Modernizing a CN Accurail Wood Reefer

The Accurail wood reefer based on a FGE prototype from the mid-1920s according to Eric Hansmann is a versatile model generic enough to be a convincing stand in for many other reefers that graced the rails. With most details are molded on, they are crisp enough to be kept. These cars themselves are easy to upgrade, bash or superdetail to fit better what you are modelling. While not in the same category as a higher quality kits, they render excellent services to the thrifty or crafty modeller.

A few years ago, Accurail offered an early paint scheme Canadian Pacific reefer which I purchased and redetailled by adding wooden platforms around the ice hatches. Carefully weathered, it was the crown jewel of my old time fleet until I discovered the prototype picture and found out it was a foobie. The lettering was pitch perfect... but it should have been a 36ft reefer and not a 40ft one! So, now aware of the mistake, I stopped using the car, wondering what I would do with it.

Fast forward a year ago wen I was designing decal artwork for a modernized CN wood reefer in the wet noodle scheme of 1961. I always loved these clumsy applications of the new CN corporate image on cars that weren't made to wear them in the first place. When my craze of building reefers feathered out, I forgot about the project until I needed to fill a decal sheets two weeks ago and felt it would be useful to print the artwork.

The thing is I didn't have an available undecorated Accurail shell. Looking online in Canadian model shops all around the country, I couldn't locate a single car for sale. But that CP foobie was still in my collection and in need of an upgrade! It had already the wooden platforms added, so it was quite close to prototype and it would only be a matter of spraying the sides in oxyde red brown and start over again.

My old CP foobie weathered with love and care

I didn't want to remove the nice weathering on the roof, so I elected to sand down the Accurail pad printed lettering with fine sand paper. That way, there wouldn't be annoying ghost lettering showing under the new coat of paint. An aged and faded mineral red paint (modified Vallejo Terracotta) was airbrushed, weathered with pencils, details were drybrushed with a lighther shade to make them pop and oil paint washes were used to blend everything together. When dry, a coat of gloss varnish was applied, ready for decalling.

After a short while, I decalled the car, fought with air bubble because decals on wood sheathing is always a nightmare and dullcoted the model. Further weathering would be required later, but it will be for the future since I'm not currently in a weathering mood.

Repainted and with new custom decals

But the story doesn't finish here because while looking at a prototype picture, it became clear these reefers had been updated with Ajax brake apparatus. Fortunately, I always keep these parts around just in case. I lowered the brake platform, cut down the vertical staff and installed a Proto 2000 Ajax brake. The old Accurail brake wheel went on another old CN reefer which was missing his own wheel due to poor handling. That car was also finished with some custom decals.

Ready for final weathering

All in all, I'm really happy with this modernized car. An underslung charcoal heater will need to be added later on (I will probably 3D print such parts because I need a ton and I already designed it). Just a few details make it a distinctive model and when I was looking at Richard Manicom's 1963 pictures yesterday, I discovered the local trains had one of these modernized reefer in tow, just before the combine!

Look at what's hiding behind the combine! (credit: Richard Manicom / CN Lines)