The Chosen Scale Cooperative

NZ120 Kitbashes

This page last updated 16th August 1997

Lb / Lc Low Side Wagon

Lb15448 Wagon at Glenbrook Vintage Rly, 1991. Photo A Wells. (29k)

These can be made starting with N Scale German prototype gondolas, available from Roco, Rivarossi, Minitrix etc. Avoid the Fleishmann brand, as they are expensive and the couple pockets dont readily accept the Microtrains style coupler conversions.

Separate the body and the underframe.

Trim off the two vertical ridges at each end of the sides, and the raised lip along each end.

Remove the buffers from each end of the underframe (easier if you take out the 'Arnold' style coupler from the pocket first)..

Remove all the ribs from each end.

Take a piece of Evergreen #4527 Metal Siding .060" spacing and cut to size for each end. Remove two of the raised ribs on this styrene piece so that you are left with 4 horizontal ribs. Cement to end of car, then file off the end of these ribs at a 45 degree angle to simulate the pressed corrugations on the ends of the wagon.

Cement a strip of styrene along the top end of each end, to match the edge along the side of the wagon.

Cut and fit a piece of smooth styrene to cover the floorboards of the original wagon.

Paint, and fit a new coupler (Microtrains MT1128 or equivalent).

As a final touch, bend a piece of piano wire for a tarpaulin ridge pole.

Fidelity to Prototype:

Measurement	Prototype	Kitbashed Model
length	23'6"	23'0"
width	8'	7'6"
doorway height	4'6"	4'6" to 4'9" (depending on starting wagon)

Kp Box Wagon

There is a JNR prototype box Wagon which makes a fair representation.This wagon is made by Tomix, Green Max and Kawai, and turns up in three packs from time to time. I have had no success in finding a reliable reorder source but have a few packets picked up in various countries so they still seem to be in production. The only feature that is not correct visually is the doors: the ribbing on the door is different in that the NZR Kp have horizontal ribbing while the JNR wagon has vertical ribbing. the Kp has asymmetric doors while the JNR model has equal size doors. The easiest thing is to remove the doors complete and scratchbuild a styrene replacement.

Fidelity to Prototype:

Measurement	Prototype (approx)	Kitbashed Model
inside length	20'9"	19'0"
width	7'6"	7'4"
doorway height	6'5"	6'6"

1909 Main Trunk Day Cars

If you're looking for a relatively easy passenger car for any era prior to the 1960s, or for a passenger car to suit steam excursions, then this is an easy kitbash.

Take 4 Ibertren N Scale "old Style" passenger cars. These have the verandah on each end and have nine windows on each side. The 1909 Day Cars have a similar look, but require 11 windows.

Separate the bodies from the underbodies. The roof and windows are a one piece casting, and this locks into the body casting at the end doors. Gently press inwards on the 'glass' in the end doors and the roof will release.
With a very sharp thin razor saw in a mitre box, cut the bodies and roofs as follows

Car #1,2: 5.5 windows from one end, giving 5.5 windows and 3.5 windows
Car #3,4: 7.5 windows from one end, giving 7.5 windows and 1.5 windows

Now assemble the roofs and bodies as follows

New Car A: 5.5 plus 5.5 to give 11 windows
New Car B & C: 7.5 plus 3.5 to give 11 windows

With the underframes, cut to suit - don't use the same cutting positions as above, otherwise you'll end up with a a single point of weakness if all the joints are in the same alignment.

The finished cars are 50' rather than 52', but look quite good following a Kato Pacific! You'll have to scratch build a Z class wooden van/luggage car though!