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Currently the caboose project is on hold, as I need to complete filling and smoothing one of the holes in the roof for a complete finish. Theres quite a lot left after the carbody is done, but with the Monon OBS Coach being so close to completion, I have turned my focus towards it for the time being. It takes up quite a bit of space, and once it is complete I can finally box it up for safe keeping. Don't worry, more will certaintly be going on in the following months with this project!
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The cutting of the bodies down to the right size was relatively easy, just messy. Next was joining them together and beginning the build for a more accurate cupola than the original one from the ATSF caboose. The decision was made to leave the end walls in place where the bodies joined together to give more surface for glue to bond to.
Both halves were joined using generic Loctite glue, as both a bonding agent and a way to fill the small gap between the models. I would like to take a brief moment to make an interesting point. While taking both caboose bodies apart, I found out that the non-cupola model didn't have any different tooling for the carbody, but rather a larger fake roof sheathing was produced that clipped into the same cupola mount! I thought this was rather interesting. The carbody was deemed slightly too tall based on my measurements, so it was cut down across the bottom slightly. 
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This project came from a kind of half-baked idea, and having most of what I would need on hand! I had the idea to combine two Bachmann Big Hauler bobber caboose bodies on an eventual custom built chassis into one Monon wooden caboose! The inspiration would be the Monon C-283 & C-302, both seen at the Monon Connection Museum in Monon, Indiana! My model will not be a perfect replica, but should get the idea across and be fairly close, that's why I call it a proto-freelanced model rather than just a recreation.
Above is the inspiration, along with any of a similar build that the Monon ran! This photo is pulled from the Monon Historical Technical Society's website, which I will link at the bottom of this post! Below is a photo of the two bodies being used to create this model. Please excuse the crowded messy desk, my usual work desk isn't accessible at the time of writing nor has it been for the better part of ten months.  |
