Flatcar Construction – Update

Cowcatcher Division 1 will have Part 1 of the two-part Scratch Building a Wooden Flatcar Make-N-Take Clinic on Saturday, July 10, 2021.   For those that had not registered to receive a parts-package for the clinic, but would like to participate, the following materials and tools are required to scratch build a wooden flatcar.   Vendor information is optional.

Materials By Scale

N Scale:

1” x 3” HO Scale Lumber               Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL1311

2” x 6” HO Scale Lumber               Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL2611

Underframe                                      Micro Trains # 499 70 905

Trucks                                                Micro Trains Archbar / Walthers #489-302000

Truck Screws                                    If not included with the trucks.

Couplers                                            Micro-Trains / Walthers # 489-102009

Brake Wheel                                     Micro-Trains # 499 50 901

HO Scale:

2” x 6” HO Scale Lumber               Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL2611

4” x 8” HO Scale Lumber               Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL4811

4” x 10” HO Scale Lumber             Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL41011

4” x 12” HO Scale Lumber             Northeastern Scale Lumber # HOSCAL41211

Trucks – Archbar                             Kadee # 501

Truck Screws – 2-56 x 1/4             Walthers # 947-1033

Couplers                                            Kadee # 5

Brake Set                                           Grandt Line # 5040

Nuts, Bolts, Washers (NBW’s)      Grandt Line # 5066

Queenpost & Beam                        Grandt Line # 5180

Stirrup Steps                                     Grandt Line # 5129

Turnbuckles                                      Grandt Line # 5039

.012 Brass Wire                               Walthers # 299-2504

O Scale: (2-Rail, not O27 -Lionel 3-Rail)

2” x 6” O Scale Lumber                  Northeastern Scale Lumber # OSCAL26P

4” x 8” O Scale Lumber                  Northeastern Scale Lumber # OSCAL48P

4” x 10” O Scale Lumber                Northeastern Scale Lumber # OSCAL410P

4” x 12” O Scale Lumber                Northeastern Scale Lumber # OSCAL412P

Trucks                                                __________

Truck Screws                                    __________

Couplers                                            Kadee # 804

Brake Set                                           Grandt Line # 3022

Nuts, Bolts, Washers (NBW’s)      Grandt Line # 93

Queenpost & Beam                        Grandt Line # 67

Stirrup Steps                                     Grandt Line # 83

Turnbuckles                                      Grandt Line # 54

.022 Brass Wire                               Walthers #229-2507

Tools needed for scratch building a wooden flatcar.

–        Self-Healing Cutting Matt.

–        Exacto Knife with several #11 blades.

–        Exacto knife #13 Chisel Blade (not needed for N scale).

–        Northwest Short Line Chopper (NWSL) (make sure it has a sharp blade for accurate cuts).   A Razor Saw and Miter Box can also be used but a NWSL Chopper is highly recommended as there will be several cuts of lumber, and a Chopper will not only keep the cuts an accurate length, but also make the cutting process faster.

–        Scale Ruler.

–        Straight edge.   Do not use a straight edge that has a cork-bottom as your knife might lean underneath and you will miscut your materials.

–        Tweezers (negative tweezers will make the work easier)

–        Pin Vise and SMALL Drill Bits.

–        SMALL Needle Nose Pliers.

–        SMALL Wire Cutters.

–        SMALL head Phillips and Slot Screwdrivers.

–        Pencil with a sharp point.

–        Small weights (bottles of paint or glue can be used as weights).

–        Paint, your choice of Boxcar Red or Black.   Acrylic paint is preferred but other types are okay.   If using non-acrylic paint, you will also need some paint-thinner.   Duane will be providing White Lettering, so you should select a color that will have good contrast between your color and the lettering.

–        India Ink (not acrylic ink) and a pint of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol.   The alcohol/ink mix from the April 2019 Depot Clinic can be used.

–        Leak proof container for mixing the India Ink and 91% Isopropyl Alcohol, if not already mixed.

–        2 Paint Brushes.    Depending on your Scale, parts as small as 1”x3” scale lumber will be painted or stained, so bring the appropriate bristle width size brushes.

–        Glue.   Yellow Carpenter’s Glue is highly recommended, but Elmer’s White Glue (not School Glue), Super Glue or Aileen’s Tacky Glue can also be used.

–        Glue Applicator.   A Toothpick, Sewing Pin, or Micro-Brush can be used.

–        Glue Holder.   The concave bottom of a Shot Glass makes for an excellent Glue Holder.

–        220 Grit or higher Sandpaper.

–        Emery Boards or Sanding Sticks.   At least one rough (80-120 grit and one fine (200 grit or higher) will be needed.

–        A few pieces or Paper Towels or Rags.

–        Opti-visor is optional, but they do help to zoom-in when working with the small detail parts.

–        Weathering Powders/Pencils/Chalks are also optional if you would like to add some weathering to your flatcar.

–        Recommended is something to create two 90˚ angles.   An Assembly Tray, Lego’s, or anything to help create two right-angles.