Northern Alberta Railway crane and idler

[cnrglen]

Got a new project for another modeller:

   

A rather interesting crane and idler car  from the Northern Alberta Railway.

[cnrglen]

Now I don't believe that there is a diesel crane like this one available in HO scale so I'm going to use the larger Athearn crane and modify it just a bit to dieselize it. the Idler car will be a bit more acurate as it looks like it was a prototype kitbash as I will be doing.

   

The two main parts for the idler will be an Athearn 50' flatcar and a Branchline 50' plug door boxcar. I used my athearn crane to figure out the clearances and mde some measurments for cutting.

   

I stripped the UP paint off the boxcar shell. and made some tape lines right behind the door on both sides, then the razor saw came out.

   

After some careful cutting I have a clean straight shortened structure. Branchlime boxcars have their floor molded in to the box and the roof is seperate. I had already glued the roof on so it was cut square with the rest. I did have to sand the underbody detail flush with the floor so the body would sit flat on the flatcar.

   

I did shave the stake pockets off the flatcar and then the body slipped perfectly over the sides. The prototype doesen't have pockets anywhere so those will all be removed.

   

The last thing I did today was to add the front wall tool the tool cabin.  I'm going to have to order some Tichy doors and windows for it.

[hillyard999]

really looking forward to seeing more of your build!

[TMo]

Another great project, Glen... I predict that the customer will be very satisfied when you're finished.

Are the NAR decals available? I'm guessing the paint scheme is Black, Yellow and Gray like their locos?

[LiveSteamer]

Another great project underway. I will be watching this one and the progress. It's always a learning experience when you do projects.

[cnrglen]

actually it will be dark blue, yellow and gray. I built an NAR bay window caboose for another modeller several years ago.

NAR Bay window Caboose | ModelRailroadForums.com

It was a kit from Miniatures by Eric. Unfortunetly it's not available anymore.

[cnrglen]

I got a bit more work done, starting with the idler flat

   

I sanded the stake pockets off as well as the top row of rivets. I also shaved the molded-on have grabs and the stirups. The stirups were replaced with tichy parts and I hand-bent new grabs.

   

The crane I'm converting to diesel so I sanded off the smoke stack and plated it over with some styrene.
   

I fabriucated a wuffer and exhaust from some styrene tubing and brass rod. I made a grill in the back from a piece of tichy metal roofwalk and some 1X3 styrene strip.
I have the windows and doors for the idler car ordered. I'll continue the project when they arrive.
There are Northern Ablerta decals made by Highball graphics. Unfortuently they are only for locomotives but I believe I can adapt them for this project.

[cnrglen]

I got some good progress on the idler cabin.

   

My doors and windows from Tichy showed up. While they are not, exact replicas they will do the job.

   

I started with the deck end of the cabin. I added the door and pre-drilled for the grab irons that will be added. Tichy adds a drilling fixture in it's boxcar and reefer kits. I used that on this job as well.

The next challenge was to fabricate the bay window on each side. I was going to cheat and use an emd all weather window but then I went through my Evergreen styrene collection and found some 3/8" square tubing. That gives me the right width for the window structure.

   

I cut to lengths and angled one end for the roof. Then it was a matter of figuring out the windows.

   

I used my digital caliplers to meaue and place the window opening on the side. I drilled a hole in the center and used a few jewelers files to file out to the square, checking my work with the window casting as I went.

   

The side oval windows were made the same way. Drilling out the round ends and filing the rest of the opening. These won't have castigs in them, just glazing of some kind.

   

I did the same procedure to create the other door and window openings, taking care to measure for the eventual three color paint job.

   

The cabin on the flatcar. I still have to install the grab irons and the manual brake gear on the other end but it's coming together.

   
I was in a hobby shop yesterday and found this. I'm planning to take the two toolboxes off the deck and use them as the start for the deck boxes on mine.

[TMo]

"I was in a hobby shop..."

Sadly, not a thing most of us can do easily anymore. Nearest decent one for me is an hour away in York, PA.

Those tool boxes are going to look nice on that recovery car!

[cnrglen]

Actually this hobby shop was a 2 hour drive away. I do have a local shop but he only stocks the basics for model railroading. The shop that I visited is pretty much the same except he has boxes of used stuff (mostly junk). There is another 2 1/2 hours away but the nearest dedicated Model railroad shop is 5 hours away in Vancouver.
I'm guessing that the shop you are referencing is White Rose Hobbies?

I finished the cabin on the idler car.


   

I installed the drop grabs on the one end. and a Caboose smoke jack on the roof.

   

I also added the brake gear on the other end. 
All I need to do before the car is primer eady are the big toolboxes on the deck.