How to Make a Pullman Boxcar Using Cardboard

Cut the tops off all the boxes with the scissors.

Reinforce all seams and bent cardboard box edges, inside and out, with the masking tape.

Position the two large boxes next to each other, open side up, and tape them together.

Place the medium boxes in front of the larger boxes and tape them all together.

Tape the open front side of the smaller box to the front medium box, to serve as an engine.

Paint the lower fourth of each large box dark green with the poster paint and the foam paintbrush. When dry, paint yellow train wheels on the green background.

Paint a 4-inch yellow stripe above the wheel section on the large boxes. Paint four light blue windows in the upper half of the boxes. Paint dark green around each window. Paint the letters "PULLMAN" above the windows. This is your Pullman coach, these were always dark green unless specially ordered.

Paint the two medium boxes red. Add a black stripe across the top and bottom edges of the middle third of the box on each side to indicate the tracks for the sliding doors. Draw a square between the tracks. Divide the square horizontally into five rectangular panels--the standard design of a Pullman boxcar door according to Kaminski. Paint a ladder on the side at the back of the boxcar, running all the way up its side. Paint black wheels on the bottom of the boxcar.

Paint a large yellow and blue striped square on the front of the train engine. Paint white circles on the engine top corners for lights. Paint red squares on the front engine bottom corners for safety lights.