Scratchbuilt Box Cars

Hi Brian, thanks for your message

The structure of the boxcar is straight forward. I cut strips of hardwood on a table saw as thin as the blade and guide will allow then glue them to frames so producing the sides and ends etc.

Regarding purchasing sheet brass I don't know of any provider in France. I've never had cause to search for it. I would try the back pages of the Model Railway mags, they seem to satify all the model maker's needs. Bricolage is good for brass strap, angle, tubes and rod in different sizes. As to my supply, I'm a born scavenger collecting all types of brass. Old clocks, door furniture, locks, anything that's brass. Alas, I'm not a purist. Naturally everything is to scale but I just like to build my models from photographs hoping the finished article resembles the picture.

The bogey trucks frames were cut from a plain brass dinner plate, the type one finds hanging on the walls in pubs. The axle boxes are small square Whitworth nuts soldered to the frames with lengths of brass ferrule inserted into the threaded holes acting as axle bearings. They work really well. The third bogey, which is for a passenger car, still needs the springs to be added.

Hope the photos are some help.

Ray