Step 1:
Purchase caboose
Micro-Trains caboose, purchased on eBay
for $15.00 - $18.00......Why destroy a Micro-Trains collector caboose? Because if the
market doesn't offer an N Scale Ann Arbor caboose, I had to make my own! |
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The Ann Arbor had close to 20 Wabash-style cabooses with
streamlined cupolas. Most were red, some with safety stripes and heralds, some w/yellow
ends, and some painted orange with the ferry-in-the-fog logo. |
Step 2:
Disassemble and strip
Gently and carefully remove the ladders and end-rails from the
caboose body by pushing up at the base of the steps. Remove the roof walks by gently
pulling straight up. |
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Remove the cupola by squeezing in slightly from each end
toward the middle. Remove the smoke-jack by pulling straight up. I removed the Pepsi logo
with an X-acto knife. |
Step 3: Create new parts
I formed templates for the new cupola sides, ends and roof by trial
and error, cutting pieces of paper into approximate shapes and then checking proportions
by placing test pieces directly onto the caboose shell. When the pieces fit, I wrapped
each template in clear tape to protect the sides and to form a more rigid material. |
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I drew windows onto the templates and then taped the template to
sheet styrene. I used Evergreen N
scale car siding, smooth side out. First I cut out the windows. Then I traced
around the template with a sharp X-acto knife. The two narrow straight pieces are used to
anchor the cupola sides to the car body. The thin piece of styrene was used for the
window tracks on the cupola sides. |
Step 4: Body preparation
Cut two small squares to fill the side window on the car body and glue into
place with Testor's liquid cement. Then as mentioned in the last step, use the narrow
strips to form a support for the new cupola sides. (hold the cupola pieces back to back
and lightly sand or trim to ensure they match) |
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Make sure the supports are mounted so that
they do not appear in the cupola windows. It is helpful to use the existing roof ribs of
the caboose to ensure proper alignment of your new cupola. If the pieces match each other
then they will have the exact same distance from the roof ribs on each side and you know
they will be symmetrical. |
Step 5: Add cupola ends and top
I marked the center of each cupola end and then folded the piece in
half, bending the styrene and achieving a slight "crown" in the cupola. I then
did the same for the top piece. This ensures that there is a sleek, gentle bend in the
material, replicating the streamlined look of the Wabash-style cabins. |
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If you look closely at this picture
you can
see that there are gaps at every corner of the cupola. This is intentional
because I wanted each
piece to "almost" fit so I could fill the gaps with modeling putty.
The putty could then be easily shaped and sanded into the streamlined curve of the cupola body.
All pieces are joined with Testor's liquid cement. |
Step 6: Apply contour putty
Here you can see the smooth globs of putty that have been applied to each
seam of the cupola... the window in the car body has also been puttied. |
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After the putty dries it can be carved down with an
X-acto
knife and shaped to final form with fine sandpaper. The same procedure is performed for
the car body side window. |
Step 7: Final Shaping
Using fine sandpaper and an X-acto knife, the caboose is taking shape right
before your eyes. |
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Don't worry about screwing it up, you can always apply more
putty! |
Step 8: Primer
Paint the entire caboose with flat gray primer, including the inside
- you don't want your new red caboose to have a glowing green interior! |
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That side window is slowly disappearing. As soon as the
final paint and decals are applied, it will be VERY hard to even see any remaining marks. |
Step 9: Final paint and reassembly
The caboose was painted with caboose red paint for the sides, and
reefer yellow for the ends. The cupola window rails were painted light gray, as were the
window edges on the front and back of the cupola. The smoke-jack was painted grimy
black. The lettering is dry-transfer. |
#2845 - red w/yellow ends
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Carefully replace the handrails and ladders back into their
slots above the steps. I replaced the stock Micro-Trains wheel-sets with low profile
wheels for a more prototypical look and the caboose was complete. This was the fourth
caboose I've built in this manner and pictures of the other three are included below.
Decals from SoliDesign were
also used to letter some of these crummies. |
#2832 - red w/safety stripe
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#2831 - ferry in the fog scheme
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#2835 - red w/compass herald
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back to the
Annie pages |
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