Hi, Earlier I mentioned that I would attempt to find a photo of my early (the first ones built) Denver & Rio Grande RR boxcar. I found some onthe model, but no photos, so when the wind here lwessened I went out with the model and here are a couple of photos of it. The trucks are much modified Bachmann ones with what amounts to a new frame using the axleboxes, the body is both PVC and styrene plastic and plywood. The plan came from Robert Sloans book, and some photo form which the decals were drawn out by me and printed by Stan Cedarleaf to my designs. It is painted a dark brown and has been weathered as well. Here are a couple of photos These boxcars are very narrow, compared to my usual ones, the sun has modified the color of the second photo the top photo is the color of the boxcar, I would call it a deep earth brown.
Very nice, Peter. The details that can be added to a large scale model is amazing. If I was to want to model early D&RG, I might consider the very first 4 wheel cars and tiny 2-4-0 locos, but that's just me. If you have more photos, please share them. Woodie
Re doors Hi Tooter, You ask if the end door moves - no: generally they are glued in the shut position. Ocassionally I will build a boxcar with the doors part open, o One of those is a Colorado Central RR one that has a Hobo (from Plain Folk) sat down in the open door. The end doors were for either grain, or more likely to allow long timbers to project out, and/or for easy loading. Basically they were the same as the doors in the bows of full rigged ships for the same purpose - they were uncualked and swung open to load the timber in, ther re-caulked after loading was conmplete Here is a photo of him in position -- please ignore the blue glass flower holder - that raised the boxcar to where the light was coming from of the cupborad beneath it. Yours peter
If you need a prototype photo I have one for the URY. It may not be DRGW but I can see what I can find. Here is the URY one. I found an DRGW boxcar and snapped a couple of shots for you. Hope they help and what you were looking for. I like your model, one thing I did notice is the little door on the end you have it sliding open where on this prototype I see it swings up to open. Again nice model!
