Norfolk &Western / Virginian Caboose Project Update

Copyright © 1997- 2024 Kohs & Company Inc, All Rights Reserved

Availability: Limited steel 'C2' variation models are available as shown below for immediate delivery. All variations of the 'CF' wooden type have long ago sold out. If you are interested in a model version not listed below, please make a direct inquiry using my contact information and I may be able to meet your needs. I will be happy to forward a package of literature upon your request, the project literature is also available for download on our Project Download page.

Model Version Currently Available: C2-2, C2-3 & C2-4

Price: See the Downloadable price sheet for the details on the different versions.

Versions Produced: 11

Production Quantity: 335


9/01/23 - The model versions currently shown as available in the listing above have been updated.

12/06/19 - A new information heading has been added to this page to make it easier to identify what model versions are still available for purchase, see the listing immediately above this post.

3/30/17 - The newly updated order form available for download on the Download page provides information about what versions of this project may be available for purchase. I would still recommend confirming availability before ordering.

1/03/14 - A limited number of steel version models are still available, including a couple of steam era variations. The price remains at $495 although some have sold for more on ebay and elsewhere!

1/08/13 - All variations of the 'CF' type wooden caboose included in this project are now sold out.

11/24/12 - There are now two (2) steel version steam era cabooses available and one (1) wooden version. A hand-full of later various versions remain available.

5/24/11 - A heads-up regarding the availability of steam era cabooses, there is only a hand-full left and the prices have already started to go up as most of the steam era versions have sold out. As the official launch of the class A project approaches, the demand will only increase. If you have been procrastinating about a steam era caboose, don't delay any longer!

3/05/11 - I have had several inquiries lately about the availability of Virginian cabooses in anticipation of our Virginian 'BA' locomotive project and I have to report that those models are sold out. There will not be another run in the future despite the anticipated demand and requests since that is contrary to my policy of never duplicating a project. I have warned about this situation not only regarding our future Virginian 'BA', but also the forthcoming N&W class 'A'. There are still a very limited number of N&W cabooses that are the appropriate service period to operate with the class 'A', but when they are gone, they also will not be rerun.

10/17/07 - The models are in our shop and we are delivering!! It's a serious relief to be able to start the delivery process as it has been a long wait for all of us. A special thank you to all of our reservation holders. There will be a further update in the next couple of days.

9/27/07 - Good news, the models will arrive in Detroit on the 29th of this month!! We will continue to update based on the actual progress, but as of right now we are making progress towards getting the models in our hands. Stay tuned.

9/20/07 - Just a brief update as I head to Indianapolis for the O Scale Nationals. The caboose models have been shipped and are traveling with the H-8 models, they are currently in Tokyo awaiting further transport to Detroit. I hope to see the entire shipment in the next few days and will keep you posted as they make progress in this direction. Check back soon for further information.

8/19/07 - Shown below is a sampling of all of the N&W C2 and Virginian C-10 versions lined up and ready for inspection. This group of models represents some our finest work to date and several of the versions are absolutely stunning in appearance. Mr. Sin and his group deserve hardy praise for their dedication to this project and for their sincere effort in striving to meet some lofty goals outlined at the outset. Mr. Sin has set the standard for all others to follow with his first effort as an independent builder and we are thankful that it was under our banner! As we have done with all of our projects up to now, we will be posting more construction photos as well as photos of each version along with details. We have fallen behind with our postings, but it will be brought up to date just as quickly as time allows. Delivery of the production models will begin shortly, as always, in the order in which we received the final payments for the existing reservations. Please check back regularly for new updates and photos.

6/11/07 - A project update is long overdue on this project, but the news is great at this point. Shown immediately below is the first photo of a completed 'CF' version Norfolk & Western caboose from our current production. Keep in mind that this photo was shot at 3:00AM in a hotel room in Incheon, Korea. The photo does not begin to do the model justice, but it gives you a clue of just how good the model is or it should. When we set out to do this project we set several design parameters which entailed several 'firsts' in production model building and as it turned out they were a pretty lofty set of goals. The goals were more than met in part by the individuals shown in the photo just below the sample model; in the center holding the model is Mr. Sin, to the right is his wife and son, to the left of Mr. Sin is Mr. Kim, the man responsible for most of the master patterns used to produced the models. A new company was formed to undertake the specialized work that we sought to have done and Mr. Sin and his wife have worked tirelessly to meet the goals set out. The model below is one of the most stunning that I have ever seen and I take great pride in saying that as this has been very much a team effort from the beginning. As I have always said, we have never and never will be know for building models fast and that has never been our goal, but we have always wanted to build them 'right' and the model below represents 'right' to me.

A complete set of photos from multiple version will be posted in the coming week once we return to a more suitable studio setting to complete the photography, but we were anxious to share the first shot below. Final notices will be going out to all reservation holders in the coming week as the production and inspection is wrapping up. If you already have a reservation in place I believe that you will be very thankful once you see the results of our efforts on this project.

Kohs N&W CF version caboose

12/27/06 - We have picked up speed on our N&W caboose projects again after being a little bogged down with issue of how to recreate certain details of our prototypes. One of the most difficult features to model correctly proved to be the roof detail on the CF version cabooses. They were a very complex layered construction and it has required many hours of experimenting to achieve the proper layered affect, it was ultimately achieved by layering! This would seem to be the natural thing to do, but modeling layers effectively without creating too much mass is not an easy task in O scale. The two images below will give you an idea of how complex the roof design really is. The painting process has begun on all versions of the project and we are hopeful that it will be smooth sailing from this point forward. We will be posting more new detail shots in the very near future so be sure to check back frequently for the latest information and updates.

N&W CF caboose

This is a close up of the roof edge detail of the CF version caboose. Try to distinguish all of the different layers present in this view. This style of roof was used several years after the cabs were originally built, the roof material originally was canvas covered wood with a 'waterproofing' coating applied over the top. The roof style we are using was in service for the greatest number of years, it is an interlocking metal sheeting that was applied in sections. This photo shows five layers 'built' up.

N&W CF caboose

This view of the 'CF' cupola shows the special hardware 'caps' that sealed the intersections of the interlocking panels, they have the appearance of a cloverleaf shape. This cap detail is all individually applied and soldered in place.

11/01/06 - We recently mailed out the long overdue reservation confirmations for this project, if you placed a reservation and have not received a confirmation please let us know. The latest sample models have been shipped and will be photographed as soon as they arrive, we will post new photos shortly there after. The project is currently in the painting phase so the completion of the project is within sight. Further detail will be posted near term.

10/16/06 - Shown below is a sample of the Norfolk & Western 'TJJ' style truck that is being offered on the earlier versions of our 'CF' version caboose. The Photos of our sample models feature the later 'T-98' style trucks which were a take off on the Benttendorf design trucks used on numerous cabooses and other rolling stock from many roads. Reservation holders for this project will be happy to hear that the reservation confirmations have been finally processed and will be hitting the mail shortly. We apologize for the delay in getting the confirmations out, but everything and particularly our paperwork has fallen way behind as we have gotten back up to speed from dealing with the personal issues previously discussed. We have never had more projects in process than we do now and it has required more than our full attention to keep the project developments in line with our usual standards. Our N&W caboose project has continued to make steady progress although at times it has been slow. To produce models that truly reflect the character of the prototypes has required developing new techniques for modeling much of the integral multi-level detail, particularly on the roof of the 'CF' version cars. When we post photos of the latest samples it be very evident to what extent we have gone to correctly model this project. Stay tuned for more details as they are posted to this project update site!

6/28/06 - A brief update to advise that the project information brochure for this project has been posted to the 'Downloadable Files' page of this project site. The order form has not been posted as yet, but will be once our existing customers have received the official offering. The mailing to our existing customers will go out on 6/30/06. The project is already in final production so it will not be long after the reservation process when the models will actually be completed. With the number of versions that we are producing, the production quantity will not last long split between the versions. Some versions will have as few as 10 models produced. If you are interested, please respond with your orders quickly when the forms are available to have the best selection possible for your order.

4/07/06 - We have posted photos of the early sample models for both the 'CF' and 'C2' versions of this project. Reservation information will be going out shortly to all existing customers followed by a mailing to all others that have expressed an interest in this project. Be sure to let us know if you are not a customers, but would like a copy of the reservation and project information. Current planning calls for the completion of this project toward the end of July or early August of this year. More specific version information will be posted shortly.

3/14/06 - The first 'CF' sample model is nearing completion and the official offering information is being prepared as of this writing. There will be a special mailing to all of our existing customers for this project in the near term, if you are not a customer and are interested, as always, let us know so that we can include you in the second round of the mailing process. The version information and other details regarding this project will be posted her shortly.

12/28/05 - As noted in the project information, our 'CF' class caboose will be sheathed with real wood. Shown below is a photo showing the early development of the wood that will be used in the process. This is an ambitious undertaking, but we feel that this is the only correct approach to use in modeling this classic class of caboose.



N&W CAB HOME