HI:
I am new to the forum and new to O-Scale (about eight months). I have been an accomplished modeler of many different subjects / scales over a period of 60 years... I decided to go with Proto: 48 because I have always worked to those type of standards in other scales...HO, Sn3 and S (non-Flyer) fine scale, 1:24 & 1:25 auto and military etc.
Attached is my first Proto: 48 attempt. This is one of the old Intermountain kits of a 1937 type box-car. I added about 6" of height to the car so it would accept brass doors from Protocraft and re-worked the door tracks and stops accordingly. The trucks, couplers, ladders and brake end rigging are also Protocraft items. I did significant re-work on the stock under-carriage parts, adding scratch built lines and clevises and hangers. Hoses and glad-hands are from Protocraft. The paint is Scale-Coat II from Minuteman Models with Protocraft decals and a final overcoat of (believe it or not) Testors Dull Coat (right out of the rattle can). This dull coat, if applied slowly and sparingly is one of the best products out there for this purpose, just my opinion and experience. Some weathering is planned. for this one as well.
Other items on the bench at the present include an SP&S bay window 36' caboose (box-car conversion) - fully scratch built from Evergreen Styrene.... a completely reworked San Juan Car Company Standard Boxcar with Shapeways printed ends and a Red Caboose GP9. The GP9 is getting the full sound treatment from Sountraxx and has had its trucks reworked with Proto: 48 wheel sets from Jay Criswell at Right-O'-Way. First test runs of the GP9 have been very good.
Hope you enjoy.....
Regards
Bill (AZBill)
