Looking for Freight/Passenger cars

[Anonymous]

Ok, since I've already said this is my first venture back intot he hobby after a long abscence and i've finally settled on the 1870-1890 timeframe, now I'm in need of finding quality equipment to run.

I've head the MDC/Roundhouse car Kits are pains to work with, the wood doesn't look real, and they take replacing parts to get them to run right.

Unfortunatly, the only places I've seen that carry the 34' passenger and 36' frieght are MDC, IHC and Con-cor.

Out of those three, what are the best cars to buy? are there other's i've missed? and I've seen 50' cars as well, but not sure when they were introduced and if they'd work for my particular time frame.

Thanks,
Jay.

[Jetrock]

I like MDC/Roundhouse stuff just fine, and it's cheap enough that the occasional fix-em-up job doesn't break the bank or make one curse a large investment. And their little Overton cars are pretty cute.

I think Bachmann makes a series of older-style (30') boxcars and flatcars and such.

[nfmisso]

Jay;

A good place to start is the Walthers catalogue. http://www.walthers.com/

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

Jay;

A good place to start is the Walthers catalogue. http://www.walthers.com/

Already been there and narrowed the field, but then again, there are companies out there that don't distrubute through walthers as well.

Ah thanks Jetrock, was kinda worried, I like the look ov the overlands, but wasn't quite sure about them.

Jay

[orsonroy]

Roundhouse old-timer cars are just fine to work with. In fact, I really like their various wood cabooses and passenger cars, because they lend themselves to kitbashing very nicely. I use up a lot of their 3-window wood cabs and Pullman palace cars, kitbashing them into more prototype-specific cars. Right out of the box, they build just like Athearn cars, so I don't know what sort of "problems" you've been told they have.

For the 1870-1890 period, your best bet is Roundhouse. Their 36' freight cars, wood cabooses, and wood passenger cars are the largest line of older cars on the HO market. I'd stay away from their shorty passenger cars, though, unless you've got REALLY sharp curves (they may look "cute", but aren't realistic. WAY too short!)

[Anonymous]

Jay:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned LaBelle kits. They are just what you want in terms of time period and authenticy. Of couse there are draw backs. They are expensive, $20 to $30 dollars a kit less couplers and trucks. These are 'craftsman' kits so you will need or have to develope a relatively high level of skill to make them.

Likely you have to buy them direct as they extend only 'short discounts' to dealers and are relatively low volume sellers. LaBelle makes a full line of prototypical freight and passenger cars which are fine as is or can be altered to suit.

www.labellemodels.com/ for their rather 'clunky' web site.

I also recommend you buy or borrow a copy of the 1905 Car Builders Cyclopedia, available on CD. Contains much information of use to you. Walthers carries them.
Good Luck

Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rda1964


I'm surprised no one has mentioned LaBelle kits. They are just what you want in terms of time period and authenticy.

Looked at them, but i think they're a bit past my timeframe, as the cars are 50', which is more with 1900-1940 styles.

since it was 1 bad review(got ti in an email from a group mailing, several there countered it as well) of MDC and several good ones, i think i'll stick with them for the time, and maybe the IHC MoW ones, Con-cor's lines is a bit limited and so probably won't hit them for the cars I need.

As for MDC's old time cars, anything special needed? new couplers? wheel problems needing fixing? that i should be aware of with them?

I would love to see them in person first, but since I don't have a shop within decent range, I'll have to rely on information gather this way then move on to buying them online.

Jay.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN


As for MDC's old time cars, anything special needed? new couplers? wheel problems needing fixing? that i should be aware of with them?

You'll want to replace the plastic wheels, and probably the couplers.

You may want to use a different diameter wheel to better match the prototype; NWSL has a selection. Measure the axle length that MDC uses in the particular car before ordering.

Given your time frame, Kadee #711 http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page63.htm couplers are probably desireable, or link & pin.

You need a Kadee #205, if you do not have one.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nfmisso

Given your time frame, Kadee #711 http://www.kadee.com/htmbord/page63.htm couplers are probably desireable, or link & pin.

Ah thanks, for that....hmm...to bad they only come in packs of 2, else i'd just snatch up a box of a ton. Besides, there's no way i would want to try and use link & pin on HO scale models, i'd go insane.

Jay.

[Anonymous]

Jay:

I Reread your original post in the context of your reply.

LaBell freight cars are typical of what was being built in the 1890 period, Truss-rod cars in the 36" foot range. The first center sill cars were built in 1895.

The passenger offerings could be "retro-bashed' slightly via shortening. Otherwise I think they would fit right in.

LaBell also produces a limited line of detail parts which might be helpful to you.

Good Luck , I need all the companions in this era I can get[;)]

Randy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rda1964


LaBell freight cars are typical of what was being built in the 1890 period, Truss-rod cars in the 36" foot range. The first center sill cars were built in 1895.

The passenger offerings could be "retro-bashed' slightly via shortening. Otherwise I think they would fit right in.

Ah thanks Randy,
I guess i could fudge it and add a few LaBells in, but I was trying to maintain something that covered the range of 1870-1890, course i could add 10 years and have a mix of both in, would be interesting to see 36' boxcars mixed in with 40' boxcars.

Then again, that adds a whole slew of engines available as well, not to mention most would have been converted to coal burning in the early 90's.

Jay

[Anonymous]

MDC

[Anonymous]

I use "The Tool "on the trucks and poli***he ends of the axles. I think there is no real justification for replacing plastic wheels. I use Kadee couplers because all others are less reliable. In fact, I mount the couplers and wheels with screws and nuts. If you add coupler lifts, brake rods, windows with curtains and more details, MDC cars look like more expensive versions. You might remove and replace the heavy plastic stirrups and it will look like brass. You can scribe the plastic to make it appear as wood. Painting wood models requires some multicoat techniques to get rid of the fuzz. LOL
Lindsay

[Anonymous]

Jay:

I had another thought you might find useful. Some prototype research might turn up an interesting project or two. Below are three books which may be useful to you:

Westing, Fred, The Locomotives that Baldwin Built, 1831-1923
Kaminiski, Edward S., Tank Cars from American Car and Foundry, 1865-1955
Dunscomb, Guy L., A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives. 1862-1962

There are also histories of both the American Locomotive Company and of ACF but I don't have the citations at hand. If your local library doesn't have them they should be available via interlibrary loan.

You didn't mention scratchbuilding but I don't think its too much of a stretch in your era where there were fewer appliances and materials were mainly wood.

Good Luck

Randy