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I have built several AMB caboose kits, as well as their battleship gun load on a flatcar and find them to be a great source of pleasure to build.  The instructions are well written, they seem to fall together, and they make pretty unique models.  The GM&O historical society was the driving force in bringing this kit to market.  Check out their website and take a look at all they have to offer. 

The above photo shows the parts bag, decals, and instructions that came in the box.  I also have a bottle of GM&O Red made by Modelflex and the recommended Kadee #580 trucks for this caboose.  The kit contains wire and a grab iron bending jig to make the various grab irons that will be needed.  

The above photo shows the various sheets from the parts bag.  The clear grab iron bending jig is on the blue sticky note to make it more visible.  The basic structure consists of a wood core to which various layers of peel and stick laser engraved wood sheets are added to build up the caboose. 

The above photo shows the core of the caboose being glued together as the starting step. 

The above photo shows some of the various layers of laser scribed wood that have been added to the core.  Also resting on top are the beginnings of the two roof components.  

Keep Posting, Have considered

Keep Posting,

Have considered the NP wood caboose as an alternative to brass models for my layout. Keen to follow you build and will watch closely.

Off to a good start!

Looking forward to seeing the progress

Doug,

Thanks so much for buying the kit from us! I see you have wasted no time in getting started. We have sold a fair number of these kits but rarely do we get to see one of those customers give a report on their progress. As Doug mentioned, we did talk to AMB a few years back to bring this kit to market since the GM&O relied very heavily on its fleet of wood cabooses for nearly the entire period of its existence. While most stayed down south, I felt this style of caboose would have the broadest appeal since some did venture into former Alton territory. On the other hand, the GM&N and Alton heritage cars on the roster pretty well stayed on their home turf. AMB has now begun to sell this kit direct but getting it through the GM&OHS will be the only way to get it with the decal set needed to properly letter these cars.

Thanks again for your business Doug and helping me get one more of those boxes out of my basement!

-Jason Parham, GM&OHS Model Committee

Built a couple of N-scale AMB NP cabooses

You can see how that went starting here:  https://northernpacificproject.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/np-1200-class-caboose-kit/

Replies...

@ batey... thanks for following along.  I enjoyed browsing your web page, your freight car selection ideas have me thinking on some things...

@ Jason... thanks for the kind words, we will see how it goes together

@ bkivey... N scale, wow.  Some of these parts are small in HO Scale, couldn't imagine  N scale

Update

I made some more progress today on the GM&O Caboose. 

This side view shows the different layers of laser cut wood that were applied.  The roof on the main caboose is glued in place.  The cupola roof is not glued in place yet as I want to have a way to install the window glass in the cupola more easily than from the bottom. I think this might be ready for paint...

This is the end view propped up by the bottle of Gorilla Wood Glue that I'm using on the wood parts. 

The above photo shows the start of the underframe.  These cabooses had truss rods.  This is the first time I have ever worked with wood queen posts and needle beams.  So far so good...

Nice build...

Doug,

Nice build.  I really enjoy putting those kits together.  What are you using for grab irons? 

Dave

Under body Details

The above pictures show's the installation of the top of the needle beams that fit around the queen posts and the brace the ends.  It's kind of like paper origami.  

As there is no diagram of the brake equipment, I went with the supplied information and my best guess.  

The above picture shows the installation of the truss rods.  The kit includes a bending jig to help form these from wire.  Very Handy.  

The above photo shows the brake levers and the rods installed.  While most of this won't be seen, it just makes me feel better knowing that it is there. 

Running board color?

Thanks for posting your AMB build. I built the GM&O caboose a year ago and could never determine what color the running boards were.  Did the GM&O paint them or leave them to weather?

Great work

I will build one in N if they make the Lehigh Valley copala caboose (kit 878). The Pacific Electric bought a few, and 1975 is a dead ringer for that kit.

Reply to Charlie

Hey Charlie,

Hey, as I understand it, they running boards were left unpainted and therefore left to weather.  Your caboose looks great!  Thanks for the pictures. 

Doug

update...

As today was a rainy day, I stayed inside and played with my trains!  I did some spray painting today.  Black on the roof and underframe and Red on the sides of the caboose.  

Several hours later after the paint had time to set, I started some more assembly.  I'm thinking of leaving the cupola roof off until I get the window glazing installed in place as it seems like that would make it much easier.  I'm leaving the running boards the natural color but will probably try and stain them somewhat as they look a little too shiny to me.  I'm thinking my next steps will be to install the various grab irons using the supplied grab iron bending jig.  They will all be painted yellow as per the instructions.  Then, I will decal it.  After that, I will do the final assembly, brush paint anything that needs it, to a final dull coat, and then put on the cupola roof.  Hopefully, it will go according to plan. 

Doug

Laser kit

I have build numerous laser kit in N scale including severals cars.

Many are afraid about building them

But in the end the pieces of these laser kit are simpler to put together than most of plastic kit because they are so precisely cut.

However sometimes they need bracing and some preparation, but finally, they go together easily and with perfect fit. 

I highly recommend to build some, they are masterpiece in all the case.

Running Boards

Bare wood left to itself in the real world turns a light grey. Take a look at any privacy fences in your area and you will see the shade of grey. I usually create it with by dry brushing. Practice 1st if you haven't ever tried it. 

This also raises the question of what kind of condition the boards would be in if they are being used on a regular basis by the brakemen or other employees. Their boots had spikes and I would think the wood got torn up with use and replaced.

On a side note I have heard that a lot or some RR's didn't paint any of their running boards or roof walks for safety reasons. Paint made them more slippery. If that is true we all have a lot of repainting to do.

Jack

update...

Reply - thanks for the dry brushing idea, I will think about that.  

Below you can see that I have started installed grab irons.  The holes were drilled out with a #77 bit to make sure they were still clear.  I used the AMB grab iron bending jig which worked quite well.  Below the upper two grabs are installed on each side. 

Below shows all of the grabs installed.  There are still more to be added on the roof of the cupola.  I used a Tichy eyebolt for the corner of the L shaped grabs.  The bending jig was nice.  In previous AMB kits I have built, I had to either hope to find a Detail Associates Caboose finishing kit, which is no longer made, or to find the individual types of grabs.  It is so handy to have the jig.  Now they just need to be painted yellow. 

Below shows the decals applied.  

GM&O running boards (colors)

Doug

I contacted the GM&OHS and was advised the running boards could have been painted or left to weather.  Since my model looks to be just released from the paint shop I went ahead and painted them to match the carbody.  I’ve built several AMB cabooses (MP, RI and the GM&O you saw) and find them very enjoyable and certainly look the part of the prototype. 

Update?

Been awhile since we've heard from you. Any more progress on the caboose sir?

Take care,

Jason