Brass trains

[tatans]

This quandry again? 1: If you have the money to buy a brass engine, you can. 2: If you don't have the ca***o buy brass, you don't. I'm waiting for the response from someone with lot's of cash who does NOT buy brass, and what would be the reasons. Also if a modeller saves his coins for 22 years and finally buys a brass engine he has always wanted, not because "it's not made in plastic" or some other excuse. I can admire this ethic. It's the "collector" who buys every chunk of brass out there and says he can't find it anywhere else, or some other reason, that bothers me. I wonder where all these thousands of beautiful brass works of art are??? strange that we never ever hear from these people isn't it?? Hopefully some are on layouts right now. If you can afford a brass engine you do not have to make up a reason to purchase it, just buy it.

[Anonymous]

In the case of the L2 I bought. No one made anything like it in plastic. So brass was the only option.

I've done some custom work to it, to make it look and run better. Does it all help the collector value? I doubt it, but I bought it to play with, not as an investment.

Alvie.

[trolleyboy]

Hi i voted no, plain and simple just can't afford them and a lot of the older brass don't run really well and if you are a dcc person sometimes isolatimg the old moters is tuff wothout replacing them with a more modern drive. Unfortunatly once you replace stuff they are no longer a pristine mint model so the resale value drops, that's the problem with collectables. I'm a traction guy so brass in alot of cases is my only choice unless i kitbash but in the longrun kitbashing and scratch building are the only affordable option. TB

[ddechamp71]

Modern hood units Z scale locomotives are available only in brass. That's why my roster is mainly brass.
Dominique

[douginut]

I saw it, I had the money, bought it.

Doug, in Utah

[Anonymous]

Fortunately, I bought my brass favorites back in the 1960's when it was still affordable. Today, it is "out-of-sight." I do B&O and Southern R.R. When I saw Pacific Fast Mail's Southern PS-4, I knew no amount of kit-bashing or R. to R. plastic would measure up. At $49.95 ( 1962), it is the prize of my layout. I had to get busy and super detail my other locos just to "save face" by the comparison.

[Virginian]

I used to have quite a few brass steam engines, but have sold them off as "acceptable" plastic models of my desired prototypes became available. Only have two left. All of them ran great when I was done, and they served their purpose, and when I sold them I didn't lose anything and they funded more purchases. I never bought them to collect, but to run. And I did thoroughly did enjoy seeing them run. And, when I bought them I had the money.
I drew the line at buying a VGN BA 2-8-4, because even though I really wanted one, they were not commonly modeled, even in brass, and I just couldn't convince myself to spend that much money. Thank you Life Like ! That was pretty much the rationale I used for my purchases. I was able to make the Riv Y6b's acceptable runners and lookers, so I never sprung for but one brass there, And I did without the other Y classes, but alas I did go for three Class 'J's and three 'A's. Thanks to BLI, Bachmann (finally the Spectrum - a J that runs!) and again Life Like, all are gone now but that first J, and that one has too much sentimental attachment to ever leave now.
If you want a specific model, be it steam engine, diesel, or rolling stock, and there is no other alternative available, I would encourage you to go ahead and get it if you can afford it. You're only going to get one shot at this life, so take it.

[GN-Rick]

And, I forgot to mention, I'm not a Microsoft executive or anywhere close. I just take
my acquisitions slow.

[GN-Rick]

I too own a fair collection of brass. As a Great Northern Railway modeler, who loves
that railroad's steam power, there is really no other option. In HO, the only loco
even close to prototype is BLI's heavy USRA Mikado which GN had as class O-3.
Even this nice loco needs detail correction/addition to really look the part. There
is nothing else in HO steam even remotely close. It is the same with cabooses.
Many of the GN's cabooses were home-built to thier own unique designs.
That situation, thankfully, is improving with the excellent American Model
Builders Laserkit of the 25 foot wooden GN caboose and the Norwest Kits &
Castings 30 footer. However, I digress. I have been collecting brass GN
equipment for many years. Many purchases have been made at swap meets
where I've been lucky enough to get some really good deals. Anyway, to run
things like an R-2 2-8-8-2, or an H-5 or 6 Pacific (or others) it simply has to
be brass. Diesels? Not now or ever in brass. Today's plastic diesel models
are truly excellent and detailing them is easy (and an enjoyable part of the habby
for me). I also do my own custom painting-either brass or plastic so for me
that's not an issue-I enjoy it too. I also agree with those who state that brass
is an investment. Anyway, that's my opinion, for what it's worth.

[twhite]

[soapbox] I've got more Brass than the Chicago Symphony uses to perform Mahler's First Symphony. Why? Because I model a particular railroad at a particular time in history (Rio Grande standard gauge steam during WWII) and you just can't GET those locos in plastic. I started collecting brass during college in the '60's, and I've only bought two or three of them new. I haunt hobby shops and the web, and I've accumulated at least one of every type of Rio Grande loco class that they used in the 1940's, plus some others that they' borrowed' for the War Effort. If Proto, Spectrum, BLI or Genesis put out Rio Grande steam, I'd be a happy camper, but so far all I've seen is the Rio Grande 3800 UP clone, and Proto's USRA 2-8-8-2 (which I have in brass, anyway). So I continue to hunt for brass. And my locos RUN, they don't just sit in the case and look pretty. So, for those of us who run the 'other' roads, it's either buy brass or kitbash until you go insane.
Tom

[Anonymous]

Becasue no one has ever made an SP AC-9 in plastic. Because I can't stand the plastic handrails that break when I breathe on them. Because I like engines that I'll be able to give to my kids, just like my dad gave them to me. Because they just feel right. Because my brass can pull the bumper off a Chevy that's buried under a ton of concrete. Because I just plain like them.

-dave

[Anonymous]

I can only speak from my own experience. I just recently bought a my first brass model, a PRR Q-2 duplex and compared it with everything else I have ben running since 1978, including the Kato and Con-Cor products. The detail level is better, the running mechanism is unbelieveable (SCALE 4mph!) with little engine load. Expensive, hell yes! Worth it? Does anyone else like the idea of running a single loco 58 car freight over 1.5% grade at a scale 20 mph????

[randybc2003]

Reputation for quality, durability over plastic, specific detail, investment, and all the positive things listed above. Sometimes I even add brass details to my plastic because they can survive better.
[#ditto][#ditto][#ditto][#ditto]

[Anonymous]

I'd love to have a brass Fairbanks-morse C-liner passenger model painted up in the LIRR's "Dashing commuter" scheme.



I dont think theres ever been a plastic model made ever.

This 15 year old can dream cant he?

[Anonymous]

While I've seen many brass locos and the detail, etc. is phenomenal, I would be hard pressed to run them on my railroad.....

To me, they are more "works of art" than functional parts of frequently operating railroad.

Would you use your 1927 Duesenberg Model X as a daily driver? Even my Trix Big Boy spends more time in its display case than on the track. Whereas my Rivarossi Challenger is an everyday runner.

Brass is great, but you really have to be able to afford the investment. I would love to own some, but I doubt I would ever have the guts to run them like my Katos, Athearns and Rivsarossis...........

[bpickering]

Right now, brass isn't an option, because of two things:
1) price
2) my co-engineer, who is 3 1/2 years old.
Until he shows considerably more maturity, a $30 Lifelike or IHM cheapy is the most likely investment.

After he's grown some, I may consider a rare brass engine (the DD40AX previously mentioned would be a candidate...), but I'll likely stay with Proto-2000-quality plastic. I've got other things to spend money on, like my motorcycle and retirement.

Brian

[Anonymous]

I looking for a Conrail Brass N21 or N12.

Thanks

Wil

[darth9x9]

I buy brass when a high quality plastic version isn't available.

BC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit

QUOTE: Originally posted by t3488g

another question: brass parts (doors, grills, etc) are they just for brass?

Not at all. Adding brass grilles and other parts is a common upgrade on older models over here - There's one particular Lima diesel loco which a small manufacturer has made brass grilles and an interior detail kit for (it's possible to see straight through the prototype's grilles, and the components inside are visible)!

[jimrice4449]

Brass can't be beat for those who require prototype specific models and have a producing oil well in their back yard. For the rest of us compromise is indicated. If you model the steam era and are patient it looks like you will eventually get what you need from BLI, and the others. I"m a psgr train freak and here's my solution. I recently put a Panama Limited in service. It has a Soho baggage/dorm and observation car that I bought used on the internet for about $350 for the pair and Railway Classics diner and lounge that cost that much each. The rest of the 12 car train is Walthers sleepers that I painted to match the Railway Classics cars. If you limit the brass cars to those not available in plastic or in limited run kits you can keep the price down to way less than $3500 or $4000. Then there's always the "close enough" option.

[Anonymous]

I have one older brass engine I saved up for: A B&O L2 0-8-0, imported by PFM around 1972 or so. I absolutely love it, even though it doesn't run as well as my other steam engine models. But that will change once I finish reworking the mechanism.

Alvie.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by t3488g

another question: brass parts (doors, grills, etc) are they just for brass?

Not at all. Adding brass grilles and other parts is a common upgrade on older models over here - There's one particular Lima diesel loco which a small manufacturer has made brass grilles and an interior detail kit for (it's possible to see straight through the prototype's grilles, and the components inside are visible)!

[Anonymous]

Only if it was a prototype I really desire and there was no way a plastic version would come out. Otherwise it isn't nessesary to pay that much money for one locomotive. If I had a wife, I'm sure she probably wouldn't let me do it.

Why on earth would anyone buy a brass diesel?

[randybc2003]

Yes, for special occasions and reasons. I look at them as "collector's pieces". Although I do run them on my layout. Sometimes they are special models of special pieces of equipment. Also, sometimes I like to work in brass as the material of choice for a particular model.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: The quality of the newer, UNFORTUNATELY, "made in China", releases from Life-Like Proto 1000/2000, Spectrum and Genesis are very affordable alternatives.

... not unfortunately my fried. That's good! Would these models be produced in the US the price per item would be maybe twice! We should all say "gan xie" to busy little women hands in China so we have affortable models.

Regarding Brass: Once you decided to model a specific prototype and start to build a layout, how many locomotives would you want to buy each year? Three? Five? Or even more? Personally, I try to buy all available models in plastic for my prototype and one good brass engine each year. I never buy a model as soon as it shows up in the stores but maybe up to twelve months later. This saves me much money! Especially on the brass market you can find really good deals when you compare many stores.

And one more thing about brass which is much like buying a car. You can spend your money on a big BMW or buy a little Toyota. And if you want to save money you buy an old BMW for less and take it apart in your garage to make something out of it. I know people who enjoy such strange behavior like screwing around on their cars. I for one enjoy to work on my brass locos and they reward me for every hour of work once they hit the high iron and lumber along on eye level! GREAT HOBBY !

Cheers, Florian

[Anonymous]

I don't have any brass anymore; it didn't run that well, had to be painted and was very delicate. And very beautiful. The quality of the newer, unfortunately, "made in China", releases from Life-Like Proto 1000/2000, Spectrum and Genesis are very affordable alternatives. Compare brass from 10 yrs ago (that is painted) with Proto2000 or the like, and you'd be hardpressed, at least without a magnifying glass to tell them apart except that the brass wouldn't often be as nice. I intentionally didn't mention Broadway since I think their stuff is first class but way overpriced. They do make some unique steam PRR locos essentially unavailable from anywhere else (except very limited run brass), so if you gotta have something specific, you've got a source. I don't know why anyone would step up to their price for their new E8s when Proto2000 is available in many roadnames & schemes. There always will be brass for those who can afford it, have only one hobby or don't fear divorce. Model railroaders vote with their check books like in anything else. Why do discussions like this become hostile? Buy what you want!

[cp1057]

A brass loco or two would be really nice. Painted metal is to my eyes always going to look more authentic than painted plastic. I've seen some brass at the hobby shop that have convinced me of that.

Alas, the price is too high. For the price that another post claimed he bought brass on Ebay, I bought the old clunker car that takes me to work every day.

Also the allure of guitar equipment is always competing for those scarce hobby dollars.

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

...But if I really, really desired a locomotive that would only exist in brass, I would just kitba***he hell out of affordable stuff to make it myself!...

Well, the thing you have to remember about that is that by the time you get all of the necessary pieces/parts to make your model, the cost might match a brass model.

That is, if cost is the major consideration. Personally, even if there is a brass version of a particular prototype out there, and even if the costs ended up being equal, modifying plastic engines is what I like, so that's what I do.

---jps

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bigblow69

Try to find a 3-unit Gas Turbine in HO less than $700. Somebody should take note and make it in plastic.

If it was made in plastic for a reasonable price i would buy it even though i don't model UP