This car is one of my recent free lance scratch built projects. It's not totally free lance as its being built consistent with prototypical D&RGW sills, truss rods, brake linkage and air line construction practices. On my model however, the coupler pockets are made from wood and not cast iron.

As far as I know, the D&RGW didn't have 24' cars (although I am told they may of had back in the 1880's) but if they did, they'd have certainly looked like this because this car is based on 28' and 36' prototypes.

The car is constructed from basswood and the brake cylinder, reservoir and rigging are plastic parts from Grandt Line. The air brake lines and brake rods are built from brass wire. The air line is 0.028" diameter and the brake rods are 0.015" diameter - both are brass wire. The brake levers are made from dimensional styrene strips and the trucks are McLeod Western (plus lead shot weights) with Foothill Model Works brake beams. Believe me, the trucks run as smooth as silk and look great.

The basswood was cut on my miniature table saw to prototypical 4x8" and 5x9" dimensions. I also accurately cut the decking to a scale 7' 6" length which I will later glue on to the upper part of the sills. Note the notches in the draft timbers to allow the Kay Dee #807 On3 couplers to swing properly...

In order to assemble the underframe components, I built a jig similar to the one that I built for my Carson & Colorado flatcar.

Each of the needle beams are built in 3 layers so I could file square holes for the brake rods. Also, note the notches in the end beams for the first (and last) decking timbers (remember, the car's upside down in the above photo...).

My truck bolsters are scratch built from styrene - about 20 or so separate pieces each. I'm a creative kind of guy and consequently tend to do things the hard way. Waiting 10 days for the Grandt Line parts to arrive in the mail was way too easy!

Click here for part 2.