I was just looking at the Kato website, and the HO Budd Business car caught my eye. I was even more interested to see it comes in Northern Pacific.
Then I noticed the picture of the car looked kind of strange, the lighter green part of the paint looked the completely wrong color. Also the car looked shorter than it should. Does anyone know how prototypical these cars are?
Also is there an N scale version, or is there projected to be one? I also model N and an NP business car would fit my layout well.
Finally do the cars come undecorated? The car look like it could be modified into a nice model of SP&S 99, is that possible?
Thanks in advance for answers!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
I believe the closest prototype for the model was a custom car built by the CHICAGO BURLINGTON & QUINCY.
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There was an undecorated car offered in N scale years ago. I don't know about current releases. The STRATTON AND GILLETTE had one back when it was an N scale railroad, so it must be an older model. I do not know if an undecorated version was ever offered in HO.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Kato made several business cars in N Scale, but not in the Northern Pacific paint scheme that your looking for.
Here's a list that they have done.
BNSF, Amtrak, Santa Fe, CB&Q, Pennsylvania, Canadian Pacific, New York Central, Union Pacific, Southern, and Southern Pacific.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I painted mine to look like the PRR 1000 which was built by Wabash as the Adolphus for Anheuser-Busch. PRR bought the car in 1965 for use by Stuart T. Saunders.
PRR_Z85 by Edmund, on Flickr
Later the car went to Amtrak (lease).
IMG_9927_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
It is a well made car. Business cars were relatively unique so a little "modeler's licence" can be used to make a close-enough representation.
PRR_1000_Z85 by Edmund, on Flickr
The Kato car is a good representation. I could measure it for you but it is pretty close to the usual 82-85 feet for a car of this type. There is a lighting kit that installs easily. Details are good but just a bit thick, as is the standard for Kato.
Good Luck, Ed
angelob6660 Kato made several business cars in N Scale, but not in the Northern Pacific paint scheme that your looking for.
Then how do you explain this!
From the Kato website, look here: https://www.katousa.com/HO/Business/index.html
The lighter green paint looks too light to be correct Lowey green color though. That is one of my problems with it.
I was wondering if anyone had one of these, and is the green really is incorrect or if that’s just the picture.
I have 4 of them in HO scale, all run well and look great!
SPSOT fanThen how do you explain this!
Your link takes me to HO business cars?
From several discussions I've had and one NP car that I bought for a friend, all were disappointed in the color of the Lowey Green.
Regards, Ed
SPSOT fan angelob6660 Kato made several business cars in N Scale, but not in the Northern Pacific paint scheme that your looking for. Then how do you explain this!
The car is decorated in HO and not N in which you wanted information on. Plus you forgot to mention the painted Baltimore and Ohio car that is listed with the Northern Pacific. Kato didn't paint the schemes for both scales.
Try to find a business car and customize it in the NP.
https://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr2333.htm
https://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/081870/HO-Brass-Model-W-R-NP-Northern-Pacific-Loewy-Business-Car-Green-River-Version-3-F-P-Boo-Rim
Kato_BC by Edmund, on Flickr
Kato_BC_0001 by Edmund, on Flickr
Have fun! Ed
angelob6660 The car is decorated in HO and not N in which you wanted information on. Plus you forgot to mention the painted Baltimore and Ohio car that is listed with the Northern Pacific. Kato didn't paint the schemes for both scales. Try to find a business car and customize it in the NP.
Ahh, I see, you were referring to the N scale model! Thanks for the clarification.
I don’t think the car is worth getting, it sounds like the green is quite off, and at $48 a piece I want my car to be perfect! Correct everything!
SPSOT fanI don’t think the car is worth getting, it sounds like the green is quite off, and at $48 a piece I want my car to be perfect! Correct everything!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I believe the green colors used on the NP car match the other NP equipment Kato has produced. If there is/was an N-scale version of the car, it most certainly would match Kato's NP F-units. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean their colors will match other NP cars made by other manufacturers.
The bigger issue is that the car isn't like anything NP ever owned, the only fluted-side cars they had were the Slumbercoaches, and those were left in stainless-steel silver.
Waiting by Bear, on Flickr
It seams my rivet counting has earned me my first Bear Toon!
I would definitely admit to being a proud member of the Prototype Police!
Yes, if I ever try to find something specific I will be waiting trackside awhile!
Thanks for the laugh Bear!
I have two Kato business cars.
One is correctly painted and letter for CB&Q, the prototytpe for the model.
The other is Northern Paciifc, and yes, the green colors are not correct. When I operate this car, I couple it with a Walthers Budd Slumber Coach (Stainless steel car) between it and other NP green cars.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I had the HO NP car and I sold it because it didn't match any of my Walthers or the ones that I painted. The light green was yellowish and the dark green was more like Pullman Green. It could have been shorter as well.
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
If I didn't know any better that looks a lot like by dad. He was born in 1906 and when he was about 21 traveled to the West Coast trying to make it in Hollywood. It looks similar to a picture my uncle took of him when he left Jersey around 1926 or so. He made it there but ended up joining the army and fought in WWII.
Fascinating picture.
Robert Sylvester
Newberry-Columbia Line, SC
NP had many fluted side cars, mostly painted NP colors, like the domes and Budd diners, also the Katy coaches.