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How to Make a Toy Model Pullman Sleeping Car

by Mark P. Cussen

Overview

Pullman passenger cars are common on model railroads. These charming vehicles are a reminder of a bygone era, when the rich and privileged traveled by rail to fashionable destinations for business and pleasure.

Vintage Pullman Passenger Car

Step 1

Go online or to your local hobby store and find a kit for the make and model of the Pullman car you want. There are dozens of them to choose from by any number of manufacturers, such as Walthers, Con-Cor, Athearn and Rivarossi. You can find them either undecorated or painted in the railroad name you want, such as Santa Fe or Pennsylvania.
Step 2

Take the kit out of the box and make certain that all of the parts have been included before you begin. If something's missing, it may be hard to get a refund or replacement if you have opened the inner packages. Arrange the parts carefully on a clean, well-lighted table where you can easily see and find them all. Get your tools in order and begin checking all of the parts for sprue, or waste pieces from the mold. Cut off any sprue with a hobby knife and discard any plastic fasteners that had parts attached.
Step 3

Following the directions in the box, begin carefully assembling the kit according to specifications. Make sure that all joints fit together snugly, and take care that the lug jacks on the bottom of the car that attach the chassis to the body don't break off.
Step 4

Add interior details and lighting before you snap on the roof. You may need to use a little creativity when finding a place to put the battery to power the lights. Be sure to glue the LEDs or pea lamps securely to the interior of the roof so that they cannot be seen from the outside. If your lights get their power from the track, you will need to purchase metal wheel sets for your car and also some axle wipers to pick up the current.
Step 5

Test run the car once it is assembled. The car should run smoothly over the tracks and be able to negotiate all curves with no problem. You may want to consider replacing the plastic couplers that come with the car with Kadee brand metal knuckle couplers. These look more realistic and also will allow remote uncoupling, either magnetically or electrically.

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X-acto knives hobby adhesive or super glue model files tweezers other modeling tools
X-acto knives
hobby adhesive or super glue
model files
tweezers
other modeling tools