Category Description: Information about model and prototype cabooses.
Bash a Transfer Caboose
Model Railroader 1978-01 pg. 104 Scale: HO Author: Edward C. Steinberg
Using a cut-down ATSF Athearn caboose, the author built a DLE&W transfer caboose. Includes only model photos.
Building a Caboose from Styrene
Model Railroader 2002-09 pg. 88 Scale: HO Author: Charles C. Purin
How to scratchbuild a caboose. Includes construction photos, drawings and materials list.
CNR Wood Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-02 pg. 28 Scale: HO Author: Douglas Leffler
The author describes how he built this Canadian National Railways caboose from strip and sheet wood. Includes model and prototype photos, as well as construction detail drawings and scale drawings (including interior layout).
Cabeese of the Boise Division
N Scale Railroading 2005-03/04 pg. 30 Scale: N Author: Major Tony Hammes
A photo collection of cabooses found by the author in the mid 1980's. Each are scratchbuilt or kitbashed.
Canadian National Point St. Charles Van
Model Railroader 1994-12 pg. 114 Scale: (none) Author: William Brillinger
Article includes a description, scale drawings, and prototype photos of a wide-cupola steel caboose rebuilts from a boxcar.
Central Pacific Caboose of the 1807's
Model Railroader 1984-12 pg. 140 Scale: (none) Author: Jim Hediger
Article includes an S-scale drawing and a prototype photo of the CP #45.
Cosmetic Improvements for Westerfield's NX23 Cabin Car
The Keystone Modeler 32 March 2006 pg. 30 Scale: HO Author: Bill Faith
The author describes the modifications he made to this model. Includes parts list, model photos, and how to make the round windows.
Craftsman Trophy To Mal Harvey
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-11 pg. 30 Scale: G Author: (none)
This model by Malcolm Harvey features exquisite detailing on the exterior and the interior. The roof of the caboose is removable to reveal a fully detailed interior, including working parts. The exterior features, among many things, a working brake system.
DCC Installation of a Smoke Unit and Lighting in an American Models Wood-sided Caboose
NASG Dispatch 2009-12 pg. 11 Scale: S Author: Al Castellani
This brief article describes the process the author went through and includes several construction photos.
Detailing a Penn Central N-8 Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-01 pg. 74 Scale: HO Author: Neil Schofield
The author took a Bowser N-8 caboose and transformed it into a model fitting the 1970-79 time period. Includes prototype and modeling photos, and detail drawings for the modifications made. A parts list and weathering instructions are also provided.
End-of-Train Protection
N-Scale 2002-11/12 pg. 64 Scale: (none) Author: Dean Daughenbaugh
LED lighting installation in an Atlas caboose.
End-of-Train Protection Part II
N-Scale 2003-01/02 pg. 42 Scale: N Author: Dean Daughenbaugh
This article shows how to power the LED in the caboose using the Richmond Controls' EZ-LITE N-scale Caboose Lighting Model EZ41. Included are installation of the axle wipers and the metal wheels.
Kitbashing British Columbia Railway Cabooses
N Scale Railroading 2006-09/10 pg. 52 Scale: N Author: Richard C. Thomason
The author took an Atlas wide vision caboose and turned it into this model of the BCOL "van". Step-by-step modification photos are shown.
Kitbashing Middletown & Unionville Caboose No. 00
Model Railroader 1985-11 pg. 104 Scale: HO Author: Alan Mende
The author used two Mantua old-time combines to kitbash this model. Scale and cutting diagrams are included. It has model photos, but no prototype photos.
Kitbashing Three Lehigh Valley Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-09 pg. 79 Scale: HO Author: Chuck Davis
This article describes how to build the three caboose discussed in another article in this issue. The author used the MDC 3440-series cabooses as a start for the three models. Includes construction photos, detail drawings, and a parts list
Kitbashing a Bangor & Aroostook Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-05 pg. 80 Scale: HO Author: Robert Bennett
The prototype converted troop sleeper cars into these cabooses in the mid-1950's, and so the author did the same thing using Cannonball Car Shops' kits of troop sleeper cars. Includes several prototype photos and some model photos, as well as a parts list.
Kitbashing a Erie-Lackawanna Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-05 pg. 72 Scale: N Author: Scott Lupia
The author takes an Athearn bay-window caboose to create a caboose for the EL.
Kitbashing a Rock Island Mixed Train Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-07 pg. 71 Scale: O Author: Jim Zwernemann
The author converted a San Juan Car Company's D&RGW boxcar and convert it into this caboose, similar to what the prototype did in 1915. Includes model and prototype photos, and scale drawings.
Kitbashing a Santa Fe Ce-6 Waycar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-09 pg. 65 Scale: HO Author: Stephen M. Priest
The author took two Athearn models to make this one caboose. The article includes prototype photos, scale drawings, a parts list, and model construction photos.
Kitbashing an NA Cabin Car in N or HO
The Keystone Modeler 72 Winter 2010 pg. 25 Scale: N Author: Claus Schlund
Using a Bachmann bobber as a starter, the author built an N-scale model of the PRR NA cabin car. Using the same starter car in HO-scale, this model can be built in that scale too. The article includes step-by-step photos.
Missouri Pacific Homebuilt Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-05 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: G.J. Michels, Jr.
The prototype built its own cabooses, which the author modeled. There are four different types discussed. Includes prototype and model photos, and a roster.
Modeling Green Mountain Rwy. Caboose No. 50
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-08 pg. 64 Scale: HO Author: Trevor Marshall
Reworking a brass caboose.
Modeling Two C&NW Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-02 pg. 86 Scale: N Author: Keith M. Kohlmann
Includes prototype and model photos and materials list. The cars modeled are numbers 10908 and 10357.
Modifying a Caboose
N-Scale 2002-03/04 pg. 46 Scale: N Author: Damian Kostron
Modeling a wood DM&IR caboose. Includes a scale drawing, prototype, and construction and finished model photos.
N-Scale Class N6A Cabin Car
The Keystone Modeler 53 December 2007 pg. 28 Scale: N Author: Claus Schlund
The author took some old N-scale Minitrix UP cabooses and converted them to PRR class N6 cabin cars. Includes some model construction photos.
NKP 451-500 Series Bay Window Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 1973-09 pg. 50 Scale: (none) Author: Julian Cavalier
Many prototype photos (including one interior photo) and scale drawings accompany this brief article.
Ontario Northland Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-05 pg. 29 Scale: (none) Author: Julian Cavalier
Prototype photos and scale drawings of the ON's cabooses numbers 100-105.
Overview of the NX23 Class
The Keystone Modeler 32 March 2006 pg. 27 Scale: (none) Author: Al Buchan
75 X23 class boxcars were converted to cabin cars in 1943. Article includes roster, equipment diagram, and prototype photos (including interior)
PRRPro Update
The Keystone Modeler 39 October 2006 pg. 22 Scale: (none) Author: Bruce F. Smith
The PRR Project Group (a Yahoo! mailing list) wraps up the group's effort to build PRR N5 series cabin cars. Includes several model photos. Their next project is an FM flat car.
Rescuing a Relic: Conrail N6A Transfer Caboose
Railroad Model Craftsman 2004-10 pg. 72 Scale: HO Author: Mike Rose
Taking an old brass caboose and converting it into a model that would fit a modern era layout.
Rio Grande Modernized Waycar
Model Railroader 1989-02 pg. 138 Scale: HO Author: Andy Sperandeo
Rather than scratchbuilding models, we can modify existing models to more closely resemble the prototype, and then repaint them.
Seaboard Air Line 5600-series Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-01 pg. 80 Scale: Author: William C. Schaumburg
Besides the brief description, this article also contains prototype photos and scale drawings of the exterior and interior of this caboose.
Simple Upgrades for Bowser's PRR Cabin Cars
N Scale Railroading 2003-11/12 pg. 52 Scale: N Author: Douglas Nelson
The upgrades to the N5 and N5c cabin cars include installing the PRR Trainphone antenna, separate corner grab irons, Z-scale couplers, window glazing, and light weathering.
The Marker Lamps at the End of the Tunnel
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-01 pg. 84 Scale: HO Author: Gerry Leone
This article discusses the micro-sized LED's available, how to work with them, and, of course, it covers installing them in marker lamps attached to cabooses. Although the article covers an HO-scale installation, the author is convinced that this is also doable in N-scale. Includes installation photos and a wiring diagram.
Three Lehigh Valley Wood Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-09 pg. 75 Scale: Author: Charles Davis, Charles Yungkurth
Three different styles of cabooses are described; two with and one without a cupola. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.
Transfer Caboose
N-Scale 2005-10/11 pg. 36 Scale: N Author: Roy Cutler
In the real world these cars were usually built by using a cabin from a box car and a flat car with steps. The author built his model from an old MT caboose. Small diagrams and model photos accompany the article.
Two Kitbashed Cabooses
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-01 pg. 74 Scale: HO Author: William Schaumburg
A description of how Stan Rydarowicz built two Chicago & Western Indiana cabooses. A prototype and model photo is provided for each of the two cars. The project was started with an Athearn "blue box" caboose.
Two New Cabooses for the Wisconsin Southern
Model Railroader 1990-06 pg. 78 Scale: O Author: Thomas J. Houle
The author started with two Atlas bobber cabooses to kitbash these models. Includes construction photos and detail diagrams.
WP 642
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-12 pg. 72 Scale: HO Author: Jim Providenza
The author describes how he built this Western Pacific outside-braced cupola caboose in this article that includes model and prototype photos, as well as a scale drawing.
Walthers HO Caboose Assembly Tricks
Model Railroader 2003-05 pg. 40 Scale: HO Author: Jim Hediger
Installing wire grab irons, truck clearance issues, and repositioning the body bolsters.
Walthers N6b, Corrected and Backdated
The Keystone Modeler 61 August 2008 pg. 5 Scale: HO Author: Ed Walters
The author shows how he modified the model to make it more accurate. Includes only model photos.