Having bought both kits and RTR over the years I used to buy kits because they could be upgraded to what I wanted. Then things became available in RTR and now most things I want are available in RTR except 36' old time boxcars with separate grab irons. They are available in HOn3 but not HO.
kasskaboose After building some walthers tank cars, I got turned off to the idea of making my own cars. The trucks and couplers were not able to operate properly on even straight track. Are there more reputable builders to use?
After building some walthers tank cars, I got turned off to the idea of making my own cars. The trucks and couplers were not able to operate properly on even straight track. Are there more reputable builders to use?
Interesting, a Walthers 23,500 gallon modern tank car kit was the kit that put me over the edge on wanting to build model train kits. Excessive flash, poor instructions, hard to keep steady to put together, break out the magna visor and tweezers to put a little part in a small hole. Way different than Athearn or Accurail kits, and simply more tedium than satisfying. As they say, the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.
I would have to look very closely at the assembly quality of the more craftsman type of kits if a personal seller is selling one.
- Douglas
My first rolling stock kit was an Accurail boxcar. My 2nd kit, a Proto 2000 8K gal tank car. BIG difference ...but I got it done.
While that kit was challenging to assemble, it was equally satisfying to complete it. And a bonus was I began learning the various components of a tank car. My next attempt at another Proto 2000 tank car only took me 1/2 the time to assemble.
For me - kit building fostered more kit building. I also looked at it as a way to hone my hand-skills as a technician. (What I do for a living.) Putting on a head visor with tweezers in my hand made me excited to take on more challenges. I totally understand, however, that may not be everyone's cup of tea.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Well, building kits is definitely "my cup of tea". Yikes, I started on ships and planes when I was 12 (1956), built many hundreds of RR kits (cars/structures), did a few military items, and currently I'm building car kits again.
I'll be 80 next week, but I still get that surge of satisfaction upon completing a model. Yup, I've had to use a multi visor for years, and I have to do the intricate parts and painting when my hands can be steadied, but it is still a passion.
I know I've had well over 700 pieces of rolling stock over the years, and I'd guess that 20 or less were RTR. I did have 15 or 16 Walthers ATSF and IC passenger cars, and I know they are flouted as RTR, but I never considered them to be that. As threads here will attest, they all needed some "adjustments" to get them to work correctly as advertised.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I enjoy kit building. But if car is available RTR and kit for the same price, then I'll buy RTR. I have way more kits to build than I'll ever complete.
I pretty much build kits according to instructions. If I want something different, then I usually scratch/parts build.
Paul
I have several hundred freight cars, mostly Santa Fe. Most were purchased RTR, about 10% are kits built by me (often because the RTR version of the specific model was sold out). Precisely two cars are kits purchased assembled on eBay. Both are Sunshine resin kits of car models not available otherwise.
tstagePutting on a head visor with tweezers in my hand made me excited to take on more challenges. I totally understand, however, that may not be everyone's cup of tea.
One of my most recent 'vintage' Life-Like kit builds was six War emergency hoppers. The end and side grabs were all the 'honing' my Opi-Visored eyes and tweezered hands needed! About 168 side and end grabs in total gave me all the 'fun' I was looking for!
LL_hopper2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Hopper car corner grab irons sure are a challenge! Plus the grab irons had to be properly oriented as one leg was ever-so-slightly shorter than the side that goes into the body.
No idea how two out of the six cars were missing the WAB in Wabash?
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanHopper car corner grab irons sure are a challenge! Plus the grab irons had to be properly oriented as one leg was ever-so-slightly shorter than the side that goes into the body. No idea how two out of the six cars were missing the WAB in Wabash?
I've assembled a few of those Proto 2000 war emergency hoppers myself, Ed, so I know exactly what you are saying. When done properly though, they do look great.
I don't know how you did them, Ed, but I found that adding the CA to the metal grab irons AFTER installing them in the holes worked best. I applied a small amount of medium CA with the back end tip of a pair of needle-nose tweezers. The CA would then draw into the hole via capillary action.
As far as the missing lettering, just tell everyone that those particular hoppers are designated for the "ash" pit.
tstage Hopper car corner grab irons sure are a challenge! Plus the grab irons had to be properly oriented as one leg was ever-so-slightly shorter than the side that goes into the body. No idea how two out of the six cars were missing the WAB in Wabash? I've assembled a few of those Proto 2000 war emergency hoppers myself, Ed, so I know exactly what you are saying. When done properly though, they do look great. I don't know how you did them, Ed, but I found that adding the CA to the metal grab irons AFTER installing them in the holes worked best. I applied a small amount of medium CA with the back end tip of a pair of needle-nose tweezers. The CA would then draw into the hole via capillary action. As far as the missing lettering, just tell everyone that those particular hoppers are designated for the "ash" pit. Tom
Hopper car corner grab irons sure are a challenge! Plus the grab irons had to be properly oriented as one leg was ever-so-slightly shorter than the side that goes into the body. No idea how two out of the six cars were missing the WAB in Wabash?
RTR, my time is worth far too much to screw around building something that can be purchased all ready done.
An "expensive model collector"
DrWThe grab irons on C&BT Santa Fe reefers are plastic of a very special kind that breaks just by looking at them. I just finished one reefer, using the grab irons from three kits.
Yea, they are a bit delicate - particularly the stirrups. On a few Proto 2000 50' boxcars, I replaced the stirrups with A-line metal stirrups. That's still a little challenging though, as you have to drill the holes from the bottom side and keep the drill bit parallel to the sides because the OD of drill bit is slightly over half the thickness of the side wall. That doesn't allow you much wiggle room should you drill those holes slightly askew.
To some, "the drive is more enjoyable than the destination". To others, "the destination is more enjoyable than the drive".
Hi DrW,
I learned the hard way that I am way to much of a klutz to be able to handle cars with delicate details. I recently bought a beautifully detailed and weathered CP freight car. It had every detail imaginable added to it and all of the details were very delicate. In fact they were so delicate that every time I picked the car up I managed to break off a ladder or a stirrup. It arrived in perfect condition but it is now missing four of six ladders and one stirrup. I tried desperately to handle it properly but I broke parts off anyhow. Now I'm afraid to touch it.
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
mobilman44To some, "the drive is more enjoyable than the destination". To others, "the destination is more enjoyable than the drive".
I'm definitely in the former camp. I recently returned home from Indianapolis by driving back part of the way on US 36 rather than taking I-70. While it added 2 hours to the trip, it was SOOOOO much more enjoyable and relaxing to drive through and view the scenic IN and OH farm land and small towns along two-lane US 36 rather than along side semis and crazy drivers on the interstate. (The cherry trees in full bloom were a bonus.) Compared to the "destinations", it was definitely a hightlight of my trip and I would do it again.