Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Modeling: refrigerator

Showing posts with label refrigerator. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2026

North Western Refrigerator Line Refrigerator 15276

North Western Refrigerator Line (NWRL) Refrigerator NWX 15276 was purchased at Trainfest in Milwaukee, WI in 2009. It has been in the unbuilt kits cabinet since then as Accurail applied correct lettering to an accurate car body with boxcar red ends and roof; however, the car sides color was white rather than gray. Color photos of these refrigerator cars in the Refrigerator Car Color Guide (Morning sun Books Inc., 2005) show the color of the sides the early gray color prior to yellow and green beginning in 1953. Changing the color via repaint was the only option I thought until I got the idea of a color change from white to gray and not ruining the lettering might be done with Pan Pastels.

The prototype refrigerator car for this model was built in 1927 by American Car & Foundry (ACF) and numbered in NWX series 6701 - 7720. This car series was renumbered into the 15000 - 15999 series by 1937. These cars, forty foot in length, had both sides and ends sheathed in wood, vertical brake shaft and fish belly underframe. The cars were painted with gray sides, boxcar red ends, roof and kick plates. The side hardware, underframe sills, underframe and trucks were painted black. In addition to the color photos in the Refrigerator Car Color Guide, a black and white photo of NWX 15479 can be viewed in Steam Era Cars Reference Manual Volume Three Refrigerator Cars (Speedwitch Media, 2017).

NWX 15100, March 27, 1952, Proviso, Ill.
W. Fuka photo. Lloyd Keyser Collection
(click or tap on this or any image to enlarge)

Before I began assembly of the kit I tested my idea of using the Pan Pastels on the sides to change the white sides to a gray color. Pan Pastels Neutral Gray #820.5, was applied lightly with a square Pan Pastels sponge mounted on their handle to attempt to get the gray color. The color change could be made with Pan Pastels. Therefore, the build was done.

Refrigerator NWX 15276 was assembled quickly. The kit weight was installed with Permatex Clear Silicone Adhesive which brought the car weight to 4.2 ounces with couplers and trucks installed. Kadee # 148 coupler were inserted into the coupler boxes and coupler box covers were installed with kit screws as were the kit trucks with InterMountain 33 inch metal wheel sets installed. On the underbody the molded on brake cylinder mount was removed. The running board was thinned to .020 via milling using a #199 bit mounted in a Dremel tool and scraping of underside to get it smooth using a single edge razor blade.

Running board being milled.

Scraping of underside to get it smooth.

After the running board was scraped smooth, it was installed. Next all molded on grab irons and ladder rungs were carved off. To carve off molded on grab irons and ladder rungs, a Xacto No. 5 handle with Xacto No. 17 blade ground to shape and micro scalpels with micro blades, were used.

Tools for carving off molded on items.

Wire grab irons and ladder rungs were bent using Tichy Train Group #1101, .010 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW) and installed.

Wire grab irons and ladder rungs installed.

Now to get away from the grab iron install for a while, some B end work was done. On the B end parts were installed as follows:

Brake step, molded on reworked
Brake step brackets, Tichy Train Group ( Tichy) AB set #3013
Retainer valve, resin Sunshine Models
Retainer line, Tichy #1100, .008 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW)
Retainer line brackets, #1100, .008 diameter PBW
Brake shaft, brass .015 wire
Brake wheel, kit

B end work started.

Rather than finish the B end parts install, the roof grab irons bent from Tichy #1101, .010 PBW were installed with Yarmouth Model Works etched eye bolts without shoulder for corner leg. And, on the sides, the installed grab irons and ladder rungs were brush painted Vallejo Model Color black. 70.950

Roof grab irons installed and side grab irons
and ladder rungs painted black.

Back to the B end to finish remaining work. The longitudinal running board end bracket, Yarmouth Model Works #220, was installed. Now install of the B end wire grab irons and ladder rungs, bent using Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW, was done.

Running board bracket, wire grab irons, and
ladder rungs installed.

Finally, on the B end the uncoupling levers were installed with brackets, eye blots bent from Tichy #1101, .010 PBW.

Uncoupling lever with eye bolt brackets installed.

One final upgrade to the car body was removal of molded on sill steps and replacing them with A-Line #29000, sill steps on the corners and bending the sill step under the door from Detail Associates brass flat bar stock #2524, .010 x .030.

Sill steps installed.

With sill steps installed, the B end installed detail parts on ends were brush painted with a Vallejo Model Color mix of Burnt Red 70.814, 50 % and Mahogany Brown 70.846, 50%.

Detail parts installed on B end painted.

Once paint was dry the upgrade of the underbody was done. On the underbody the install of detail parts was done as follows:

Brake cylinder lever, made from Evergreen #8108, 1 x 8 strip styrene
Floating lever, made from Evergreen #8106, 1 x 6 strip styrene
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, Tichy #8334, black 40 links per inch
Train line, Tichy #1103, .020 diameter PBW
Dirt collector, scrap plastic rod, reworked

Underbody detail parts installed.

To finish the underbody, the underbody and all added detail parts were brush painted Vallejo Model Color Black 70.950.

Underbody painted.

NWX 15276 was ready for the paint. For the first time, in addition to the Pan Pastels already applied, the new method of “painting with Pan Pastels” would be used on the car sides of NWX 15276. First a quick history of this “painting with Pan Pastels” method. Upon attending the 2026 National Narrow Gauge Convention held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the vendor room I stopped at a vendor with a display of various Pan Pastels colors. In addition, there were painted items to be viewed. While looking I was asked if I used Pan Pastels. I said, “Yes.” And, then the question, “Do you paint with them.” My answer, “No; however, interested in learning.” I was told all the items I was viewing were painted with Pan Pastels by Randy Allio who was giving a clinic “Painting with Pan Pastels” at the time. To turn Pan Pastels into paint is a simple process. Scrape a small amount of Pan Pastels color into a small container and add just enough 91% isopropyl alcohol (91% only) to allow mixing with the powder to make a paint. More 91% alcohol could be added to turn the paint into a wash.

Northwestern Western Refrigerator Line 15276 sides would used for testing “painting with Pan Pastels” method. Since I had already applied Pan Pastels Neutral Grey 820.5, on the car sides, a paint brush was dipped into 91% alcohol and used to go over the sides of NWX 15276 before the paint was applied. Next, a tiny (1/8 teaspoon) amount of Pan Pastels Neutral Grey 820.5, was scraped into a water bottle cap, 91% isopropyl alcohol was added with the a paint brush and mixed with it to create a paint. The same small brush was used to apply paint to sides of car body. If too dark, a cotton swab (sometimes dipped in distilled water) was immediately used to go over the area to lighten the paint. Perfection maybe not; however, I was happy with the results. NWX 15762 had gray sides via painting with Pan Pastels method without ruining the original lettering. And, not only were the sides gray, the sides were also weathered due to way brushing on of painting with Pan Pastels was done.

Left side painted gray.

Right side painted gray.

Northwestern Western Refrigerator Line 15276 was ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.” A car card was made for NWX 15276, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad. Photos of the NWX 15276 on the railroad show sides lighter gray than my eyes see due to lighting I believe.

NWX 15276 on Team Track in Randolph, Minn.

I want to say, “Thank You” to Lloyd Keyser for providing prototype photo of Northwestern Western Refrigerator Line 15100 and for permission to use in this blog post. Another, "Thank You" to Jeff Palmer for his assistance with photos.

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

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Western Fruit Express Refrigerator 66557

Normally my next freight car build comes from my unbuilt kits cabinet; however not Western Fruit Express Refrigerator (WPEX) 6657. The Sunshine Models kit #34.18, a resin war emergency refrigerator, was recently purchased at a friend’s estate sale due his passing and immediately went to the workbench for build. Why? The Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company (M&N) with a 1955 late spring period and having a Great Northern Interchange should have several of these refrigerator cars serving customers. Prior to this build the M&N had none so an immediate need for the first one.

The prototype Western Fruit Express car series 66550-66624 that included this refrigerator car was one of the three groups of war emergency cars, built in 1942 and 1944, by the Indiana Harbor Shops, Indiana. War emergency refrigerator cars were of wood and steel construction . Car features included 9/16 inch exterior grade plywood sides, 4/4 Dreadnaught ends, Murphy steel panel roof and wood running boards. Car sides were equipped with seven-rung ladders, side grab irons 3 feet 2 /14 inches long and Preco air circulation fans with round face plate. On the underbody a welded steel underframe of earlier design. All cars received cast side frame trucks and AB brakes.

A black and white photo of WFEX 66573 and a B end photo of FGEX 38476 can be viewed in Railway Prototype Cyclopedia RP CYC 12, (RP CYC Publishing Company, 2005). A photo from the Sunshine Models Prototype Data Sheet #34E of WFEX 66504 from the previous series WFEX 66500-66549 series with identical features is shown below.

WFEX 66504 Sunshine Models Prototype Data Sheet
Courtesy of Bill Welch
(Click on this or any image to enlarge)

Kit build of WFEX 66557 began as any resin box car flat kit with the “basic box.” First, the sides were checked to make sure they were the same length and they were. A side was glued using CA (super glue used for all joints or parts install unless another adhesive specified) to an end to make an “L”. The two “L”s were glued together to form the basic box (See "resin car body assembly" in sidebar for details). The roof was installed into the basic box to form the car body.

Car body assembled.

The fitting of the underbody into the car body followed. The kit provided underbody was fitted via sanding for the car body; however, not yet glued.

Underbody fitted into car body.

Before the underbody was installed and glued into the car body, a baffle cut from .040 sheet styrene was installed in the car body to prevent sides from bowing in the future. In my case when cutting the baffle, an allowance had to be made for the floor with weight attached.

Baffle installed.

On the underbody prior to weight install, coupler pockets and bolster center plates were drilled and tapped for 2-56 screws. Kit coupler boxes with Kadee #148 couplers inserted had coupler box covers installed with Fastenal 2-56 x 3/16” screws. Accurail trucks, #164, with InterMountain 33” metal wheels were installed with Fastenal 2-56 x 1/4” screws.

On the inside part of the underbody, a .040 inch thick sheet lead weight and an unknown commercial weight were installed with Permatex Clear Silicone Adhesive to obtain a car weight of 3.8 ounces. Once the adhesive was setup, the underbody was glued into the car body.

Weights being glued to underbody.

On the roof hatch covers and running board provided in the kit were installed next. Yarmouth Model Works end braces #220, not in kit, were used for running board end braces. And, resin cast poling pockets provided in the kit were installed on the ends on the side sills.

Running board and hatch covers installed.

Etched running board braces and
poling pockets installed.

Now the car body with underbody, longitudinal running board and hatches was ready for detail parts to be installed. This Sunshine Models kit was different from most others as many of the detail parts to be installed were etched parts rather cast resin. The kit instructions have a diagram showing names of all etched parts and install jigs. The install jigs, design directed by deceased friend Bill Welch, were among the best designed I have used.

Car ready for addition of detail parts.

Brass etched parts in kit.

First part install on the car body were the etched ladders on sides and ends. The etched ladders provided in the kit were bent with UMM-USA Bender (see "bender" in sidebar for details) and installed.

Etched ladders installed.

Once ladders were installed on ends with rungs in alignment with side ladders end work continued. On the B end parts were installed as follows:

Brake step, Plano Model Products #11322
Brake step brackets, Tichy Train Group ( Tichy) AB set #3013
Brake housing mount, parts box as not in kit (InterMountain)
Brake housing, kit
Retainer valve, kit
Retainer line, Tichy #1100, .008 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW)
Retainer line bracket, #1100, .008 diameter PBW
Bell Crank, Bowser/Cal-Scale, kit
Brake shaft, Tichy #1026, .0125 diameter PBW
Placard board, kit
Grab irons, bent, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Grab iron brackets, etched brass, kit
Brake wheel, kit (installed after B end photo)

B end parts installed.

Once B end work was done, work of side detail parts was done as follows:

Long grab irons, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
Long iron brackets, etched brass, kit
Door hinges, etched brass, kit
Preco fans, etched brass, kit
Preco fans control box, etched brass, kit
Sill steps, kit, square corners made by heating and Xuron pliers

Etched parts installed on right side.

Etched parts installed on left side.

Now the roof hatches hatch rests, etched brass parts provided in the kit were bent to form an angle with UMM-USA Bender and installed. Install of roof grab irons bent from Tichy #1101. 010 diameter PBW with Yarmouth Model Works without shoulder for corners legs followed.

Etched hatch rests installed.

With the roof work done, the car body work was finished except for uncoupling levers and forgotten ice hatch levers. Onto the underbody work. Underbody details were installed as follows:

Brake cylinder, air reservoir, and brake levers, kit, Bowser/Cal-Scale
Control/AB valve, resin cast Sunshine Models
Brake cylinder mount, Sunshine Models cut to fit
Air reservoir mount, cut of plastic sill steps
Brake lever pin plate, parts box (model car part)
Brake lever hangers, brass wire grab irons in kit
Train line, Tichy #1103 .020 diameter PBW
Pipping 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 diameter PBW
Brake rod clevises, MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK)
Dirt collector, kit
Chain, Tichy, #8334, black 40 links per inch

Underbody parts installed.

After the car was moved to the paint shop, the underbody was airbrushed with Vallejo Model Air NATO Black 71.251.

Underbody airbrushed black.

Prior to moving the car to the paint shop the ice hatch levers provided in the kit were installed. And, uncoupling levers bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW were installed with eye bolt brackets provided in kit.

In the paint shop the car body was airbrushed with Vallejo Surface Primer 73.601. When dry the sides were airbrushed Vallejo/MicroMark Model Air Reefer Yellow #29028X2. After paint was dry and the sides had tape applied, the ends and roof were airbrushed Vallejo Model Color Saddle Brown 70.940 for the consortium Standard Brown. The kick-board area under the under the doors was brush painted Vallejo Model Color Saddle Brown 70.940. Car body side sills, sill steps, ladders, door hardware, long grab irons and other hardware were brush painted Vallejo Model Air NATO Black 71.251. Once all paint was air dry, the car body was airbrushed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish 70.510 to provide a gloss decal base.

Car painted.

Decals provided in the kit were applied using photo of FGEX 66504 as a guide for location. Decals in the kit were brushed with MicroScale Decal Film prior to application as the first applied decal broke in unusable pieces. After coated decals were dry, the 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.

After setting overnight to air dry, car body was airbrushed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish, 70.510, to better hide edges of decals and protect decals during handling.

WFEX 66557 airbrushed with Gloss Varnish.

Again after air drying, the car body was airbrushed with Model Master Acryl Flat Clear, #4636, to protect decals and provide a flat finish for weathering when applied.

WFEX 66557 with flat finish applied.

One more step before putting WFEX 66557 in service was to weather the car with Pan Pastels. Pan Pastels Paynes Grey Extra Dark 840.1 and Neutral Grey 820.5 were both applied with a makeup brush on the roof and lightly over car body. The Neutral Grey was applied first followed by the Paynes Grey Extra Dark. After application, the two colors were blended on car body with cotton swab.

WFEX 66557 weathered.

Western Fruit Express 66557 was ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.” A car card was made for WFEX 66557, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

WFEX 66557 car card with shipment card
to create waybill.

WFEX 66557 on GN Interchange,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

If my friend Bill Welch was still with us today, I would definitely say, “Thank You” for the masters he made and another “Thank You” for etched part design and the precision jigs he designed to make this Sunshine Models 19th Anniversary kit possible.

Lester Breuer