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Caboose Click on the photos to see larger photo. Click "Back" to return. Caboose Car MKT 213 (1) Introduction Construction Construction of this Z scale model is in three parts. One part is the deck, which include the underbody details, truck assemblies and body-mount couplers. Another part is the steps at each end of the car. Another part is the sides/ends/top/cupola which is a series vertically and horizontally laminated dimensioned styrene. Approximately 150 individual pieces make up this model passenger car. The deck is a set of dimension styrene assembled so that a cavity for lead weight is made.
The underbody is as shown below: The steps for the ends are constructed from laminating various widths of styrene strip as shown below:
The caboose body sides are constructed of laminated styrene strips as shown below:
The caboose ends are as shown below:
The cupola is made of two end pieces and two side pieces as shown below:
The roof is .020" styrene and the walkway is 3/64" diamond brass grill. Detail The details making up this Z scale caboose car consist of approximately 150 individual pieces. Please see the list of materials at the end of this write-up. Several models were started and then scrapped as the construction process was figured out. This was very difficult and time consuming but now that the construction process is worked out, the difficulty is reduced to a very tedious and time consuming process. Microsoft PowerPoint was used to create the decals using an image of the chevron ends of the prototype. The underbody detail is made up of more than 18 individual pieces of dimensioned styrene and brass rod.
Conformity The reference material used to construct this car is from a number of digital photographs taken of caboose car MKT #213 located in West, Texas. Photos were used to capture Z scale measurements and in the two main photos, a reference marker of three or eight feet were a part of the photograph. Since the prototype is now a part of the museum in West, Texas, markings and road numbers may not seem correct except that photos of the prototype show only minimal markings. Note that road number, 213, is on only one side of the prototype (please refer to the project binder). The reference material used to construct this car is from a number of digital photographs taken of caboose car MKT #213 located in West, Texas.
Finishing and Lettering The Z scale car body has a base coat of Lt Gray primer and a green paint finish. There is yellow trim on the end roof and end steps. The underbody has a base coat Lt Gray primer with a Grimy Black finish. After all detail and decals were completed several coats of "Testors Dullcoat" were applied to give the model a clean appearance. The thirteen (13) windows are made from clear styrene and glued to the inside of the caboose using "Testors Clear Part Cement & Window Maker". A total of six decals were applied to the caboose. There are two chevrons at each end a decal on each side of the caboose. The chevron decals were made from overlaying PowerPoint rectangles onto a digital image of the prototype end and when the chevron was complete the prototype image was removed. Next the side decals were made using standard "text" objects in PowerPoint. These images were the copied and saved "special". This permits the text (which is now an image object) to be resized to Z scale. The first attempt at making the decals using an inkjet print failed because the yellow was not substantial enough to stand up to the green background. The PowerPoint slide was the used to print white on an Alps printer then overlaying yellow on top of the white. Scratch Building Detail plans and diagrams are included in this write-up and in the accompanying project binder. The reference material used to construct this car is from a number of digital photographs taken of caboose car MKT #213 located in West, Texas. Photos were used to capture Z scale measurements and in the two main photos, a reference marker of three or eight feet were a part of the photograph. Ninety-seven percent of the approximately 150 individual styrene pieces are scratch built or exempt trucks and couplers. The non-exempt components are two ladders and two brake wheels. List of Materials Cupola Assembly (1 each per model car)
End Assemblies (2 each per model car)
Side Assemblies (2 each per model car)
End Step Assemblies (2 each per model car)
Deck Assembly (1 each per model car)
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