"doctorwayne I have 14 USRA double sheathed boxcars in service, all with free-standing metal grabirons, underbody brake details, and Kadee couplers, for roughly the price of 3.5 4 of those very nicely-done Rapido cars. (most also have custom lettering, hence the change to 4). Most were also bought when they cost only ten bucks, too."
Similar stuation when it comes to reefer trains. I bought tons of red caboose and intermountain kits at @$10 each.
OTOH: How many reefers do you build before it loses its charm? I need around 60 or 70 for the operating scheme. I love to build cars but the repetition gets to be mind numbing after awhile. I am also cheap, so it does put me in a bit of a bind when you look at $30 or more for RTR. Over the years, I have managed to cobble together enough cars through batch builds and some hand me downs to fill in the roster.
"mlehmanWe've had this "problem" (if you want to call it that) in HOn3 since Blackstone arrived on the scene. Lots of grumbling at first, but most of us who operated look at it this way. Let Blackstone (or Rapido or whoever) build the common stuff, that just gives more time to scratchbuild the stuff you'll likely never see produced. Basically, a net calculation was that all those hours spent building Rio Grande 3000 series boxcars could be put to better use after the second dozen or so (for most of us.) Then there's the matter of quality. Everything I've ever taken out of a Blackstone box looked better than my best effort on a RailLine kit. I do OK, but consistently OK+? That takes a factory."
"mlehmanWe've had this "problem" (if you want to call it that) in HOn3 since Blackstone arrived on the scene. Lots of grumbling at first, but most of us who operated look at it this way. Let Blackstone (or Rapido or whoever) build the common stuff, that just gives more time to scratchbuild the stuff you'll likely never see produced.
Basically, a net calculation was that all those hours spent building Rio Grande 3000 series boxcars could be put to better use after the second dozen or so (for most of us.)
Then there's the matter of quality. Everything I've ever taken out of a Blackstone box looked better than my best effort on a RailLine kit. I do OK, but consistently OK+? That takes a factory."
Mike I hear you on the Blackstone thing. They really put the issue in stark relief for the narrow gauge community. It would have been easier if the Blackstone stuff wasnt so nice!!!
The local train group (mostly narrow gaugers) had a rite of initiation where one member would give you a RailLine 3000 series kit and see if you could build it. Mine is still in the box as a treasured keepsake as I model standard gauge.
I am happy to see another manufacturer wade into this arena with a high quality product - even if I have more boxcars than I can put on the layout already.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I only have two USRA double sheathed cars in my fleet. I am pretty sure moth of them were built from Westerfield resin kits.
I have about a dozen USRA single sheathed (outside braced) boxcars. All of these were built from Tichy kits.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
mlehman...Anyone who can afford it would buy one of those cars rather than spend all that time and effort building even one like you do....
I can certainly understand that aspect of it, Mike, but for me, the building of something is as enjoyable as the ownership of it, so twice the pleasure of r-t-r. I do own a couple of r-t-r items, too, just so you know that I'm not always a cheapskate.
Wayne
More than 20 years ago now, I built a whole series of Intermountain 40' reefers and boxcars. I tried my best but was not as good as the factory can do them. Kits have never been the same for me since. I have applied all the details to various Kato engines since then, but that's as far as I'll go. The 3 hour or longer to assemble kits, I just do not do at any price. My time is worth more to me than that.
I may need a few of these Rapido boxcars...
John
doctorwayneI have 14 USRA double sheathed boxcars in service, all with free-standing metal grabirons, underbody brake details, and Kadee couplers, for roughly the price of 3.5 4 of those very nicely-done Rapido cars. (most also have custom lettering, hence the change to 4). Most were also bought when they cost only ten bucks, too.
True enough, but it's a new century, Wayne. Anyone who can afford it would buy one of those cars rather than spend all that time and effort building even one like you do.
We've had this "problem" (if you want to call it that) in HOn3 since Blackstone arrived on the scene. Lots of grumbling at first, but most of us who operated look at it this way. Let Blackstone (or Rapido or whoever) build the common stuff, that just gives more time to scratchbuild the stuff you'll likely never see produced.
Then there's the matter of quality. Everything I've ever taken out of a Blackstone box looked better than my best effort on a RailLine kit. I do OK, but consistently OK+? That takes a factory.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
While the Rapido car is very nicely done, and I'd like to support Jason's efforts, I simply cannot justify spending sixty bucks for a freight car that I can get, for under fifteen bucks and a little labour, from Accurail...
This one, one of three done many years ago, starting with $5.00 apiece Train Miniature low-roof double sheathed wooden boxcars, and some Tichy ends, is a pretty good stand-in when nothing similar was available at that time...
I have 14 USRA double sheathed boxcars in service, all with free-standing metal grabirons, underbody brake details, and Kadee couplers, for roughly the price of 3.5 4 of those very nicely-done Rapido cars. (most also have custom lettering, hence the change to 4). Most were also bought when they cost only ten bucks, too.
I'd be pushing it by a few years with the Andrews trucks. But they do say on their web site that both types of brake gear are included in the box, so I can at least put AB brakes on them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yes the cat photobomb added just the right touch (unless that was Jason Shron in a cat costume?).
I would say for those who model eras close to the final years for these USRA cars that it pays to do a little prototype research as to just when type K airbrakes were outlawed in interchange and had to be upgraded to AB brakes. My recollection is that those dates got extended once or twice which is why one can see conflicting dates based on source.
Ditto for Andrews trucks - there was a date, I think in the 1950s, when those were not accepted in interchange.
There was also a cut off date for chilled wheels.
All USRA cars would have been retired well before the date when solid bearing trucks were banned from interchange.
The USRA double sheathed boxcars were (in)famous for having an overdesigned fishbelly frame far stronger than it needed to be, but also a weaker body structure than needed so there was a failure rate for these cars. They were rebuilt often and because the frame was so strong, steel sides were applied to many, entire fleets. I wonder if Rapido plans to take that next step. That would extend the era when these could have been seen by a few years.
Dave Nelson
Wow, I thought they were going more modern, glad they took this route as I model the 1930's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0pXQPLfj4Q
(also watch for photobomb by cat - LOL )
I can justify a couple of these road names. I can't justify a fleet of these, like Kadee cars, very nice and finely detailed with a price to match, but throw one or two in the mix and it makes all the rest of the Accurail cars look that much better.