I have never built anything more complex than a Branchline Blueprint boxcar. The other day, I came across the remains of one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AHM-IHC-Roco-HO-Central-RR-of-New-Jersey-Outside-Braced-Composite-Gondola-EX/272251405606?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36465%26meid%3Dc276b1349fe841b482c004fcf0ca1807%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D272229359190

…… but lettered for Rock Island. It looked like something that might be a decent “background” car with added grab irons (none molded on, nice), stirrups (none on the car), a better brakewheel,added brake platform, cut levers , wood siding on the inside of the car, Kadee Andrews trucks, ketc.

In other words, a perfect worry-free thing for me to practice on before trying a laser kit or a resin kit. I believe it could end up being a nice looking average car, not a contest winner but a good looking gravel yard siding occupant.

I thought about documenting this first move toward Proto modeling as a group build for beginners like me. Is there any interest in this? Everything here would be good for budgeted modelers to use to make Blue Box and Tyco cars better looking and not be quite so obtrusive when mixed in with better cars.

If people want to see this, would it be better in installments as seperate posts? Or as a finished document in a file somewhere?