The York Haven Shops

P70k, P70gs, PLC70 (P70 Rebuilds)

In October 2004, the PRR Pro group launched its next modeling project, the PRR P70 coach, its variants, and rebuilds. This page follows my work on this project.

Overview

Since I need a fleet of cars which utilize a similar design and construction style, I am working in assembly line fashion, though some particular cars may have some unique steps to be addressed.

The cars to be constructed are as follows:

Laser Horizons sides are .010 laser cut ABS, with .010 clear panels to be applied behind for windows.

East Wind Manufacturing is out of business, but I already have several of their sides in hand, so I am going to go ahead and use them. Their sides are clear acrylic, laser etched. The sides were masked prior to etching, so the concept is that you remove the masking except on the windows for painting, then you remove that masking at the end to be left with a truly flush window. Novel concept, but I don't know of anyone who has ever had great success with this method. I do not expect these cars to be prize winners!

Ends and Roofs

A major factor in deciding which class(es) to model for this PRR Pro project was the roof. N scale lacks a core kit for heavyweights, which tend to feature either a clerestory or balloon roof. The above classes, however, are P70 rebuilds that had their roofs replaced with "low arch" roofs which appear very similar to lightweight car roofs.

That being the case, the 85' passenger core kits from American Limited provide a good starting point, except that they are too long.

The other unique feature in the appearance of these cars is that they seem to have "bulging ends". That is, the floor seems to extend about a foot and a half beyond the sides. Sheet metal applied to the ends connects the sides to the door opening at the end of the floor, creating a "bulged end" appearance. Likewise, the top of the door opening connects via a curved shape to meet the otherwise straight roof line. Very hard to describe, but evident when you look at photos and compare them with lightweight sleepers, for instance.

The first task at hand is to replicate the "bulged ends". Below is a comparison on the plans of the ends of the rebuild cars (left) and the flat end of the newer P85b coaches.

Below is a view of the core kit's end panel fresh from the package. It is flat and includes two alignment slots for attachment of the diaphragm, a hole for the door, and detail for curved end rails. The inside of the end piece has edges to mate with the roof end and the ends of the car sides.

From photos I guestimated that the bulging extension of the floor is about 12" on the prototype. Since no scale source material was actually available, I went by look and feel and purchased Plastruct #90743 .040" by .060" styrene strips. I cut pieces to length and outlined the existing door, with the .040" edge against the end panel, thus creating a protrusion of .060" -- just under a scale foot. On the finished end, the diaphragm will connect to this extended door frame.

I then applied Squadron green putty to the end, outside of the extended door frame. I built up the end so that against the frame it is as thick as the frame, but it tapers towards the edges on the two sides and towards the roof.

I then shaped the end with fine sandpaper. First I sanded the Squadron putty flush with the edges of the original end's shape. I then sanded flush the face of the end back to the extended door frame. From there I then gently sloped the putty around to the edges of the side and edge of the roof. Hopefully this will prove to be the desired effect.

More to come...

East Wind Sides

To come...

Laser Horizons Sides

To come...

Grabs

To come...

Painting

To come...

Striping and Lettering

To come...

Diaphragms

To come...

Floors, Trucks, and Couplers

To come...

Interior

To come...