Utility railcar, scratch build (1:28 approx.)

Carleroo

Carleroo

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I just finished a scratch-built utility railcar. I forced myself not to buy anything, but rather use leftovers from other projects. As in my previous build, I used two different-sized washers glued together for the wheels. They don't resemble the real thing, but viewed from the sides they look ok. I tried my hand at weathering but didn't want to make it look too ramshackle. For the roof, I used real tar paper left over from our roof replacement about a dozen years ago. The various hitches and connections are my own invention - again not wanting to have to go out and buy the real thing. So, from an authenticity point of view, this is not ideal, but for me, it was the fun of designing and poking through my piles and drawers of"stuff" to see what I could use.
 

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Man, that's beautiful! If we had a "Model of the week" thing going on I would submit this one of yours.

I've been thinking of building something similar for my tramway. I've bookmarked your post for reference. Thanks for sharing!
 
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dunnyrail said:
Rather like the idea of using up bits from the junk box, have plenty of cuts offs from wagons and coaches. Perhaps a small kitchen table job in store for me.
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Yes, it was a fun build and only took a few weeks - an hour or two here and there. It's amazing what you can do with metal washers, coffee stir sticks, pieces of wood, and brass wire. And, leftover tar paper!
 
Jasper said:
Man, that's beautiful! If we had a "Model of the week" thing going on I would submit this one of yours.

I've been thinking of building something similar for my tramway. I've bookmarked your post for reference. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Jasper. There are a lot of ideas out there. I found a lot of good ideas on Pinterest, under "garden railways"
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/22869910602587865/
 
Jasper said:
Undoubtedly the ones on the shelves visible in your first photo.
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Ah, yes! I have been building boats, trams, train cars, and a few other items, including a fantasy flying machine and stagecoach. Most have been from kits, but some are scratch-built. I have a Facebook Page that highlights what I've done. Not sure if you can access Facebook, but the link to photos and descriptions is here: East Toronto Trams, Trains & Ships.
 
I, too. am a great believer in the power of coffee stirrers. Here in UK, where Tim Hortons is rare, I have to make do with the items from Costa, Starbucks, Cafe Nero and Micky D's. Since I build my cars in 1/20.3 and 16mm, they approximate to 3, 4, 6 and 6 inch planks - ideal for the type of rolling stock that gives me greatest plasure.

Here is MY NG work van - mostly throwaway stuff, and scratchings, based on an AML flat car.....

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It's lettered OML for the Old Mill Lumber Co. Inc, a branch of the fallen flag railroad belonging to my dear friend Dick Smith of Port Orford OR. He had a remarkable 300 foot long, fully-sceniced railway in his backyard, called the Port Orford Coast RR, and every single non-moving item on it was build in his shop - even THAT was bigger than our house! Sadly, it was badly damaged in a storm about seven years back, and Dick lost heart. I have a few videos that I might post on YT, with his permission. There were around twenty Aristocraft C-16/18 locos, all r/c with high-quality sound, and he used to take great delight in spotting cars up and down the track for the unwary to make up into a consist. A spur line, just past the depot of Foley's Fast Freight Forwarding led to and from the Old Mill Lumber extension - ostensibly, that is, since I ran that part of the line here in East Anglia, UK, making it by far the longest 'short-line' on Planet Earth.

Here's a little taster of a bygone era, with my heartfelt thanks to my old buddy, Dick Smith...

 
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tac foley said:
I, too. am a great believer in the power of coffee stirrers. Here in UK, where Tim Hortons is rare, I have to make do with the items from Costa, Starbucks, Cafe Nero and Micky D's. Since I build my cars in 1/20.3 and 16mm, they approximate to 3, 4, 6 and 6 inch planks - ideal for the type of rolling stock that gives me greatest plasure.

Here is MY NG wotk van - mostly throwaway stuff, and scratchings, based on an AML flat car.....

View attachment 337459

It's lettered OML for the Old Mill Lumber Co. Inc, a branch of the fallen flag railroad belonging to my dear friend Dick Smith of Port Orford OR. He had a remarkable 300 foot long, fully-sceniced railway in his backyard, called the Port Orford Coast RR, and every single non-moving item on it was build in his shop - even THAT was bigger than our house! Sadly, it was badly damaged in a storm about seven years back, and Dick lost heart. I have a few videos that I might post on YT, with his permission. There were around twenty Aristocraft C-16/18 locos, all r/c with high-quality sound, and he used to take great delight in spotting cars up and down the track for the unwary to make up into a consist. A spur line, just past the depot of Foley's Fast Freight Forwarding led to and from the Old Mill Lumber extension [ostensibly, that is, since I ran that part of the line here in East Anglia, UK, making it by far the longest 'short-line' on Planet Earth.

Here's a little taster of a bygone era, with my heartfelt thanks to my old buddy, Dick smith...
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That is an amazing piece of work. Next to your example, mine looks like a child's toy! As for the coffee stir sticks, my preference is for Starbucks, despite the ubiquitous Tim Horton's, which appears on almost every street corner! What a great story about your friend Dick. I don't have any actual track on which to run my models. They are all static displays. But I am forever fascinated by those who have the railways and the dioramas. Thanks for sharing!
 
Carleroo said:
That is an amazing piece of work. Next to your example, mine looks like a child's toy! As for the coffee stir sticks, my preference is for Starbucks, despite the ubiquitous Tim Horton's, which appears on almost every street corner! What a great story about your friend Dick. I don't have any actual track on which to run my models. They are all static displays. But I am forever fascinated by those who have the railways and the dioramas. Thanks for sharing!
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Please don't belittle your efforts in any way! We each do what we care to do, and I'd be very proud to have any of your hand-made products on my display shelves! Message me with your location, if you feel like it - my family lives in the area Belleville, Trenton and West, and we're stuck over here.
 
tac foley said:
Foley's Fast Freight Forwarding led to and from the Old Mill Lumber extension [ostensibly, that is, since I ran that part of the line here in East Anglia, UK, making it by far the longest 'short-line' on Planet Earth.
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There is one heck of a 'washout' between you and the mainline, Tac!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

PhilP
 
tac foley said:
Ah, I ought to have shown it nekkid, so to speak.....afore I coloured it in...and yes, the door was a leftover from another ptoject. I looked at it and thought...hmmmmmm, now that would be a good door to have on a work van - so here it is.

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Very nice! Where did you get those handles/grab bars? They are so much more realistic than the brass wire that I stick into holes on the wall surfaces.
 
Carleroo said:
Very nice! Where did you get those handles/grab bars? They are so much more realistic than the brass wire that I stick into holes on the wall surfaces.
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Ozark Miniatures is your friend here. A HYOOJ ranges of high-quality white metal castings for numerous scales applicable to us. Brass wire with teeny washers around it makes great handrails.
 
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