{"id":4119,"date":"2025-06-04T16:08:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-04T23:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/?p=4119"},"modified":"2025-06-22T17:34:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T00:34:37","slug":"building-the-nason-boxcab-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/?p=4119","title":{"rendered":"Building the Nason Boxcab, part II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"\">Continuing this &#8220;bronze age of model railroading&#8221; project (<a href=\"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/?p=4092\" title=\"\">part I is here<\/a>), it took a bit of puzzling, but progress has been made!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Keys&#8221; to mounting the drive and the end platforms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I don&#8217;t have any instructions for the model, and I&#8217;m not building it like Nason intended either. I wanted to use a modified Athearn drive. How to mount it? Also, how do I do the end platforms as seen on the GE prototype?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I hit upon the &#8220;keys&#8221; seen below. I fabricated them from the same .025 stock used for the roof (more on that in a bit). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1639\" height=\"1012\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?fit=640%2C395&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?w=1639&amp;ssl=1 1639w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?resize=300%2C185&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C632&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?resize=768%2C474&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C948&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I figured out that I could use them to hold the body at the correct height and properly centered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1909\" height=\"1307\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?fit=640%2C438&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?w=1909&amp;ssl=1 1909w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?resize=300%2C205&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C701&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?resize=768%2C526&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C1052&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-2.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1512\" height=\"904\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?fit=640%2C383&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?w=1512&amp;ssl=1 1512w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?resize=300%2C179&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C612&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?resize=768%2C459&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-3.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1442\" height=\"870\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?fit=640%2C386&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?w=1442&amp;ssl=1 1442w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?resize=300%2C181&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C618&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?resize=768%2C463&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-4.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adding to the bottom and top<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Based on the prototype photos and drawings I found, I needed to add to the bottom and the top of the sides, and make an end insert for the roof. I don&#8217;t have an in progress photo, but the one below shows the model after adding the square stock to the bottom of the sides (cutting a recess for a step). I bought an assortment of the square and rectangle stock, which was a good move as I ended up using different sizes than I originally thought I would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1407\" height=\"805\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?fit=640%2C366&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?w=1407&amp;ssl=1 1407w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?resize=300%2C172&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?resize=1024%2C586&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?resize=768%2C439&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-5.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And the next photo shows the inserts on the top. These were all soldered using my resistance soldering set. I also made a point of using a lower temperature solder than was used to solder the body together, I did NOT want anything to fall apart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1476\" height=\"970\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?fit=640%2C421&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?w=1476&amp;ssl=1 1476w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?resize=300%2C197&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?resize=1024%2C673&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?resize=768%2C505&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-6.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The are a little hard to see, but there are two tabs on the ends at the roof, those are soldered onto the roof. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the roof? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I managed to not take any photos of making the basic roof. Backing up, the roof casting was missing from my kit, so I had to fabricate something. I used .025&#8243; brass stock that was rather hard. So my process involved annealing the edges (to soften the metal) and then bending first the downward angle, then the overall shape. I then matched the inserts on the top of the ends to match. It came out nicely. The next step will be to add details to the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1358\" height=\"762\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?fit=640%2C359&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?w=1358&amp;ssl=1 1358w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?resize=300%2C168&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?resize=1024%2C575&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?resize=768%2C431&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In this last photo I&#8217;m visualizing where I&#8217;ll be heading with the roof. I have four of the original Nason air (?) tanks and also the stack. For sure I&#8217;ll use the tanks, and maybe the stack. It really should have two, so I&#8217;ll ideally come up with a second one that matches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">I&#8217;ve also run it around the layout, it runs great and pulls great! Still quite a few things to do, but I should get this done in the next month. More on that when the series returns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/?p=4131\" title=\"\">Continue reading the boxcab series<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Continuing this &#8220;bronze age of model railroading&#8221; project (part I is here), it took a bit of puzzling, but progress has been made! &#8220;Keys&#8221; to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4126,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nason"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/americanootoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Boxcab-7.jpg?fit=1358%2C762&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4119"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4140,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4119\/revisions\/4140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/americanootoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}