Tad Miyano's two Moody River boxcars were inspired by Monson prototypes.  One is scratch built,
and one is built from an MDC HO 36' old-time boxcar.  Do you know which is the MDC?  It's 43 on the right.

Introduction

One of the advantages of Sn2, is the option to use HO products. By detailing and HO standard gauge car with Sn2 details on gets a car that looks good on an Sn2 layout. An article about converting HO MDC Old-time boxcars to Sn2 appeared in the NG&SLG (check the references page). Many of the ideas came from Jeff Saxton, but they are not his alone. If your considering an Sn2 conversion, see what the Sn2 e-mail list thinks. The members of the list may too have considered the conversion, and have additional thoughts (good & bad).

HO to Sn2 Conversion Ideas:

• MDC HOn3 2-8-0 to Maine 2-foot forney (0-4-4), mogul (2-6-0), prairie (2-6-2) or Mexican mike (2-8-2).
• MDC HOn3 to Sn2 Shay, such as Silver City, Pinos Altos & Mogollon #4:
  

  	Drivers	Truck w/b	Truck centers	Total w/b
  Silver City #4	26,5"	50"	238"	288"
  MDC Shay	25"	40"	246"	286"

  Many modelers have converted the HO version to Sn3, and V&T shops once offered Sn3 conversion kits (theses may still be available). Check Lennart Elg's MDC Shay to Sn2/Sn3 conversion ideas and V&T shops address.

• PFM Benson Shay to Gilpin #4 or #5:  According to Darel Leedy, "The MDC shay is actually way too large to represent even Gilpin shay #5. I've found that a PFM Benson Shay is a much closer match to #'s 4 and 5. In fact, very little needs to be done. Removal of the air pump, tanks and related piping, the bunker, and a few other parts. And the addition of S scale parts such as headlight, bell and other details. The model sports a rather large cab for HOn3. The cabs on Gilpin Shays were very tiny, and no major modification is really necessary. Problem with these models is price. Oh yes,also plan on adding a can motor and NWSL gear set if you plan to actually use the thing. The PFM "Cowichan" Shay is basically the same model.
• Grandt Line #7090 HOn3 GE 25 ton end cab industrial locomotive Kit!
  Easily converted to Sn2 - add shim to sub-frame to lower KD714 to defacto standard of 18" above rail.  Fill top of HOn3 end frame coupler opening with.030x.060 plastic, and file bottom of opening down .060.  You can use their hood or scratch build a new one.  The cab needs to be replaced as is 4' foot 6 inches in S-scale. Quick, easy, and inexpensive at $39.95 plus some plastic.
• MDC 36' HO Old Timer Boxcars (36' HO = 26'6" in S) (Article Appeared in July/Aug 1987 NGSLG)
• The SR&RL had 33' flats, these cars can be approximated by using the Walthers HO 42' steal flats. Remove the rivets, add wood grain, and S scale details (42' HO = 30'11" in S).
• Conversion of HO MDC Passenger cars can be converted to Sn2. Try using both the 34' and 50' MDC cars. The Nov/Dec 1990 NG&SLG had an article about converting MDC cars to Sn3, the ideas could be applied to Sn2 as well.
• How about Athearn's #5330 50' Express Reefer kit. It is 36'-9" in S, and looks good to me (Jeff S) as a head end car for your crack passenger train. It has a more deeply arched roof, which kind of looks like those SR&RL round roof cars.
• Another option is the Walthers #5550 Hart convertible gondola, for use as a ballast car. I (Jeff S) have one built up with added brake rigging in one end, and it looks neat too.
• Yet another idea is the series of Walthers Work cars, the #5530 Kitchen car, #5520 bunk car, #5510 crane tender, #5560 work flat, #5600 rail and tie car, and the #5500 25 ton Brownhoist crane. All are adaptable to our needs, if you don't mind their standard gauge heritage. The bunk car and kitchen car will need S scale manway doors cut into the body, and Grandt doors put in these openings.
• Additionally, if you don't mind the added effort and cost; multiple Funaro & Camerlengo or Westerfield HO cars are adaptable to Sn2 as outlined for the TM/Walthers cars. F & C had a #30010 wood hopper I'd love to try, a #1022 gondola, and just for fun, #1009 Borden's milk tank car (inverted bathtub type).
• Rivarossi has their #2288 snowplow, that with heavy work could become an SR&RL plow/flanger.

Sn2 Conversions:

• HO Walthers Boxcar to Sn2: Jeff Saxton's quick conversion of a Walthers boxcar to Sn2 results in a car similar to boxcars found on the Maine 2-footers. (note: these cars resemble many eastern turn of the century 3 foot gauge boxcars).
• HO Tichy Ore car to Sn2: Jeff Saxton shows us another conversion that is simple to build.
• HO Tichy Trucks to Sn2: Jeff Saxton suggest using many different HOn3, HO, and Sn2 trucks on your Sn2 models. This page lists several of the trucks and their applications. Sometimes Jeff uses the HO Tichy Arch Bar trucks to represent Maine 2-foot trucks. A description of the conversion is listed on this page.
• Other possible Sn2 conversions: Included is a list of other possible HO to Sn2 rolling stock conversions. The ideas include freight cars, passenger cars, plows, and more....
• Sn600 Gloverish Loco:  This great little industrial locomotive is built on an N-scale Bachman dockside locomotive runs on 9mm (N) gauge.  The drivers could be spread to 10.5mm (HOn3) if desired.