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Balboa passenger cars?

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  • Member since
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  • 318 posts
Posted by VAPEURCHAPELON on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 5:09 PM

Magnus,

perhaps Caboose Hobbies will agree to a lower offering from you. This Balboa set has not been sold for several months. I did find some sets at ebay during last 3 years - D&RGW, SP, PRR, UP, MP, possibly others, too - but NEVER B&O! This is the reason I guess this is rare.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: East central Illinois
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Posted by Cox 47 on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 3:28 PM
I think they may go back alittle farther than late 60's....I had 2 a SP observation and a fluted side coach with no road name...I picked them up in the mid 60's at train show...I put kadee's on the SP and ran it it looked OK with other plastic I ran and tracked well....Cox 47
ILLinois and Southern...Serving the Coal belt of southern Illinois with a Smile...
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  • From: Scottsdale, AZ
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Posted by BigRusty on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 2:58 PM
B&O Dome Cars? What year?
Modeling the New Haven Railroad in the transition era
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  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
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Posted by csmith9474 on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 11:20 AM
They don't have any coupler pockets, but a #5 pocket should fit fine, although I would suggest using the "Darwin" coupler pockets from The Coach Yard. They allow adjustment between the cars. With some American Limited diaphragms, you should be good to go. If these cars are what you really want, and you are willing to pay that price, then go for it. As with most brass cars, the trucks may take a little tuning, such as lubrication, and they should roll OK. I personally would not purchase them, but that is me. As you see, some folks are happy with the Lambert cars.
Smitty
  • Member since
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  • From: Sweden
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Posted by Lillen on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 10:25 AM

OK, dammit guys, now you almost made me want them again. So they run good, are heavy(which I like) look quite nice but are a bit pricey. Hmmmm.  Maybe..... wife.... do not need to......  hmmmmm.

 

What diaphragms would look the best and be most appropriate for them? Do they take Kadee #5 couplers?

 

Thanks for all you help,

 

Magnus

Unless otherwise mentioned it's HO and about the 50's. Magnus
  • Member since
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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 8:05 PM
 Lillen wrote:

Do anyone know anything about the Balboa passenger cars? Are they as good as they look? I was thinking of getting a set but I would like to know something about them first.

 

What diaphragms work with these and what couplers should I get?

 

 

http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=89&products_id=56520

 

Thanks, Magnus

They were generic in style and they offered them in many railroad names.  They were built well in Japan by KTM I believe, but are generic.   

The real odd thing about them is I did purchase some in 1969 for $14.00 each.  That wseemed like a good sum since my first brass engine the same year was $64.95.  

Cheers

 

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  • From: Rochelle Hills. Where the dear and antelope play.
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Posted by Master of Big Sky Blue on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 5:44 PM

 jsoderq wrote:
They were made in the late '60s. I have a PRR set. there is no known prototype. That is they are just generic. They are very lacking in detail that we expect today. As I recall, the trucks are diecast, probably rigid. so they are not good pullers. I have to use two units to pull 6 cars.  When I bought mine, they were 16.95 per car. Shows you where the price has gone.

They may well be Generic, however they happen to be extreamly close to GN prototype. As such I have begun building a Brass Empire Builder several years ago. Then Walthers had to Ruin my efforts and come out with their plastic one. I have decided to finish it with all brass cars in the Big Sky Blue Scheme. The only thing about Balboa is they never made a Full Length Dome.

James

"Well, I've sort of commited my self here, so you pop that clowns neck, I will shoot his buddy, and I will probably have to shoot the bartender too." ----- William Adama upon meeting Saul Tigh Building an All Steam Roster from Old Tyco-Mantua, and Bowser kits. Free Drinks in the Dome Car
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Posted by VAPEURCHAPELON on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:30 PM

Magnus,

although you already decided to not take them, I thought it's not out of place to post my opinion about these cars. I like them very much! Yes they are lacking detail, but they are glazed and have grabs already installed, are equipped with fine working lights plus interiors from factory. With little effort (adding diaphragms and paint to interiors) they could be very fine models! Since they have skirts you couldn't see brake rods or something else. They are heavy, mine roll VERY good, they have equalized trucks. The price for that B&O set is high I agree, but complete sets are really RARE. I for myself will look for more of these. I like them much more than the more detailed Walthers cars.

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  • From: Sweden
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Posted by Lillen on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:04 PM

 Tom Curtin wrote:
Your disclaimer about grammar and spelling is completely unnecessary!  Both your grammar and spelling are perfect, to judge from what I can see here. There are many US natives in these forums who would do well to emulate you!

 

Thank you very much, I appreciate those kind words. I try as hard as I can but sometimes I get it wrong. But I do think that we should all strive for better spelling and grammar.

 

Thanks, Magnus

Unless otherwise mentioned it's HO and about the 50's. Magnus
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Posted by Tom Curtin on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 2:00 PM
Your disclaimer about grammar and spelling is completely unnecessary!  Both your grammar and spelling are perfect, to judge from what I can see here. There are many US natives in these forums who would do well to emulate you!
  • Member since
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  • From: Sweden
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Posted by Lillen on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:52 PM

Thanks for your time guys, I have decided thanks to you to not get the cars.

 

Magnus

Unless otherwise mentioned it's HO and about the 50's. Magnus
  • Member since
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  • From: Saginaw River
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Posted by jsoderq on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 1:12 PM
They were made in the late '60s. I have a PRR set. there is no known prototype. That is they are just generic. They are very lacking in detail that we expect today. As I recall, the trucks are diecast, probably rigid. so they are not good pullers. I have to use two units to pull 6 cars.  When I bought mine, they were 16.95 per car. Shows you where the price has gone.
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,808 posts
Posted by Lillen on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 12:48 PM

So in other words is not as good as there prices might indicate. The thing is I want streamlined B&O passenger cars and I think those looks good.

 

Magnus

Unless otherwise mentioned it's HO and about the 50's. Magnus
  • Member since
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  • From: Colorado Springs, CO
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Posted by csmith9474 on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:55 AM

Balboa passenger cars are low end brass cars. The detail leaves a lot to be desired. Unless there is a particular car that isn't available in a plastic model such as Walther's passenger cars, I personally wouldn't fool with them. The detail on a newer run Walther's plastic car makes the Balboa cars look really bad.

Edit: I will say that the set you are looking at already has glazing, some interior detail, and is painted, which is a huge step in the right direction.

Smitty
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,808 posts
Balboa passenger cars?
Posted by Lillen on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 11:29 AM

Do anyone know anything about the Balboa passenger cars? Are they as good as they look? I was thinking of getting a set but I would like to know something about them first.

 

What diaphragms work with these and what couplers should I get?

 

 

http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=89&products_id=56520

 

Thanks, Magnus

Unless otherwise mentioned it's HO and about the 50's. Magnus

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