Denver NNGC Notes: Bob Stears' DSP&P Boxcar Project

[Jim Courtney]

Through much of the Vendors' open hours, Bob Stears sat at The Leadville Shops table, assembling the test laser-cut wood parts of his new On3 boxcar projects. Bob is on a mission to complete his first decade C&S freight car fleet. This current project includes the inherited boxcars that the C&S received from the South Park / DL&G. The 24 foot boxcars from the CC / UPD&G have been previously run as kits from The Leadville Shops.

Specific cars that Bob is building include:

The 26 foot Litchfield boxcars.
The 27 foot UP built boxcars, built for both the DSP&P and the Kansas Central (later transferred to both the South Park division and to the UPD&G).
The 30 foot Peninsular built boxcars.

Once the laser parts are deemed complete and ready to build, Bob is prepared to have additional sets cut in On3, and sell them to those of this Forum who are interested in building these cars.

If enough interest is present, Bob may be willing to re-scale his CAD files to S scale, and offer Sn3 sets for sale, for the three types of box cars, as well.

Some test build photos:

Robert McFarland has been asking about On3 Litchfield boxcars for a couple of years, so here you go Robert:


The assembled sides of the 26 foot Litchfield boxcar: outside sheathing, framing and inside sheathing. The door blanks are removed as construction proceeds, once the car body is more structurally sound.




The car body sets will include at least two sets of ends, for the cars as built (horizontal end grab iron holes) and as remodeled by the DL&G and inherited by the C&S (angled grab iron placement holes). The 27 foot and 30 foot boxcar sets may include a third set of ends, with end doors for use as outfit cars on the C&S.




Litchfield 26 foot end and side mated, interior.




Litchfield 26 foot end and side mated, exterior.




Built-up test build of the 27 foot UP built boxcar, with paint. This is the Kansas Central version (door runner located below the white fascia, rather than notched into it, as on the South Park UP built cars).





Built-up test build of the 30 foot Peninsular boxcar with carlines in place.



Everyone, please read carefully:

This is not a commercial endeavor of Bob's -- he is producing the laser cut wood body sets for his own use, in building his own car fleet. Once his personal needs are met, he is willing to make duplicate sets available to those who are interested. It will likely be a one time offer, so be deciding if you might want one or more sets of parts

At this point, price and availability of the On3 body sets (and Sn3 sets if produced) are still unknown. Bob is still in the beta-testing phase of the parts, if you will.

These laser cut body sets will not be a formal "kit" from The Leadville Shops. They will not come in a sealed white box, the laser cut wood parts will not be in sealed plastic bags, nor will there be little bags of detail parts and castings. There will be no trucks, couplers, or decals included.

Bob said he will include brief instructions as to the assembly process and a list of appropriate detail parts.

If you were to purchase a boxcar body parts set, it would look like this when it arrived in the mail, packaged in a zip-lock bag:





Decals in both O and S scales are available from The Leadville Shops, for all versions, DSP&P, UP (DL&G) and early C&S:  http://www.theleadvilleshops.com/148-decals and http://www.theleadvilleshops.com/164-decals.

O scale trucks are available from Coronado, type "A" for the Litchfield cars and type "B" for the Peninsular cars. The Leadville Shops has both style of trucks in S scale as brass casting sets http://www.theleadvilleshops.com/164-trucks.

The type "C" trucks for the 27 for UP built cars are problematic in both scales.

I would suggest that we not besiege Bob with emails or contacts through this forum asking "when will they be ready, how much they will cost, will it include this or that, etc." He really just doesn't know at this point. He said he would post an announcement on this Forum when he has the sets available for sale.

I would also suggest that we use this thread as a place to record your interest in having one or more of these boxcar sets, so Bob will have an general idea of the potential demand.

I'll start. When/if available I would like to purchase S scale body sets for:

Two 26-foot Litchfield boxcar parts sets
Five 27-foot UP-built boxcar parts sets
Six  30-foot Peninsular boxcar parts sets.

Please specify the scale (O vs S) of the boxcar body sets you might like, as well as type of boxcar.

[Paul R.]

Under the same conditions I would like to purchase when/if ready 3sets of each in S Scale. Paul R.

[South Park]

  Is it inappropriate to ask what kits like this cost ?

[Jim Courtney]

The On3 (1/4" = 1 foot) kits by The Leadville Shops are again available:  http://www.theleadvilleshops.com/148-rolling-stock

I suspect that Bob's boxcar parts sets would be no more expensive, though not sure.

[South Park]

Thanks, Jim.

Considering that nearly a half century has passed since I was
scratchbuilding wood kit models, those prices are fantastic !
I do not remember actual costs back then, but it took a lot of
materials that weren't cheap.  And 1974 dollars took a lot more
work to gather !

[Robert McFarland]

I am definately interested in at least two (if not more) of the 26ft.Litchfield boxcar sets in On3.

[Konrad Schreier]

This is a great project!  I have wanted to add examples of these cars to my growing "type" collection, and would be most interested in getting one of each in On3 -

1 - 26 foot Litchfield boxcar

1 -  27 foot UP built boxcar

1 -  30 foot Peninsular built boxcar

Konrad

PS - will the CCRR boxcar #1620 make a reappearance - it is sold out on the Leadville Shops page.

[Robert McFarland]

The Litchfield is a beautiful car-it's miles above anything anybody else can produce.But comparing the photos of the sample cars to plans(Maxwell)and photos(of the actual cars and of your D&RG 4000 and other car models),and discussion(Apr 3,2016 comments on TLS Facebook page about Litchfield car siding) the siding on the sample Litchfield cars seems to look like generic "scribed wood".Considering the quality of your other boxcar projects I believe you can do better.I'm serious about wanting to buy one or more of these cars.

[Mike McKenzie]

Didn't get a chance to talk with the Leadville Shops guys this trip, really enjoy what they're doing and how they're doing it.

None of these cars fit my era, that being said (and for the purposes of determining interest) I would be quite pleased to acquire Sn3 laser parts for 1 each of the 26' Litchfield and 30' Peninsular cars if they are made available. I have several of LS's other Sn3 kits but have yet to build one, but for goodness sake these are fine kits. I'll find a place for 'em...

Here's hoping...

Mike McKenzie
Frankfort IL

[Todd A Ferguson]

I would be interested in at least one of each car type in O scale.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

[Lee Gustafson]

This is to confirm my request that I made with Doug at the convention for,

(3) three 27 foot UP built boxcars in On3

(3) three 30 foot Peninsular built boxcars in On3


Thanks,

Lee Gustafson