Hi Jace; I'm not an expert, but the only variation in the caboose shell I'm aware of is that the later Pikemaster bodies did not have the end sill (which allowed the sheet metal floor to wrap upward as the end rails instead of a separate end rail piece).
I do not recall any articles on converting the caboose AF specifically to LV or WM versions, although that has been covered in HO using the similar Varney/Lifelike shell in RMC (part of their series on the NE caboose) among others. The biggest issue with the cars is that the window frames extend out rather than being inset as on the prototype. I have ignored that on my conversions (as have most others). Also, some prototypes used odd running boards that may not be commercially available, like the Alan Wood design. There used to be a couple of kits available, supplying a floor, Ace 6 ft spaced bolsters and Stewart parts for brake wheels and smoke jack. I'm sure with some sheet styrene and more modern parts you will find the work easy enough with just some photo references. Here is a good on-line reference for the LV: http://www.anthraciterailroads.org/lvrrmodeler/caboosemodels.htm More general on these cars: http://www.railroad.net/articles/railfanning/northeastcabooses/index.php Pieter E. Roos --- On Wed, 9/22/10, JGG KahnSr <[email protected]> wrote: > Getting away from electronics for a moment, since my 2-8-0 > is painted for WM I think I should have a matching > caboose. Happily, the > standard WM steel caboose is one of the "Northeastern" > pattern, along with RDG, LV, L&HR, and many others > (mostly secondhand owners), > produced as the stock AF. As it happens, one of my > SHS switchers is also an LV SW-9, so another AF caboose will > eventually end up painted > to match. > > I am sure over many years of scale and scalish modeling > using AF cars as a starting point, there have been numerous > WM and LV reworkings. > Any published guidance? Early in my S scale dabbling > I ended up with a pair of Andrews leaf spring trucks which > should work for WM, and > I have an extra pair of the AM leaf-spring Bettendorfs for > the LV, so that is a good start. I have the impression > that there were different runs > of the AF caboose, perhaps some more suitable as a starting > point than others? > > Jace Kahn > > General Manager > Ceres & Canisteo RR Co./Champlain County Traction Co. > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [email protected] > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
