Gondolas of Lake Terminal RR.

[modelsof1900]

For a long time I did not write about progress of my models being under construction. A few of you will remember to my 1899 gondola project – building five 66’ gondola models owned originally by the Lake Terminal RR.
I will start with a short pictured review of old thread because there all pictures have got lost after a server change.
First a link to that picture of an original car.

– building the frames.

– gluing floor planks.

– first four trussrods guided on top to side boards. (I think against upward arching.)

– pressing to the arched upward shape.

– in comparisation, a new gondola and an old one behind.



– bolsters, made from metal like the originals.

– five models ready for their first run.

And here is a short video documenting the last construction level.

Detailing must be the next steps and starting with the brake will follow. This I will document here now.

– adding nbws,

– 12 double queenposts, and than ...







I built 130 stake pockets in two different sizes and I glued and clamped them to the models using thin copper wire. (At this time the models have got already a light coating of thin black water-solvable color.) All the stakes are additional fixed by small NBW meanwhile - until today each model is equipped with 271 NBW of different sizes!







Preparation of small nickel silver strips and angles for the edge-connections of side- and end-boards. The first picture shows the needed parts for one model, 28 strips and 48 NBW – and the result. I was very lucky that only two of my models did get these “like new” construction of wall connections which I’m built after the original blue prints.



Three of the models (which I'm building in an aged version and arched up body) are built after the more simple method using one angle strip and four bolts only representing the changes in later times of live of originals. For seeing the differences click also to the link of original car and you will remark that I love this simplified solution.

Now the first parts in preparation for brake installation.



Click on picture for an enlarged view.

First here a sketch of the planned brake which I “constructed” after time-consuming searches of typical KC-brake constructions of that time. I did not found documents of the original brake equipped to these specific cars however I’m sure that “my brake construction” will be very close to one used on the time in 1900 era. A typical part of such a brake with handbrakes at each end of the car is the cross-lever which joints both handbrakes so the power of handbrakes will be transmitted to the brake lever like at ordinary other cars equipped with a single handbrake at one end of cars. So the mechanical air powered brake can work independently of the handbrake.









Here now already the preparation of first brake parts ...





... and installation of brake cylinder and train line – the models are in a condition before coating with a thin black color.

This is the present phase of models however adding of next brake parts will follow directly. A few of the needed parts are laying on my worktable and I promise that you must not wait a year or more again for next pictures.