There was an idea ...

There was an idea to build some models after a sketch that I found in a copy of a NWSL reprint of Seattle Car & Foundry catalog from 1913. Sorry, I can add only a link to that picture here in forum because of the limited permission of use.

The typical properties are the off-centered doors, a car height of 2ft more than ordinary cars in that time, the use of a fish-belly frame - and the very noticeable billboard decoration on the sides. At this time before the model construction has started I found a small number of such models with this decoration but they all were not very close realized to that sketch, equipped with doors in center, modeled as copies from standard production series reefer models and a not a so good looking decoration.
The wish to build some models with the very specific attributes of this prototype was born!

The first decisions were if I can find a commercial produced basic model that I could modify and change after my ideas - No!
How could I build a riveted steel frame without sketches of prototype? No again, because the construction of a realistically looking riveted frame is a heavy challenge.

The only way was to find a frame from a mass-produced model and to modify it. The best solution were these old cast frames from old time 36ft MDC reefer models with fish-belly frames – all others were not close enough to that in the sketch of prototype.
And this was the base, some models were to receive for less bucks on Ebay.

First steps: Modifying the frames after my wishes.

At end I would like to get five models including some for my friend who offered to paint these models and because I love to run some of my models not only as single cars with my trains.

Nice frames

How (and why) did you remove all that metal from the cast frames? Looks like a lot of work and loss of weight. 

Tim,ok, it was a bit of

Tim,

ok, it was a bit of work, but to do not very difficultly. All fields were sawed off with a jeweler saw and smoothed with files until to the rib structure. I remember that I needed lesser than one hour per frame.
The reason was that I would like to get a free view on wooden floor planks through the frame and I have needed the height of full frame for adding a new brake and to remove brake cylinders which wre modeled only as half parts and to kill an original brake rigging which must be ashamed of being called a brake. Sorry, but such only "engraphed" parts can not be a brake, also not on the underside of a model in HO-scale! However these are models which were constructed 30 years ago or more yet and so I think it should be acceptable - and changed.

The lost weight was not a problem because there was to add some ounces lead into the bodies receiving a weight according to NMRA recommendations.

Great looking car

Very nice job Bernhard. I have a couple of those old freight car frames. Now I know how to make them look better.

Is that a full decal covering the car or is it partly painted and partly decal? I'm very impressed with the paint job and decaling.

Bernd

Bernd, thanks!

First I must say that painting and decaling was done by my friend Jörg.
He talked that he air brushed the sides with yellow and after he masked the yellow base, painted all the red surfaces. The decals are drawn by him and printed by a well known fellow to him and they have the size of all the visible multi-colored side wall surface including the black-white surrounding.

And he said also that this was one of hís most difficult painting job he has done in last time.
I will like to show you a preview here where you can see the quality of his work. I think that he has done an excellent job!

Great paint & decal work

Bernhard,

That is some very fine paint and decal work. Those are the best decals I've ever seen. Compliments to Jörg and his decal maker. I'm very impressed with your work.

Bernd

The body

Next the bodies were to build from styrene.

Pre-scribbed styrene sheets for outside of walls.

Adding the door hardware ...

Finished ? No, absolutely not!

My thoughts to use industrial produced detail parts was wrong! And the models two foots to low!
A new attempt after a half year, pictured with a digitally enlarged door here.

Now the new bodies a bit higher built after the dates from the catalog.

Detail, details, details ...

... but all without many problems except ...

Beautiful work, Bernhard!  If

Beautiful work, Bernhard!  If you end up making resin castings of these into kits, I'll take a couple!  I was also curious as to the origin of the Soo Line furniture boxcar to the left of the White Swan in that picture.  Can you tell us anything about that?

Chris, ...

... thanks for your interest!
Please see my blog entry here 1900 cars - a furniture boxcar.

Unfortunately there does not exist additional information about that car than I have written in this entry. Enjoy and ask again if you will get some more dates!

Excellant Work

As always your work is of high level. You always inspire me to do as good of work.

Where do you get your detail parts from for the cars, such as the door castings and brake rigging? A parts lst would be nice to see for those Swan cars.

Keep up the great work. Really enjoy reading about your car builds.

Bernd

Bernd, The brake parts are

Bernd,

The brake parts are from Tichy brake sprues and the gear parts are scratch-built like at all my brakes.
And I hope to give you an answer about the door hardware with next post.

Door latches - a bit difficult parts

A really big problem was to make well fitting and prototypical looking door latches.
The first attempt was a fiasco, where I planned to use the plastic parts from Grandt Line Products.

These parts are absolutely ok but they do not fit the car so how I would like to get it. In result the models were too low, far too low!
So I started to construct my own door latches after this picture of a Carstens reefer, where I'm think that this is an absolutely identical car only with an different painting scheme.

Now a shortened description from a picture to my door latches. First a 3D-construction ...

... a first printed part,

... brass castings,

... with a not absolutely satisfying result!

Again changing the door latches by replacing the cast shank by realistically thin nickel-silver wire.
The direct comparison of original and modified door latches ...

... and the final installation. Absolutely that what I wished to receive!

Ready for painting - after I removed all these added parts from the side walls again!

The longer version of these door hatches is a bit more expansive and needed nearly one year but the result is that what I would like to get!

Detail Parts

Bernhard,

Thank you for the detailed explanation. That is quite involved work.

Excellent modeling.

Bernd

The last step - finishing!

However the first model only.

This was the first picture of the first painted and decaled model, a multi-step job done by a very good friend.

I was lucky because it's a fantastic painting, I think! Then my own picture while a meeting of US modelers some days later and together with my newly finished N&W caboose.

Now the removed parts of side wall and some other details were to add - all only a very easy work.Adding

Adding the door hardware, water and dust absorber onto brake triple valve, grab irons and brake hoses.

Ready!

Good to see the hovering door latches.

And what says my little friend about this model? I hope he likes the model as much as I do!

However there are to do some small paint additions yet. The last added parts at brake and the brake hoses need a bit paint yet and as last the model gets a bit weathering. Then it will be finished, really!
And four more models will follow also! A bit later.

If you likes to see a complete and extensive gallery of this work please visit my White Swan gallery on my website. Enjoy and thanks for visiting!
Apropos, the last picture in that gallery shows whereof I'm dreaming - a long line of really white reefers!

White Swan cars

Beautiful work Bernhard. That is one very nice looking model. Museum quality I have to say.

Will take a look at your site. Thanks for posting.

Bernd

Bernd,thank you very much

Bernd,
thank you very much again for your interest - and your laudatory postings!

Those are some nice looking

Those are some nice looking cars. 

Ready!

I would like to add a last picture - but this shows the completion! From one model to five!



It was a really long time project - 4 1/2 year with some interruptions - but it's been closed now!
Some more pictures will follow in summer where I plan to visit a great US train meeting and where I hope to shot some pictures with these new models.
I would like to say that I'm lucky about the finishing now than you see that the caboose is waiting already for his reworking and painting.

Please open a gallery on my http://us-modelsof1900.de/?p=3479 if you will like to see a full pictured history of this project. Thanks!

A short video ...

... taken some days ago!

WOW!

That is BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks, Richard!

Thanks, Richard!

Bernhard, you have built more

Bernhard, you have built more fantastic models. Thanks for sharing your work on here. It is very inspiring to see things that someone has built themselves.

Rob, thanks!

Yes, I have writen more posts a longer time before but there was a time where I did not get reponses on my posts here. I don't know a reason however, so must say that I have started to write on Facebook and there are the resonances many, many times larger, not only a big number of likes also extensive discussions and all times answers on my questions. That is what I have missed here in last time, sorry!

Ok, i'm short before finishing a new model, a Canda flat car, and I think it's a special railroad item again, so I will show it here after finishing. You can find a preview on this project on my website or on Facebook (with captions in English).

Bernhard... You have gone beyond

beyond modeling - you, sir, are a jeweler! 

The details are astounding.  The evenness of rivets and wires...  I can't imagine the patience required for this work.  That's not to mention the skills - or even the research!

Das ist ausgezeichnet!