Jim Zwernemann is one of the finest modelers in the country. He is responsible for many of the Chooch Ultra Scale II models released in recent years. Jim found the prototype of this signature Northern Pacific caboose in a museum. He measured the model and prepared scaled drawings before starting. The real catalyst was finding castings for the unique truck style used by the railroad. The model is built from styrene with brass for details. The lettering came from RL Design's NP caboose set. Jim used Poly Scale paint for the finish and weathering. The model won "Best Scratch Built Car" trophy at the 2006 Naperville show. The photo was taken by David Hussey.

Jim built this interesting car using a combination of Intermountain boxcar sides and roof along with an old Chooch Enterprises urethane ends. The underframe and details were scratch built. The prototype car started life as an USRA double sheathed boxcar. The railroad rebuilt the car after WWII. The EJ&E introduced the green body color along with the striking orange lettering with this car. The model lettering was custom printed on an ALPS printer by a close friend. The P48 trucks and couplers are from San Juan Car Company. The photo was taken at the 2006 Naperville Prototype Modeler by David Hussey.

This is one of the more unique cars from the steam era. The Mather Car Company developed a design for freight cars that used fewer parts and could be repaired quickly. The Mather design was adapted to boxcars, reefers and stock cars. The C&IM used this design as their standard 40' car during the steam era. The model was scratch built using styrene and plastic detail parts. Jim found an actual car built into a barn preserving the lettering and most of the hardware details. The roof design was the most unique feature of the Mather design. Jim created new artwork for the decals which were printed on an ALPS printer. The car has San Juan Proto48 trucks and their standard AAR Type-E couplers and AB brake system. The photo was taken by Dave Hussey at the 2006 Naperville meeting.

Jim Zwernemann developed this model as a kit for Chooch Enterprises. The prototype was a classic design used by the Northern Pacific for nearly all of the steam era into the 1950's. The model uses RL Design decals. The P48 trucks, couplers and brake system are from San Juan. Chooch developed custom plastic hardware for the kit. The model was painted and weathered using Floquil Poly Scale finishes. The photo was taken by Dave Hussey at the 2006 Naperville meet.

Jim demonstrates his broad interests in modeling with this superb rendering of the Southern Pacific tower that once guarded the T&NO/ MKT crossing at Elgin, Texas. He built the model from styrene with the scalloped shingles coming from Grandt Line. Jim did the patterns for the SP and Katy train order signals that were cast in brass. The model won “Best Diorama” at the Naperville meet. The model was painted and weathered using Floquil Poly Scale finishes. The photo was taken by Dave Hussey at the 2006 Naperville meet