MoPac Short Bay Window Caboose P

MoPac Short Bay Window Caboose Projects

The Missouri Pacific initiated a caboose-modernization program in the late 1970's to upgrade its' caboose fleet. Aging cabooses that had been in service for several years were in need of replacement and the MP had been modernizing with several orders of International Extended Vision and Bay window type cars. The Short Bay window was, however, built in-house at the MP DeSoto, MO shops and finished up at the Sedalia, MO car shops. A total of 351 cars were built, with the last car, MP 13099 sent to the Texas-Mexican Railway...instead of the MP. These cars were considered to be the most efficient cabooses ever built in some circles...in fact the Union Pacific designed its' CA-11 and CA-12 class cabooses after the MP Shortys after borrowing an MP car for testing. Some MP cars retain their original red paint even today. One car was actually painted in full UP yellow paint as well.

For modeling purposes, I will be using the Railyard Models' SUPERB kit of this car. This first car is slated for my friend Jerel Eames of DeSoto, MO. Jerel has graciously allowed me to use his car for this page. All subsequent models of the car ( I have 6 more) will feature only finished photos of them. This one will show the car being built. So, here's a couple of photos of the car as it stands today...The most time consuming task seems to be removing the parts from their casting sheets. The new CD rom instructions are THE BOMB!!!

So, enough babbling..here are couple of shots of the car with treadplate, end sills, and some brake detailing installed. These photos are shot on SUPER Macro...so I can see where I need to adjust...such as grabs, piping, ect., So, bear with me!! They aren't as big as the photos would indicate!!