Does anyone know what happened to the molding dies for the HObbyline 2-8-4 non-powered model kit of the 1950's? Also the PRR A5 0-4-0 and 0-4-0T kits? These were quite well detailed for their time, despite being inexpensive.
Hobbyline was located in Morrisville, PA. I have always suspected that they had some connection to Penn Line, which was another 1950's era manufacturer in Eastern Pa. Bowser was located in Redlands, California at the time. Eventually ownership of Bowser changed and operations were moved to Pennsylvania. They acquired Penn Line, Varney, and other lines. Frankly, I'm not sure about any of these connections, and I may have the history a bit mixed up. If those dies exist (pretty iffy) and if anybody knows where they are (also pretty iffy), I suspect Bowser is the place to look. However, a person retiring from Bowser today was a teenager or younger when most of this happened, so I'm not very confident that the answers will be easy to find.
A company called Sims produced a drive mechanism for the Berkshire as an aftermarket product. The Berkshire was a nicely detailed hybrid that had features from various Van Sweringen Berkshire designs, mostly NKP.
Tom
Those Hobbyline Berkshires made some pretty decent hangar queens back in the day. It looks like one moving off the turntable on John Allen's layout:
Well, perhaps "moving" is a bit of an exaggeration.
Ed
Many years ago I picked up their 0-4-0 switcher at a train show. It was already assembled in their original box. Still have it, but the tender was used in one of my projects. The box contained the decal sheet with a few items removed, and the original instruction sheet. Just another curiosity in my stash!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
ACY Hobbyline was located in Morrisville, PA. I have always suspected that they had some connection to Penn Line, which was another 1950's era manufacturer in Eastern Pa. Bowser was located in Redlands, California at the time. Tom
Hobbyline was located in Morrisville, PA. I have always suspected that they had some connection to Penn Line, which was another 1950's era manufacturer in Eastern Pa. Bowser was located in Redlands, California at the time.
I suspected HObbyline was a branch of the Johh English company, since the white metal English PRR 0-4-0 was nearly identical with the HObbyline. Same difference since Penn Line, John English, Bowser, some Varney, and Pennsylvania Models (trolleys) all came under the Bowser name when the English family bought Bowser.
If for nothing else those HObbyline plastic steam engines were a good source of plastic detail parts for the early plastic kitbasher, because back then there were no plastic detail parts to speak of, just brass or white metal.
Dave Nelson
There was a motorizing kit available for the HObbyline Berkshire in the late 1950s. According to the Linn Westcott John Allen bio, Allen powered a HObbyline kit with one of these kits. In addition, he also kitbashed HObbyline detail pieces onto a Mantua 2-8-2.
If you consider that there's a Bachmann Berkshire available at a very reasonable price off the web -- with better detail than the HObbyline -- I'm not sure what the advantage of the HObbyline loco is. But if you do want a dead line loco, a spare tender shell or whatever, the thing to do would be to search swap meets and the famous auction site.
Yes, HObbyline was part of English, mostly RTR stuff but not all.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I doubt if you get this responce but those dies you want to know about went to Lionel who reworked the tender of the Berkshire, reshaping the top platform and coal bunker and placed a AC whistle into it. The whistling tender was put behing 0645. I have no idea what they did if anything to the 2-8-4 loco end.
frank
JOHN BRUCE IIIf you consider that there's a Bachmann Berkshire available at a very reasonable price off the web -- with better detail than the HObbyline -- I'm not sure what the advantage of the HObbyline loco is. But if you do want a dead line loco, a spare tender shell or whatever, the thing to do would be to search swap meets and the famous auction site.
I have seen several modelers using the HObbyline Berk as a cadaver around an engine terminal. It had a somewhat detailed frame that looked nice when placed in the area around a shop.
oldline1
rrinker Yes, HObbyline was part of English, mostly RTR stuff but not all. --Randy
Randy,One of HObbylines RTR engine was a FM10-44 not bad for its time and it ran fairly well..
However.
The cab lacked the window facing the long hood.A lot of modelers including my Dad would drill out the window and file it until it was square.
HObbyline also made a caboose with a round roof coupla.I'm not even sure it had a prototype but,it was still a nice looking caboose.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
removed
When you read a original add for a HOBBYLINE FM H-44 it is listed as a FM H12-44. The diesel body design on HObbylines models were of the enhansed styling of Raymond Lowery.