Stevens Creek Models
HO scale Monson boxcar
I received these test parts today, January 14th. Missing are a few adhesive backed paper detail pieces. It shouldn't take long to get them here. I've toyed with the parts briefly and they seem to fit together as planned. The quality of the cutting is 1st rate. These pieces are mostly plywood, but there are also a few parts cut from basswood & styrene. The roof is scribed to simulate the prototype's metal panels. Like my O scale SRR/SR&RL boxcar, there is interior detailing that can be shown off with the doors open.
Boxcars 1 through 4 will use grabirons on the car ends, and cars 5 through 8 will use ladders. The ladders will be constructed from laser cut stiles + preformed brass wire & styrene hardware details, and then individually applied.
The side & end with the rectangular cutouts model car #7 when it had "windows." I'm not sure if I will make these available as extras or include them with each kit.
14 January, 2008
The framework went together quickly. You can see the scribes on the lower portions inside that represent the partial sheathing that was found in all the cars.
Most of the grabirons will be supplied preformed. The iron at the bottom of each end is one that must be bent, and it is tricky to form. A template/jig is supplied that will help create them. There are also small grabirons that must be bent for the sides, doors, & roof, but those are much easier. Once again, a bending jig is supplied. The ladder shown is the one which will mount on the car side. Every car had only one side ladder. End ladders are similar and glue over the laser drilled holes where you see I've put the grabirons.
Since I'll be building this particular model with closed doors I've mounted the floor so the board scribes can be seen from below. If you want the doors open, the floor can simply be assembled with the boards facing the interior.
16 January, 2008
I was able to spend a few minutes today adding some details to the basic box. This will eventually model car number 1 as it existed with the wide grab above the ladder.
17 January, 2008
Almost done. Still waiting for the adhesive backed paper parts for the corner bracing & lower door hardware. The brake gear has been added, truss rods installed & trucks mounted. Here you can clearly see the "kinked" lower grabiron on the end typical for cars one through four.
The car is designed to accept either 1023 or 1015 Micro-Trains couplers, but the 1015s are recommended.
Grandt Line trucks will be available at a special price if bought at the same time as the car. There will be a limit of one pair per car purchased. You will have to tune them yourself. Alternately, you could buy trucks that are already tuned from B&F Hobby - see my dealer page.
Estimated price, less trucks, couplers, & decals: $32.95
24 January, 2008
I finished a test build of car #7 this morning. Here it is lashed up with #1. Ladders replaced the end grabs on cars 5 through 8. Note the small grab on the roof above the side ladder - this was typical for all cars except as previously noted for car #1. The doors are operable if you choose to build it that way. A few minor issues remain to be dealt with before the kit is available. Look for an announcement in 4 to 6 weeks.
Thanks for looking. All for now.
3 February, 2008
Page last updated: 10 May, 2009
