critical, and you seem to have achieved that quite nicely.

Thanks. Wood and paper are not too difficult - just takes care putting everything into proper places, with some glue inserted, and then lots of clamps to pull it all together against that brass.

I’ve often wondered how easy it is to straighten up bent brass sides. I know it’s a pain with the heavier gauge material found in tinplate items.[/quote]

Lots of variables, but depends on access and solder joints. Clamps and blocks to pull into place but sometimes it's anvil and a rod being tapped against the inside from the other side.

New interior floor installed; 1/32 siding stained Gunstock....btw, nice stain that really works on oak furniture!



Now it's making and installing new interior side walls, framing windows, etc. Have to check on my supply of interior seating and furnishings...

Wonder where I can get wall sconces in O scale?

Bathrooms installed....priorities Partition walls are cherry and rest is scribed basswood with Grandt Line doors. Making the interior frames for the arch windows is seriously tedious.



1st brace across the top spanning the straighteners pinned into place to get the sides closer is in place; going to make installing the rest of the interior a little tricky to work around, but getting them closer to a correct width for interior placement is necessary.

Working down the right interior bit by bit...

Looking terrific, especially that flooring. I was thinking it would be something that looked like linoleum, but I guess that might not be "period".

I've been thinking about putting some window glazing and shades in a set of prewar Lionel coaches (an effort to divert attention from their battered exteriors). This might prove to be inspirational, lol.

healey36 wrote:Looking terrific, especially that flooring. I was thinking it would be something that looked like linoleum, but I guess that might not be "period".

Thanks! Probably will be adding carpeting at some point.

I've been thinking about putting some window glazing and shades in a set of prewar Lionel coaches (an effort to divert attention from their battered exteriors). This might prove to be inspirational, lol.

Yes, glazing and all adds to the appearance. When possible I add it. This car has glazing in all windows - added it in layers between interior wall and finishing.

Working on building up an entirely new end that will trap the glazing in between the inner and outer walls; have to pre-paint everything as I put it together......tedious.

Most of the interior walls done and a new end fabricated and in place.





Glazing is sandwiched in between the inner and outer layers of the end.

This is proving to be an annoying challenge.....

Seems the roof stock has a bit of a twist/warp in it that's limiting the fit down on to the body. It's either shim the roof or the tops of the sides...or a bit of both. The front end clearly did not fit well from the starting point. Building up the front to meet the roof was expected.

Back the interior.....have to figure out that end railing still.

Got the platform interior walls/sides installed.



Time to go back and stain the wood, and then install some interior details....

That flooring looks terrific. What are you thinking of using for stain? Something commercially available or a homebrew mix?

healey36 wrote:That flooring looks terrific.

Thanks!

What are you thinking of using for stain? Something commercially available or a homebrew mix?

Minwax Gunstock

Some interior started: