Years ago, San Juan Car Company produced their first standard gauge 1/48 kit and it was a Rio Grande Fowler-clone boxcar. The late John Parker ( San Juan founder) had a passion for the Rio Grande. He had the late Joel Berling tool the kit for injection molding. The Rio Grande had a bunch of these cars but a lot less than the 3,000 B-2 class built for the Rock Island. It had a few differences such as the number of roof panels and an additional angle on the doors.
I built the model for Lee Turner using the car kit, trucks, couplers and a K-brake assembly. The original kit was supplied with a AB brake system. This unpainted picture highlights the major changes needed to convert the Rio Grande prototype to a Rock Island car.
Lee applied his magic to the assembled model. A basic paint job with lettering from RL Decals. He started to apply character to the model using various techniques to add shadowing and highlighting to get all the detail to pop. Lee also contrasted the metal parts from the wood siding in how much fading occured.
By the way, the Rock Island car is for Lee’s own collection. As you may know, he has retired from doing client work. He hasn’t stopped working on models so we may see some more of his work soon. Thank you Lee.
Gene
Gene's P48 Blog 
Wow, that’s a serious combination of talent!
Great work as always you two. Thanks for sharing.
Extraordinary! One of the best of all his fantastic pieces.
Very nice job done on painting that car and weathering looks just right.
Would love it if Mr Turner would do a video on weathering and painting techniques that he uses
Wow!! Thanks for this post Gene. I was fortunate enough to acquire two of the San Juan kits. I built one as a freelanced / upgraded (with steel ends) model. Still trying to figure out what road to finish it…….. probably something that “never was” since the car “never was”!!! Looks like the second unbolt kit now has a purpose!!!!
Thanks!!!
Best Regards
Bill