Rock Island PS-1 boxcar

Here we have a Rock Island PS-1 boxcar with the early billboard lettering found on several of the Rock Island's PS-1 boxcars.  This is another All-Nation kit that had some needs for restoration and I decided to strip the model down to the bare metal and start at the beginning.  I used Scalecoat boxcar red paint along with Champion and Microscale decals.  I added the air hoses, cut levers, and complete air brake system to the underside of the car.  This car will be used on My Proto Hi-rail layout.  
Hope you like it..  
Bill

Green Bay and Western PS-1 Boxcar

Here we have another prototype model from my layout that I built a couple of years ago.  In 1959, the Green Bay and Western upgraded 25 of their PS-1 boxcars to use to transport Auto parts to the Ford assembly plant in St. Paul, MN.  The GB&W along with the Ann Arbor set aside these cars to transport parts as a premium service.  I found some pictures of these cars and made the decision that one would fit my fantasy layout plans.  This car is another All-Nation boxcar kit I had in my project cabinet and I decided to build it for this model.  Using the photos I had I added the necessary details to the car such as cut levers, air hoses, and a complete brake system.  I found the correct red paint and decals are Champion along with some Microscale decals.  The white circles along with underframe was an early form of road crossing safety markings, which were beginning to be found on many railroads during the late 1950's and 1960's.  They were made using a small wood toothpick dipped in white paint with a gentle touch to the side of the car to avoid smearing.  I hope you enjoy this car as much as I did making it.  Thanks.  Bill

Union Pacific double door boxcar

Here we have a scratch built Union Pacific double door boxcar.  This car was made from an old photograph I found from the early 1940's.  I decided to use the earlier lettering from the late 1930's through 1940's.  This car is loaded with Celotex panels being shipped from the Upper Peninsula to various markets in the U.S.  The car has complete brake system with air hoses, cut levers,  and assorted additional details.  This car will operate on my 2-rail O scale layout.  Hope you like the car.  

Bill

Rock Island 50 foot double door boxcar

This week we have a model of a 50 foot double door boxcar from the Rock Island.  This is a former Athearn boxcar that was found in a box of trains I purchased a few year ago.  I found I had some Rock Island decals laying in my project drawer and a 50 foot boxcar which I did not have any plans for it.  After doing some research about the Rock Island, I found they had a few of these early 50 foot PS-1 cars.  I made the decision to make it one of the upgraded cars from the late 1950's and give it a load of Celotex panels coming from the Upper Peninsula.  The car underwent the usual "Thayer" treatment and was given Scalecoat Boxcar Red and the decals were Champion.  There is complete underframe detail long with cut levers and air hoses.  I used Selley custom Finishes, Scale City Design, and Walthers parts to complete this model.  Thanks for visiting our blog and hope you like the models. 
Bill 

Louisville and Nashville O scale boxcar kit

Here we have another O scale boxcar kit the has been upgraded with new paint and decals representing one of my favorite railroad - the Louisville and Nashville.  My folks moved to Louisville in 1963 and we lived near the Crescent Hill grade coming out of Louisville on the East Side. I often heard the L&N trains coming up the grade in the evening hours from my bedroom window.  In later years I would go to South Louisville and watch trains switch the old Strawberry yard as well as the new Strawberry yard, which today is known as Osborn yard.  Many fond memories I have made over the years with the L&N.  Anyway on to the boxcar!  This boxcar was given the "Thayer" treatment by having the sides stripped of the old paint and lettering and then a new coat of Floquil Boxcar Red was applied and then the lettering is from Champion.  I added details to the car to include cut levers, air hoses, and a comlete brake system.  This car is another one for my 3 rail Proto Hi-Rail layout.  Hope you like it.  Thanks Bill

Colorado and Southern Athearn Boxcar

Here we have a rebuilt Athearn Boxcar that is lettered for the Colorado and Southern subsidiary of the Burlington. This boxcar was another car found at a train show that was in bad shape.  It was stripped to the bare metal and repainted as a C&S car with grain boards added for service in grain loadings.   The decals are Champion and the paint is Floquil Boxcar Red.  I have added detail items such as cut levers, air hoses, and a complete brake system to the bottom of the car.  This car will run on my Proto Hi-rail layout.  Hope you like it.  Bill

Morrell Meat Reefers

Here we have a nice wooden meat reefer with Morrell markings.  I had some Morrell Decals and found a picture of an early Morrell Meat reefer and thought this would be a great model to build.  The car started as a early Walthers wooden reefer kit to which I added several detail items such as cut levers, air hoses, brake detail.  The kit came with a K type brake system and I converted it to a AB system using the photographs I was able to find of these early Morrell cars.  The trucks are Auel Andrews trucks with the early ribbed wheels.  I had a lot of fun building this car and used information I was able to find on the paint scheme commonly found on Morrel; reefers during the late 1950's.  I hope you find this car to your liking.  I certainly enjoyed building it and it will run on my Proto Hi-Rail layout. 

Bill