01-11-2010, 05:33 PM
Now that I've just decreased my Penn Central caboose fleet by two, it's time to turn my attention to creating some more realistic cabins for my PC trains. I remember seeing N8s a lot when I was a kid even though I didn't know their designation at the time.
They looked like this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1076248">http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1076248</a><!-- m -->
When I was a boy I saw an article in the February 1970 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman about making a reasonable looking N8 from the classic Tyco caboose. I tried it as a kid but butchered it. I kept the article though, always planning to try it again. So, I'm going to go out on a limb and see if I can't fashion an N8 this way. Tyco cabooses are plentiful and a dime a dozen (well, $2.99 actually) in the backroom of my local hobby shop. I bought two.
Here's one....
![[Image: IMG_1231-1.jpg]](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa145/Ralph59/IMG_1231-1.jpg)
The first step is to relocate the cupola so it is centered on the roof like the prototype. You cut it at the appropriate places and simply turn that section around on the roof. This required careful razor saw and exacto knife use...something I was not skilled at as a youngster. (It's a wonder I didn't sever a finger back then!)
Here's how it looks reconfigured. So far so good.
![[Image: IMG_1233-1.jpg]](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa145/Ralph59/IMG_1233-1.jpg)
Next will come widening the small windows on the sides. After that I'll have to putty the cut seams on the roof and close up the center window so the caboose has only two symmetrical windows on each side.
I'm looking forward to this project. Bowser offers an N8 for about $30 but I want the fun of bashing one. And, if it works, I can make at least a couple more for that money.
Stay tuned!
Ralph
They looked like this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1076248">http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1076248</a><!-- m -->
When I was a boy I saw an article in the February 1970 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman about making a reasonable looking N8 from the classic Tyco caboose. I tried it as a kid but butchered it. I kept the article though, always planning to try it again. So, I'm going to go out on a limb and see if I can't fashion an N8 this way. Tyco cabooses are plentiful and a dime a dozen (well, $2.99 actually) in the backroom of my local hobby shop. I bought two.
Here's one....
![[Image: IMG_1231-1.jpg]](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa145/Ralph59/IMG_1231-1.jpg)
The first step is to relocate the cupola so it is centered on the roof like the prototype. You cut it at the appropriate places and simply turn that section around on the roof. This required careful razor saw and exacto knife use...something I was not skilled at as a youngster. (It's a wonder I didn't sever a finger back then!)

![[Image: IMG_1233-1.jpg]](http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa145/Ralph59/IMG_1233-1.jpg)
Next will come widening the small windows on the sides. After that I'll have to putty the cut seams on the roof and close up the center window so the caboose has only two symmetrical windows on each side.
I'm looking forward to this project. Bowser offers an N8 for about $30 but I want the fun of bashing one. And, if it works, I can make at least a couple more for that money.
Stay tuned!
Ralph