Click on the photos to make them larger B&O I-5 This B&O I-5 was imported by Southwind Models in 1994. It is factory painted new and not weathered at this point. I was very happy to see that it had the prototypical looking draft gear with a Kadee 802 coupler in it right out of the box! B&O I-12 The B&O Wagontops are my favorite Non-PRR Cabooses. I have 3 total including 1 that was a paint job for someone else. I bought it back about 5 years later. They look great running behind my EM-1 and other B&O power! This was my first attempt at putting the Kadee 802 coupler into a prototypical looking draft gear. This model came with a nice draft gear casting and dummy brass coupler. If you wanted to put an 802 in it to run, you had to throw the whole dummy coupler and draft gear away. I thought that to be a waste of a nice casting. I just got my Unimat so I put it to work milling the draft gear casting out. I think it greatly added to the model and helped set the standard for my future modeling. I also had to move the steps outward slightly to clear the trucks. I added the step braces, cut lever and hose chains, new cut levers, and additional window rain gutters. It is a decal bash from many different sources.

Chessie I-12

I used a Mainline Modeler article on the Chessie I-12 as a detail reference to finish the B&O I-12. Looking at the article made me decide what to do with the second I-12 I had to paint. While I did NOT paint this model, I did all the “modernization” detail work beforehand. Most of the work involved changing window frames and adding the window “rock guards”. This also lead to a small and brief Chessie side interest. I have since sold most of the engines, but of course, still have this I-12, an SW-1 and some plastic freight cars.

Reading Northeast Caboose Class NM

This is an Overland Models Northeast caboose. I bought it in 3-09 as is to run with my Reading I-10sa and Reading Camelback and possibly in some mixed PRSL service. There are lights in the corner markers but they are not hooked up yet.

Added 5-30-14

Reading Northeast Caboose Class NMn

This is also an Overland Models Northeast caboose. It is NOT mine – YET, but probably will be at some point. It was a paint job for a friend. I added draft gear and marker lights. It was a very involved 4 color paint job.

Freelance Bobber Caboose

This is my freelance Bobber Caboose I made in July 2012 for my logging train. It is my first freelance project. Bobber cabooses are very rare in S Scale.

Click on the photo for my “how to” page of how I made it.

Logging Bobber Caboose

Added 10-3-17

Drovers Caboose

On April 30^th 2013 there was an auction for John Bortz’s S Scale Empire. I called John the #2 God of S Scale. I won this caboose at the auction. I have wanted a Drovers caboose since I was 13 and first saw it in S Gauge Herald. I don’t know if it actually exists anywhere on a real railroad. It was built from an Old School wood kit and is such an odd looking car.  I have been told it was built by Frank Titman for his first layout. There is some portion of an A F baggage car (I think) hidden in the car someplace. That is what I see when I turn it upside down. There is NO chance I would buy a kit and assemble it myself so I jumped all over it to win. I did some TLC to it by taking off the truck mounted couplers and added my body mounted draft gear with Kadee couplers. I repainted the roof.

Added 4-19-17

S Helper Service Cabooses

After about 6 months of some rather obsessive eBay searching, sometimes 3-4 times a day, a Conrail S Helper Service caboose finally appeared. I now have the 3 SHS cabooses I want. My set is complete.

Y4 Scale Test Car

Since the Scale Test car ran at the end of the train, I put it here.

This was made by Southwind Models in the early 1990s.

Updated 10-3-17

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