MODEL RAILROADING with   LAURIE GREEN

SKELTON LOG CARS

for the

McPHEE LOGGING COMPANY

A logging layout needs some way of getting the cut logs from the log loading site to the log pond or sawmill. And one of my favourite log carrying cars are the skeleton type. 

I didn’t have any plans for the ones I wanted, and only models of the slightly larger and heavier type used on 3 foot gauge lines. I required cars that would run on 2’6” gauge rails, so the main frame had to be narrower to allow the bogies to swing enough to run around the 18” curves on my layout. 

BUILDING THE MODEL

II built four cars in one batch. The first and main component is the main beam. Everything else on the skeleton car is attached to this beam. It requires two lengths of 6” x12’ x 21 feet long and four spacers 3” x 12” x 20 inches long. Two of these spacers are positioned at each end, while the other two are positioned where the bogies are attached. The diagram below and the main plans will enable you to position these exactly. 

Now, cut outs need to be made at the end of each beam to take the no.5 Kadees. These are 12mm long x 2 mm deep. Two other cut outs are required for the cross struts. These are 2 mm deep and the width of the strut you make. Mine were 3mm wide. See the diagram below. The addition of 4 Grandt line NBW’s each side completes this main beam.

The cross struts are next required. Because I need a square slot at each end of the strut, the best way to achieve this is to laminate pieces of timber together. I used two pieces of 6” x 2” x 6’9” long and two outsides pieces 6” x 1” by 7’9” long. These were laminated as seen below, and form a slot 4” x 6’ long. 

The vertical stakes are 6” x 6” x 5 feet long and have 1” cutouts at the bottom to allow them to slide into the 4” x 6” slots in the ends of the cross struts.