I need a few rail cars to hid my larger battery in that I use on my Radio Control w/ Batteries Engines. Many of the RC Engines are not large enough to hold the Battery so having a few "Special Purpose" cars to keep coupled behind an Engine helps.
I found a picture of a model "Ice Service Car" on a product PDF from Portland Car and Foundry. This is the picture along with the following caption:
"Ice service cars appeared on many railroads besides the GN. The NYC and smaller roads operating in New England also used them. They serviced ice refrigerator cars being loaded away from large icing platforms. Deck is constructed from 4 x4, 2 x 6 and 2 x4 structural pieces."
I had bought a few MOW car kits from Portland Car and Foundry to also use as Battery Cars and called them about the "Ice Service Car". I was told that car was not available. I took a close look at it and decided to do a Box Car Kit-Bash and make my own.
Before I got started and just by chance I found a picture of a real "Ice Service Car" although they called it a "Reefer Service Car". This Prototype was from the Canadian Pacific Railroad and was used in the West Toronto yards where they said the facilities were heavily taxed and it said that it was quicker to run the Ice Service Car alongside the refrigerator cars while still in a train and refill ice bunkers. The caption stated that old box cars were modified with large ice bins built over a reinforced roof.
This is a picture showing two of the Canadian Pacific Railroad "Reefer Service Cars".
1.
When I first found the picture I thought that the Box Car being used looked like a kit I had. As it turned out I had a Box Car like it but with decals for Canadian National Railroad. This style Box Car came into service with CN in 1929 and some lasted until 1980. During the early years they were painted CN's standard mineral brown with black underbody and after 1943 the the entire car was painted mineral red. I will use the mineral brown and black for mine.
2.
The Funaro & Camerlengo resin Box Car kit is one of several resin kits I have from them. It also became the first resin kit that I have made. This is not one of their one-piece kits. It is sort of a 5 piece kit.
3.
This picture shows the Box Car with the sides glued together and also glued to the frame. The Box Car roof has scale wood glued alone the edges to level the Ice Bin.
4.
This picture shows the Battery and RC Receiver.
5.
With the roof in place.
6.
With the Ice Bin sitting on the Box Car roof and waiting to be filled up with ice blocks. I will add side braces like you see in the picture and other details that came with the Box Car kit.
7.
Same as picture number 6 but from a different angle.
