POSTSCRIPT:
I spent a few more days on that C&BT reefer kit, then finally gave up. Almost every small detail piece would simply break apart- and I consider myself a reasonably skilled intermediate level model builder, with a very diversified workbench tool collection, especially for working with delicate parts. All the plastic parts seemed very brittle.
Finally I gave up, as heightened blood pressure is not a goal of my hobby efforts. I kept the car box and the roof, so I can make a yard storage item for my layout. That way it will not be a total loss, but never one of those C&BT kits ever again!
Cedarwoodron
When you have finished struggling with the CB&T boxcar, order an undecorated, unassembled PS-2 covered hopper kit from Kadee, so you can see how all kits should be designed. No glue, no filing, no wondering where they compromised. You will have to paint and letter it yourself.
Dave et al: as per my usual practice, I will post the end result in the Photo Gallery, but I have no expectation of receiving kudos in the form of "stars" for working a problematic kit to completion, just the satisfaction of overcoming the inherent difficulties of this brand of kit. I know that CB&T was not very "prolific" in terms of number and variety of kits produced, but while in operation they could have "tightened up" their standards to have given modelers a better product. Alas...
I've got one built C&BT kit, a boxcar:
I had to drill out the holes on the trucks since they didn't fit the chassis right out of the box-- the result being that if I lift the car off the track, its trucks get left behind because the screws just keep them centered beneath the car. (As long as there's enough weight inside, that's not a problem when it's being moved around.) I also experimented with weathering using ink washes, powdered graphite, Dullcote, anything to deaden that plasticky sheen. I like this car now, but I probably won't buy a C&BT kit again.
P
But isn't it kind of comforting to be able to blame a bad kit if it doesn't turn out? And if it does turn out, we will be impressed and shower you with kudos.
Dave Nelson
Guess I will "grin and bear it" with this one kit, but I will overlook any more of them at future swap meets.
They may be a challenge, but the product quality makes it more of a burden, rather than being enjoyable.
cedarwoodron Usually, I am not a big fan of old threads, but I am currently self-tasked with building a C&BT Shops refrigerator car, as I had the (mis)fortune to pick up an inbuilt kit at a swap meet. As I am repurposing the car... Cedarwoodron
Usually, I am not a big fan of old threads, but I am currently self-tasked with building a C&BT Shops refrigerator car, as I had the (mis)fortune to pick up an inbuilt kit at a swap meet.
As I am repurposing the car...
I don't usually revive way old threads. but since I chimed in on this one a couple years ago, I'll add my 2 cents. I still stand by my opinions.
I just recently dug those 4 reefer kits out too, to repurpose them, into 60s wood chip cars, following "close enough" pictures from the 'net. That's my recent (2015) experience with them! Dan
As I am repurposing the car to represent a GN Western Fruit Express car, I removed the paint and have used lead sheet to properly weight the car (since it has a sealed door aspect). The very small parts are a bit difficult to work with. Does anyone have any recent (2015) experience with these kits?
By the way, their website is for sale (referencing the owners health) so I don't know if they are still in business.
Southgate I also don't care how opaque plastic claims to be, if it's not painted, it looks plastic.
That's the real problem with these kits - the pre-decorated cars need a lot of attention to weathering and flat finish so they don't look awful. I have two of these cars which I received as gifts, and I wouldn't have purchased them myself. I did like the ability to easily configure safety appliances to match prototype photos.
The details are a bit coarse, but I had no trouble removing them from the sprues using a utility knife or razor saw. Nothing broke. You may want to try a razor saw instead of a knife.
The stock C&BT wheelsets, with the cast plastic half axles and metal rims, are absolutely worthless. They don't roll well due to the blunt axle ends, and are guaranteed to wobble. Replacement with ExactRail or Intermountatin wheels in the C&BT trucks yields good performance.
Rob Spangler
IMHO, Those kits should have never been released in mass numbers with that cheap brittle plastic, rendering far too many parts unusable. Especially at the price. Good styrene isn't exactly rare. I also don't care how opaque plastic claims to be, if it's not painted, it looks plastic. The printed side detail over plastic, not paint is a waste of time. I ended up repainting my four reefers, and then rather relegated them to the to be finished some time later...way later.
If you've never built a CBT, don't bother. Dan.
I have some unbuilt kits of theirs on the TBB shelf (to be built). And yes the plastic feels and looks unusual although it seems to be some version of styrene. The HO Seeker website has one CBT instruction sheet and it candidly admits to some issues -- the running board roofwalk has to be bulled into sitting flat with cement, and there is mold damage to the trucks that needs the modeler to deal with. The instructions also caution about removing parts from sprues but that is good advice for any plastic kit.
http://hoseeker.net/cbt/cbt40aarsteelboxcar.jpg
I wonder if CBT's practice of adding the paint color to the plastic in some manner weakens the plastic.
By the way that instruction sheet contains an address but I have no way of knowing if it is current.
Hi,
I've had several CBT kits over the years - all Santa Fe. I suggest you go on Ebay and buy another kit to use as spare parts, for getting them thru "normal" channels is not an easy task.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Gidday Reynold, to the forum. I'll just make your link clickable.......
http://www.cbtshops.com/
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
C&BT Shops now has a website:
http://www.cbtshops.com
www.cbtshops.com
Reynold
I assembled some of their kits a decade or so ago. I think the plastic was brittle back then. I do remember that there was a big to do amongst the ATSF modelers about problems with the SFRD cars (roof sat too high) and I think there were a couple magazine articles on how to modify the cars to to make them look more prototypical. Have no idea if the current kits have been modified to be more correct.
I do know that I liked their boxcars because they had a variety of door/end/side panel combinations and I was able to find a combination that exactly matched my prototype. I did replace a lot of the plastic grabs with wire ones.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
jt burke
Marion, OH
C&O and Chessie System Modeler
www.marionmodelrailroadclub.org
Google is your friend. A simple Google search for C&BT Shops turned up several on-line suppliers of their products, so they are very much still in business. They even have a page of C&BT Shops products in the 2010 Walthers HO scale catalog.