building a 3" scale bobber caboose

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ironhorseriley
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by ironhorseriley »

Beautiful job, Mike! I have enjoyed following your detailed and informative post. Newbies like me gain great insight from the effort you put into this. I especially enjoyed all the woodworking involved since that is my strongest background.

Jim
Jim, Former railroader, fascinated by wood working & “all things engineered”.
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FLSTEAM
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by FLSTEAM »

Mike that would sure look good coupled up to my caboose........:o)

BTW I will be at TM logging meet

John B
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Harlock
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by Harlock »

FLSTEAM wrote:Mike that would sure look good coupled up to my caboose........:o)

BTW I will be at TM logging meet

John B
:D I will be at the Triennial. When is the logging meet?
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FLSTEAM
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by FLSTEAM »

TM logging meet is two weeks before the Triennial.

JB
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Harlock
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by Harlock »

FLSTEAM wrote:TM logging meet is two weeks before the Triennial.

JB
Ah. Maybe on a year when there is no triennial. :)
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ironhorseriley
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by ironhorseriley »

Mike,

I was wondering what you calculated the minimum radius would be for your caboose based on the wheel base? I am considering building some 2 axle cars for use in my future backyard loop which should be able to do a 28' minimum radius.

Jim
Jim, Former railroader, fascinated by wood working & “all things engineered”.
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Harlock
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by Harlock »

ironhorseriley wrote:Mike,

I was wondering what you calculated the minimum radius would be for your caboose based on the wheel base? I am considering building some 2 axle cars for use in my future backyard loop which should be able to do a 28' minimum radius.

Jim
Hi Jim,

The wheels are 7" diameter, and the wheelbase is 27". I don't know the formula for that, but let me know if you figure it out. It also varies depending on how much a person has broad-gauged their layout. For example, most of the tracks I go to here are actually gauged 7 5/8 or 7 9/16.

--Mike
Last edited by Harlock on Sun May 31, 2015 3:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Harlock
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by Harlock »

I labelled one side for the original prototype. I will probably put my own San Lorenzo Flume & Lumber Co logo on the other side. Many different photographic opportunities depending on which way you are facing. :)

I have to install some tastefully hidden safety chain hooks underneath, then it is mechanically complete and ready for road testing.
Attachments
15-05-26_caboose_C&S-decals-8982.jpg
15-05-26_caboose_C&S-decals-8985.jpg
15-05-26_caboose_C&S-decals-8987.jpg
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ccvstmr
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by ccvstmr »

Mike...very, VERY nice! Having a "cabin" on the of the back of the train is one thing...the gingerbread on the end platforms, end beams, cupola, handrails, etc...really set that model off. Put that on the track and get a photo...and someone is likely to think that's a garden or table top model caboose. Congrats to you!

The length would seem to fit your other "shortened" fleet of equipment. Should make for a nice train set once you have everything coupled up on the rails. The different logos on each side...nice touch. I did that with a wood-sided reefer...with different slogans on each side. Kind of like the old billboard reefers from years ago. You of course realize, you'll never have the sun on the side where you WANT to take that special photo of your 'boose.

You gotta be thrilled. It all came together starting with a vision, a plan, some castings and a lot of glue, fasteners and TLC. Good show...jolly good show! Now get out and enjoy the fruits of your effort! Hope you'll share some pix when you have the entire set together. Carl B.
Life is like a sewer...what you get out of it depends on what you put into it!
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Harlock
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by Harlock »

Miscellaneous superdetailing continues. Jim Sabin, who has built an identical caboose along side mine, made a beautiful dummy air cylinder for his, and graciously made me a copy of it as well. Tonight I finally installed it.

Believe it or not, the cylinder body is mostly wood!
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15-11-27_brake-cylinder-9466.jpg
painted.
painted.
16-02-09_caboose-brake-cylinder-8917.jpg
16-02-09_caboose-brake-cylinder-8937.jpg
16-02-09_caboose-brake-cylinder-8936.jpg
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SilverSanJuan
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by SilverSanJuan »

That's some really outstanding detailing, Mike. Jim did an excellent job on the air cylinder. Can't tell it is made of wood. I was gonna ask if this was a functional air system!

Todd
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Re: building a 3" scale bobber caboose

Post by sabin »

Glad to see it mounted under the bobber. Actually , the main cylinder and tank parts are pvc fittings from the hardware store with bits and pieces of wood and brass attatched. The whole thing is held together with a length of all thread. A fun little" fit and fiddle" project.

Jim
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