Bayfield Transfer Railway I have a few. My biggest concern as a hard core operations type is that the details look awfully delicate to handle being banged around by 500 foot tall giants.
I have a few. My biggest concern as a hard core operations type is that the details look awfully delicate to handle being banged around by 500 foot tall giants.
Rich
Alton Junction
If ya' can't beat 'em — Merge em' ...
PRR_NYC-meet by Edmund, on Flickr
How'd THAT work out for Penn-Central?
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I can't go that far, Rich.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Rick, I did make my previous statement tongue 'n cheek. I do like the PRR K4s. Those are quite handsome. Tom
Rick,
I did make my previous statement tongue 'n cheek. I do like the PRR K4s. Those are quite handsome.
Tom
dti406 tstage DigitalGriffin He went to the dark side: He's a PRR fan. Oh! The shame, Don! I guess someone has to love ugly locomotives. Tstage - Standard Railroad of the world and don't you forget it! PRR N1s 2-10-2! Rick Jesionowski
tstage DigitalGriffin He went to the dark side: He's a PRR fan. Oh! The shame, Don! I guess someone has to love ugly locomotives.
DigitalGriffin He went to the dark side: He's a PRR fan.
Oh! The shame, Don! I guess someone has to love ugly locomotives.
Tstage - Standard Railroad of the world and don't you forget it!
PRR N1s 2-10-2!
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
DigitalGriffin richhotrain DigitalGriffin I put together a few. They are exceptional quality and a good value. (or were when they were owned by branchline) Don, great to hear from you. Where have you been for the last 3 years? Rich Oh the usual. I have two boys that are 9 and 12. There's cub scouts and hiking fishing camping. Then every extra bit of my money goes towards college and retirement. So the last kit I bought for myself was 7 years ago. But the good news is I managed to con my younger son into liking trains with me. :D. So I built him a small layout and we play together. He went to the dark side: He's a PRR fan.
richhotrain DigitalGriffin I put together a few. They are exceptional quality and a good value. (or were when they were owned by branchline) Don, great to hear from you. Where have you been for the last 3 years? Rich
DigitalGriffin I put together a few. They are exceptional quality and a good value. (or were when they were owned by branchline)
I put together a few. They are exceptional quality and a good value. (or were when they were owned by branchline)
Don, great to hear from you. Where have you been for the last 3 years?
Oh the usual. I have two boys that are 9 and 12. There's cub scouts and hiking fishing camping. Then every extra bit of my money goes towards college and retirement. So the last kit I bought for myself was 7 years ago.
But the good news is I managed to con my younger son into liking trains with me. :D. So I built him a small layout and we play together. He went to the dark side: He's a PRR fan.
Anyhow, hope you stick around.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Two very poor photos of Branchline undec 50' boxcar kits that I did as PC. Cut down the ladders on A end to reflect updated car. I think the only after market parts are the stirrup steps.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51799413436_7bc47fb920_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51798469487_a0c32d6b77_b.jpg
dti406 If they were the 1932 AAR boxcars or the USRA rebuilds then those were original Atlas kits put together as you noted but the Old Branchline cars have all the same parts as before.
That must be the case. I guess I never assembled an Atlas version of the old Branchline models.
Thanks for that information.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 I have also built a couple of the Atlas undecorated 40 foot boxcars. They are nothing like the Branchline Blueprint kits I built. The Atlas cars had cast metal underframes, and all the parts like doors and tack boards were located by lugs. The quality of the Atlas kits just seemed a notch higher. Did they do some retooling? -Kevin
I have also built a couple of the Atlas undecorated 40 foot boxcars.
They are nothing like the Branchline Blueprint kits I built. The Atlas cars had cast metal underframes, and all the parts like doors and tack boards were located by lugs. The quality of the Atlas kits just seemed a notch higher.
Did they do some retooling?
Depends on which Atlas 40' boxcars you were building. If they were the 1932 AAR boxcars or the USRA rebuilds then those were original Atlas kits put together as you noted but the Old Branchline cars have all the same parts as before.
I love the old Branchline kits and have sliced and diced them to build a lot of proper prototype cars.
Ive built many (okay only like 6) of these branchline blueprint 40' boxcars, along with Intermountain, Red Caboose, and Atlas (basically the same as Branchline since they were bought by Atlas) kits...all of them were very enjoyable to build. There's lots of parts so it takes time, but overall an easy build.
All you need is plastic cement an xacto knife, screwdrivers, and pliers/tweezers to build.
Great for when you dont got money but still want detailed cars, and lots of time to spare.
Good luck!
Charles
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
The only Branchline kits I have experience with are the undecorated 40 foot and 50 foot boxcars.
The 50 foot undecorated car included a Viking roof option, which was amazing. The last two I bought on eBay already had these roofs removed from the kits, that stunk.
The kits are good, but not as good as Life-Like Proto-2000 kits for 50 footers or Intermountain or Red Caboose for 40 footers. The Branchline kits had more options for ends and roofs.
The roofwalks were terrible, and were always replaced. I also used wire grab irons, as I do on all my plastic kits. I also as standard course-of-action replace any steel weights with lead.
The Branch line Berwicks are great boxcars have several when they came out.
Russell
Tom, thank you.
maxman tstage After years of visiting and purchasing, my LHS still has two top shelves of an entire aisle dicated to Branchline boxcars Tom, can you share name/phone of this shop? I might want to check if they have any undecs. Thanks
tstage After years of visiting and purchasing, my LHS still has two top shelves of an entire aisle dicated to Branchline boxcars
Tom, can you share name/phone of this shop? I might want to check if they have any undecs.
Thanks
maxman,
I don't recollect seeing any undecorated Branchline boxcar kits. However, I wasn't looking for them either.
The name of the LHS is Stewart's Hobbies & Collectors toys (Willoughby, OH) Rob & Sandy are the owners. Happy to help both of you out.
Rich,
Two of my 6 Branchline boxcars are Erie (pre-EL) 40' so I can personally vouche that those were manufactured. As far as the other roadnames, Monon for sure and the rest highly likely.
Everytime I peruse those shelves of Branchline kits at the LHS I'm overwhelmed by the selection. I just wish more fit my era.
tstage They are nice kits, Rich. If you do purchase one and find it too fiddley, send it to me and I'll be glad to put it together for you. And, yes - I will send it back when completed. Tom
They are nice kits, Rich. If you do purchase one and find it too fiddley, send it to me and I'll be glad to put it together for you. And, yes - I will send it back when completed.
I model Dearborn Station in Chicago where six different railroads (Santa Fe, Wabash, Erie, GTW, Monon and C&EI) maintain inbound and outbound freight houses for LCL freight. But very few of my boxcars are owned by one of these six railroads. So, I am looking to build up my boxcar roster to represent these six railroads.
tstageAfter years of visiting and purchasing, my LHS still has two top shelves of an entire aisle dicated to Branchline boxcars
richhotrain maxman Were any of the eBay kits undec? I did see one on eBay. Rich
maxman
Were any of the eBay kits undec?
I did see one on eBay.
Interesting and informative stuff guys. I appreciate all of the replies. Maybe I will try my hand at a kit or two for starters.
2ManyHobbeez tstage I believe the kits do come with plastic wheels. I just three unbuilt ones and they each have quality metal wheels... G
tstage I believe the kits do come with plastic wheels.
I believe the kits do come with plastic wheels.
I just three unbuilt ones and they each have quality metal wheels...
G
I knew the Proto 2000 kits came with metal wheels. I just couldn't recollect that the Blueprint kits did - at least the ones I put together.
I checked my Excel inventory spreadsheet for Branchline boxcars and hunted through my Axian Technology boxes for those specific road name/numbers. Sure enough! - They had metal wheels! And they were NOT the ribbed metal wheels that I normally use when switching out the plastic ones.
Always something to learn...or re-learn in this hobby.