When the observant young railroader commences to look down his snub nose at old-fashioned steam "boilers," it is an easy matter to assemble Diesel rolling stock. Pieces of 4 x 4 (35/8 in. by 3! in.) can be centered on the standard J-in. bases with their ends flush with the base ends. The front of the engine should first be beveled at a i-in. angle; corners and edges can be rounded for a streamlined effect. Doors and windows are painted on, with pieces of gleaming cellophane glued over the black window "openings" for added realism.

For the youthful "hogger" who insists upon being able to look into the windows and doors of his rolling stock, a hollow locomotive and cars can be built up in much the same manner as was used in constructing the cab and caboose previously described. The width of the bases is reduced to 4 in. to take care of the thicknesses of the two sides, which are nailed to the long edges of their bases, flush with the bottom. When 1/2-in. stock is used for the end pieces, the thickness of the sides can be reduced to 1/4 in., permitting them to be cut in pairs 1 in. longer than their bases to allow for the end pieces which are inset between the sides.

Since Diesel engines are usually much shorter than their steam prototypes, the length of the base can be reduced to 7 in. to provide an overall length of 8 in. The front end of the engine or locomotive base is beveled as indicated in Figure 3.15 to receive the slanting front end, which is fastened between the sides in the same manner as is the rear end. As with the steam locomotive cab, in order to save labor the window openings are cut down from the top edges; they are closed by the 1/2-in. thick roof which is nailed to the two sections. A front window 21/4 in. long is cut in the front section; centered 1/4 in. below it is a length of dowel for the headlight, with a bright metal furniture guide on its ends as a lens. The pairs of 1-in. wheels are mounted on standard trucks 7/8 in. thick, 21/4in. wide, and 33/8 in. long.

Fig. 3.15. Diesel locomotive and baggage car-coach.

The combination baggage car and coach is assembled in the same fashion on a 1/2-in. base 4 in. wide and 9 in. long. The forward section containing one window is 2 in. wide, and the rear section of three windows is 5 in. wide, leaving a doorway which is 3 in. wide. The upper edges of both side sections which are nearest the doorway fit flush against a piece of J-in. scrap 4 in. by 41/2 in., which is bradded to the underside of the car roof as indicated in the dotted lines of the diagram.

A neat way to hinge the double doors of J-in. material is to use narrow, full length, continuous or piano hinges which are available from hobby or woodworking suppliers. If these are not readily obtainable, four small brass hinges will prove satisfactory. The hinges should be screwed to the doors and siding before the latter is nailed in position against the base and ends. The same is true of the latch or bolt mechanism.

Cupboard catches are fastened to reinforcing piece Z and the back of each right-hand door. Simple bolts can be fashioned from lengths of hairpin wire and six small staples. As indicated in detail B, when full length piano hinges are used, the nearest staple (X) is driven in but a short distance, so that the end of the bolt (Y) can be bent upward to ride over the inside hinge plate when open. If four separate hinges are used, the seating of the wire bolt is a less meticulous operation.

For realism, the locomotive and baggage-coach can be painted either black or battleship gray; the age of the owner will determine whether the wheels should be black or red. The insides of the cars can be painted in light, contrasting colors before the roofs are attached.