a friend of mine has an HO scale UP big boy steam locomotive which is all diecast and in its original box. what does anyone think the value of it would be? its about 16 years or older.
Do you have any idea who made it? Being that old, it probably has what we commonly call "Pizza Cutter" wheel flanges, which won't go through some brands of turnout frogs. The newer Big Boy by Rivarossi now even comes with sound.
Something else I would be concerned with is, "From what type of metal is it cast?" Some of the Zinc (Zamac) casting from years ago suffer from severe deterioration.
We forget how old we're getting - something from 16 years ago shouldn;t have pizza cutter flanges, that's only 1998. Now if it was 26 years old or more - then it might, but Rivarossi did cut down the flanges on most of their stuff somewhere around mid 70's - the 60's and early 70's version of their locos would have flanges too big to operate on Code 83 track, but the newer ones should be ok. ANyway Rivarossi locos were plastic, so that's not this. I forget - the Trix one might have been diecast, or else it's a MUCH older Bowser one.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I seem to remember Bowser kits being produced up to...um...er...about 10 years ago. 16 years or so doesn't really seem out of line. Die cast in zamac.
Just taking some shots in the dark.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
Most plastic shells are injection molded.
Seems to me that he said the loco was in its original box. Should be pretty easy to determine who made it, eh?
Caboose63 More info...please. We would rather not be guessing.
The OP really doesn't say he is interested in purchasing the Big Boy, just that it belongs to "a friend" and he is wondering about its value.