One of the local sages around here said that once "there's a prototype for every model if you search hard enough".... I guess they were right.
The common thought was that it would be tough to make a CPR 8 hatch reefer out of a GHQ CN 8 hatch kit; wrong door; missing panel rivets; wrong sill....
Well; dig hard enough and you'll find an answer....
CPR's first steel reefers, the 281600 series were much closer to the CN prototypes. The same type and size door; the same overall dimentions and only a small (yet to be finished) difference in the roof hatch rests. The panels had a rivet row and the sill was streight but this was not a huge challenge....
The resin shell had the sill evened out and filled using strip styrene, then puttied and sanded. The bottom row of rivets was left as they were located in that place on the prototype. The grabs were sanded off, as was the tack board. I added wire grabs and moved the tackboard and liquiometer (otherside)
A MT roof walkway (metal) ws added - I didnt have a brass one - If I find one I'll use it. The car in question kept it's wooden end platforms but had metal walkways added.
I "embossed" a row of rivets in the center of each panel, per the prototype. Archer rivets are not available here and I didn't want to wait. I also shortened the ladder one rung, per the CPR car.
The car got the CPR stacked livery and was aged; had paint outs added and some patches and rust; this puppy was built in 1946... (served into the 80's)
I need to add the door stirup and the hatch rests, but here it is with a CN car built from the same kit.
Not too bad a copy of the CPR car and "different enough" from their CNR cousins.
I guess you CAN find a prototype for every model..... ;D
