[Ben Sevier]

Doing some MP Arkansas Division buildings, and wondering if anyone knows what the MP interior colors were likely to be in the 55-61 time frame. I like to have something other than black showing through the windows (my shelf layout height puts them within easy looking). Looking at adding photo interiors sometime, but in the meantime.

Ben

[Ben Sevier]

Thanks to all! I’d tried a little bit of lacquer thinner, didn’t appear to have any effect, but I’d just brushed it on. Looks like I’ll need to sink the car into a dish of it. I tend to user better trucks (Tahoe, usually) so no need to do anything with the brass ones.

Ben

@cduckworth wrote:

Back in the old days we used lacquer thinner but make sure you don’t put the wheel sets in as the thinner will dissolve the nylon insets used to insulate the wheels.

[Ben Sevier]

@Patrick wrote:

I bought a couple of the Athearn “eastern” 2 window cabooses. They appear to be recycled Model Die Casting cabooses.

To my eye they are quite over scaled, looking almost S scale when coupled on a train. The door on the end is close to 8 scale feet high. A brakeman inside the caboose would have to stand tiptoe to see out the side window.

It was very disappointing to see this oversized-ness only after they were put on the layout. I ended up giving them away.

I have some of these, as well as the Atlas NE ones in MP livery – Atlas did a much better job, finer detail, not oversize. However, they are still not exactly the same as the Magor and/or MP copies – difference in overall length, height, details.
For the moment I’m living with both, but will probably replace the MDC/Athearn with Atlas. WrightTrak also has an MP caboose, which is a nice resin model of the ICC rebuilds of older standard cabooses. My only issue with these is this was a project done in 64-65, and I model 1960 – but who would know… The AMB ones are also nice.

[Ben Sevier]

Thanks – anything helps!

[Ben Sevier]

Dick – thanks! While there are none for sale, the NMRA Library has copies of all Bulletins. I will see what I can find.

[Ben Sevier]

Thanks to all who posted ideas. I’d noticed the Pella kits. Would have to apply stone (I think) overlays on the lower walls and around windows, etc., but that’s doable. Probably as close as a kitbash could come – will have to see what I can do.

The stations are along the main line from Little Rock to Texarkana, including Gurdon, Hope, Perkins, Prescott, etc. They are similar to each other, but have distinctive detail differences. The only photos I’ve seen are on eBay and Google searches, which is what I’m using for planning. Anyone have dimensions?

Thanks – Ben

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