Had an idea

[murphyaa]

I got to thinking yesterday while I was driving up to Parsons Kansas, and thought I'd see what you guys think.

While I was stopped at a railroad crossing, waiting for a train that seemed to be about 300 miles long, I started thinking how I wanted to get back into model railroading. Unfortunately, I don't have room or enough money to do it right now. With engines running from $100 and up, and cars around $20 each nowadays, it's kinda prohibitive.

Then I had the crazy idea about what if I could combine both my favorite hobbies...

Make railroad cars out of cardstock. I know there are model cabooses and whole trains out there, but I'm thinking actual working HO or N scale cars.

What I was thinking:

1. Buy trucks and coupler kits from your local hobby store (if you can find it-my local hobby store didn't have stuff like that)

2. Use the backing from a notepad (for HO) or cereal box (for N) as the base to attach the trucks and couplers too with screws and washers,

3. Make the rest of the car from cardstock, adding weights inside until it tracks properly.

The good thing is, for the cost of one plastic HO car, you can make a bunch of cardstock ones.

I tried to look into how much trucks and couplers cost, but my local hobby store doesn't carry them. So I gotta find one that does.

I'm gonna start with a caboose, and once I get signs of progress, I'll post pics here.

Any comments, criticisms, or wisecracks? :P

[sgoti]

Well, as a model railroader, I think it's an excellent idea!

The ultimate irony is, of course, that you would be returning to the days of this hobby when about the only thing purchased commercially were the trucks and couplers.

I saw a scratchbuilding article in one of the N scale magazines where the fellow took photos of the sides of the car he wanted, adjusted them to the correct size, and then applied them to a plastic core. Bingo- Instant painting and weathering! Unless you viewed the car from a very oblique angle and saw that the ribs didn't actually stick out from the sides, you would never know.

One suggestion I would make would be to either use thin steel for the floor. This would help you have the proper weight, and also make sure the cars have enough strength. Pulling and pushing forces, even in model trains, can be more than you think.

There are any number of stores that you could mail-order the parts you need. I personally like Caboose Hobbies in Denver, CO, as I am lucky enough to have them as one of my local hobby shops.

You might also keep an eye out for "Great Train Expo" and "Great American Train Show". These are travelling hobby shows that show up in different parts of the country during the year, almost like a giant swap-meet. There can be bargains to be had, as well as folks who think they are selling the King's treasures, but you'll quickly find out what's what.

I have often thought that model railroaders are missing the boat by overlooking paper as a modeling medium. I have tried to share some of what I've seen here with a few of them. The usual reaction is a look that says "you're kidding, right?" These folks get pretty quiet when I start showing pictures...

Glenn

[silveroxide]

I have seen it done, the making of HO cars out of mixed media, Cardstock, metal and plastic. For a good selection of train parts, check out Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists They have a treasure trove of small items that hobbyist are always looking for. Enjoy and see you around the forums.

[ghshinn]

I was into model railroading for several years (off and on) but eventually it got too expensive. I had a friend who scratch built everything, including locos, but even that was too much for me. He used aluminum pop cans glued to balsa for the base to attach the trucks and couplings, and built the cars from various things, but never paper. I'd love to see this done and hope to see some build threads.

Garland

[clevermod01]

My entire railroad including the rolling stock and motive power is cardstock. It's narrow gauge but i do have plans to make some standard gauge. There are pix and a video at my web site but i can't post it here.
But it can be done and lots of satisfying building.

[murphyaa]

Once I find the couplers and trucks, I'm gonna do some experimenting to see what I can get to work.

I'm trying for low cost and ease of construction. Gluing paper to steel or aluminum is rather difficult.

I could try plastic though. Lots of places sell those plastic Yard Sale signs.

I also need to find a resource for dimensions and plans of various railroad cars.

[silveroxide]

Check the threads, there are some RR freebie stuff just posted.

[ghshinn]

Just for fun you might check out the All Gauge page:

All-Gauge Model Railroading Page

I don't know if there is anything of interest there for building trains, but the site is full of freebie stuff for villages in various scales.

Garland

[sgoti]

Originally Posted by murphyaa

I'm trying for low cost and ease of construction. Gluing paper to steel or aluminum is rather difficult.

I could try plastic though. Lots of places sell those plastic Yard Sale signs.

ACC (super glue) does wonders for gluing paper to almost anything.

Glenn

[murphyaa]

I'm also thinking of the ease of construction part.

Cutting metal, at least for me, tends to involve cursing, bandages, and cleaning up blood.