Western Pacific SS Box Car 26057

Not all freight car builds for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company come out of the unbuilt kits cabinet. The build of Western Pacific 26057 was one of these builds.  My friend, George Toman was building several of Lines West Products Western Pacific (WP) single-sheathed box car 3D Printed kits.   When we spoke after he had finished his builds he asked if I had built a 3D Printed freight car kit.  My answer was, “No.”  He said he had an extra body and a underbody with K brakes.  If I wanted to give a 3D Printed freight car a try he would send the body and underframe my way.  I said,  “Yes.”  Upon arrival the body and underbody with mounting parts immediately went to my work desk for build.  The underbody mounting parts are brass threaded parts threaded for 2-56 screws that are pressed into molded pockets under coupler pockets to accept long 2-56 screws to install underbody via screws passing through coupler pockets.  Trucks also use this mounting method.

After inspection of the car body and underframe I was impressed with the fine details.   The fine details as longitudinal running board brackets and door stops are very delicate requiring careful handling of  car body during build.  I decided to build the car as a Western Pacific box car as designed and lettered.  I did not have the herald in the decal set or doors for the car body that are provided in the purchased kit.  Therefore, I sent an email to Lines West Products to fine out if I could purchase the WP decal set for the car.   A fast response provided information that decals were available and since in my email I had stated I had only car body and underbody, the doors for the car body could be obtained.  Of course, a purchase was made.

Knowing decals and doors were on the way, I began the build by reading and digesting information provided in the excellent kit instructions also shared by George.  The kit instructions have an excellent prototype history of the Western Pacific (WP) single-sheathed box car.  The kit instructions tell us the cars were built by “The Pullman Car Company, Ill as Lot #5267.  The wood sided cars were built with steel underframe, steel superstructure and six vertical posts per side, three on each side of the side door with Howe truss type diagonal posts.  The cars were “40 feet” with a single metal reinforced 6 foot wide 2 1/2 inch vertical T&G (tongue and groove, author add) wood sheathed side door.”  Other features included a sheet metal roof covered with black car cement, wood running boards, KC brakes and arch bar trucks.  As delivered, the cars were assigned into the 15001-16000 series; however, during their life some of these cars were converted for other uses.

One conversion occurred in 1937 with 100 of the box cars converted into plaster/gypsum service.  These cars were renumbered into the 26001-26100 series.   When converted the cars received new paint, lettering, AB brakes, Andrews trucks and  some cars hatches and collapsible interior bulkheads.  Upon checking a 1953 Original Railway Equipment Register (ORER) the notes for this car series stated car number 26057 in the series was one of the cars that did not receive hatches.   Therefore, I chose this number for my build and service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company.

WP Box Car 26072                    My Collection
(Click or tap to enlarge this or any image)

My model build began with the underbody fitted and installed  into the car body.   Once installed, the fine detailed K brake was removed ( in kit an AB or K brake available) with a micro blade scalpel.

K Brake 3D printed on car removed.

Micro scalpels on right.

During the removal of the K brake I learned that one had to be very careful working around 3D Printed parts as easily broken.   I broke a tiny portion of a crossbearer and several crossties I repaired or replaced with matching size strip styrene.  Once repaired, Kadee #148 couplers were inserted in the coupler pockets and Accurail #166 Andrews trucks with InterMountain 33 inch metal wheel sets were installed with provided long 2-56 screws.

Broken crossbearer and crossties repaired.

With underbody installed, repaired underbody parts were brush painted with Vallejo Model Color mix of Dark Sea Gray 70.91 and Black 70.950 to match color of 3D printed underbody.  Once the paint was dry, thee car ready for install of detail parts.

Underbody installed.  Car ready for detail parts.

Back to the underbody to install Tichy Train Group (Tichy) brake components in AB set #3013.  If a kit was purchased with 3D Printed AB underbody this step would not be necessary; however, I started with a 3D Printed K bake underbody.  Mounting brackets for brake cylinder and AB valve as the brake components came from Tichy AB set #3013.  Mounting brackets for the air reservoir were plastic sill steps cut from some car.  Brake levers were cut from Evergreen strip styrene and cut to shape.  The brake cylinder lever from Evergreen strip styrene #8108, 1 x 8 and floating lever from Evergreen strip styrene #8106, 1 x 6.  The plate for attaching the floating lever at the center sill was already 3D Printed.  And, brake levers hangers were bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW) and installed.

AB brake components installed.

After brake lever hanger install all installed parts as previous repaired parts were brush painted with Vallejo Model Color mix of Dark Sea Gray 70.91 and Black 70.950 to match color of 3D Printed underbody.

Brake components painted.

While letting underbody paint dry thoroughly, the grab irons and sill steps were bent and installed on the car body sides.  The 3D Printed car body had dimples for all grab iron hole location, so very easy to drill.  To drill out the holes, I chose a #80 drill mounted in a Dremel tool allowing the task to be done quickly.   Drop type grab irons were bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW and installed for the ladder.   Straight grab irons were bent as well and installed on the left end of the side.   Roof grab irons were bent and installed using Yarmouth Model Works etched eye bolts without shoulder for corner legs.  Sill steps were bent from ordinary stapler staples as suggested in the instructions.   The bending of sill steps from staples, used years ago, had not been used for a long time; however, still a very good method.

Grab iron ladders, grab irons and sill steps installed.

Onto the B end to install drop type grab irons as on the sides.  Drop grab irons (see sidebar for bending) were bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW for grab iron ladders.  In addition, the sill step grab irons and right side grab irons bent with Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW were installed.  A brake shaft brake step was bent from Detail Associate # 2524, 10 x 30 flat brass bar strip and installed.   A fascia vertical bracket, unknown manufacturer, from my parts drawer was installed.   Finally, the brake shaft, Tichy #1102, .015 PBW with a Tichy brake wheel from AB #3013, brake set was installed.  No need to install retainer valve or line as already very well 3D Printed on the B end.

End grab iron ladder and other detail parts installed.

End grab iron ladder and other detail parts installed.

End grab iron ladder and other detail parts installed.

 A cap on the brake shaft above brake wheel was added with MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK).

MEK Goop and fine wire applicators.

Back to the underbody to install a dirt collector, piping and brake rods.

• Piping from air reservoir to control valve, Tichy #1101 .010” PBW
• Piping from brake cylinder to control valve, Tichy #1106, .0125” diameter PBW
• Brake rods, Tichy #1106 .0125” PBW
• Brake rod clevises, MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK)
• Chain, Precision Scale #48553, 34 links per inch
• Dirt collector, Tichy AB set #3013

Underbody detail parts added.

Once underbody detail part install was finished, all installed detail parts were brush painted with Vallejo Model Color mix of Dark Sea Gray 70.91 and Black 70.950 to match color of 3D Printed color.

Details parts added painted.

Details parts added painted.

Now the install of uncoupling levers was done.   Uncoupling levers were bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW and installed with eye bolts bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW for brackets.  After uncoupling levers were installed the car was moved to the paint shop.  The car body was taped to protect it from over spray.  And, underbody and roof, to represent black car cement, were airbrushed Vallejo Model Air NATO Black 71.251.  

Uncoupling lever installed.

Roof airbrushed NATO Black.

Underbody airbrushed NATO Black.

Once was dry, the doors which had arrived in the mail were now installed.   And, the car body was airbrushed Vallejo Model Color Saddle Brown 70.940.

Car body airbrushed Saddle Brown.

Car body airbrushed Saddle Brown.

Car body airbrushed Saddle Brown.

Once the paint was air dried, the car body was airbrushed with Vallejo Gloss Medium 70.470 for a gloss base for decal application.  When the gloss coat was dry, decals were applied.   Decals used were the decals Lines West Products provides in the kit or purchased on the Lines West Products website.

Decals were soaked off in distilled water and applied to the car body where MicroScale Micro Set had been applied with a brush.   After the decal was applied in the Micro Set and positioned the edges had MicroScale Micro Sol applied.  Any excess solution was sucked away with the torn edge of a paper towel.  Again when dry, car body sprayed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish 70.510 to better hide edges of decals and protect decals during handling.  Again when dry, the car body was sprayed with Model Master Acryl, #4636, flat to protect decals and provide a flat finish for weathering when applied.

Decals applied.

Decals applied.

Decals applied.

Decals applied.

Weathering done before putting WP 26057  in service was to weather the car with Pan Pastels and color pencils.  Pan Pastels Neutral Grey 820.5 was applied with a makeup brush very lightly over car body.  Prismacolor Premier Black PC935 pencil on upper car body and AK Weathering Pencil Dust/Rainmarks AK 10026 on car body sill were used over the applied Neutral grey using the above prototype photo.

Car weathered.

Decals applied.

Decals applied.

Western Pacific single-sheathed box car 26057 was ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.”  A car card was made for WP 26057 to put it in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.  Yes, WP 26057 escaped from captive service to ship bulk gypsum from mine in Nevada to wallboard plants in California (from kit instructions) to make it to Minnesota to run on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company.

WP 26057 spotted at Sawhorse Millwork
in Tunnel City, Minnesota.

WP 26057 spotted at Sawhorse Millwork
in Tunnel City, Minnesota.

WP 26057 spotted at Sawhorse Millwork
in Tunnel City, Minnesota.

WP 26057 spotted at Sawhorse Millwork
in Tunnel City, Minnesota.

Backdrop side of Sawhorse Millwork.

 I want to say, “Thank You George Toman” for letting me experience the build of my first 3D Printed freight car.  A “Thank You” to Todd Jones of Lines West Products producing this fine 3D Printed freight car and to obtain car doors.

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please sign your comment with your name if you choose to leave one.  All comments are reviewed and approved before they appear.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer

Plymouth, MN

.