Anyone here ever assemble a Quality Craft Models (QCM) wood craftsman kit?
In the past, I've put together the Suncoast Models small coaling station and the Alexander Scale Models NYC freight depot and PRR flagstop. Although each kit took a fair amount of time to cut the pieces to length (correctly) and assemble, I enjoyed the process and the final results:
I was curious if the QCM kits yielded a similar quality product? I'm looking at picking up an unusual piece of rolling stock off eBay.
Thanks,
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Being they are wood kits, I would think the quality of the final is dependent on patient and sanding for fitment plus what ever current details are available to finish it out now. Overall box stock they seam to be fairly decent kits. Not sure how finicky they are to assemble though. I have a Qcm and huff and puff kits waiting to be assembled for the museum. Sometimes you just have to grab that unusual kit because it is unusual and most likely nobody else made it. Just have to make do. Until somebody makes it in 3D.
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
You might want to upgrade a few parts and modify the roof walk or build a new one because a majority of the kits from then had very thick roofwalks and grab irons that were too large in dia. Some kits like the central valley ones had way too large dia. on the grabs.
Some of the Quality Craft kits used wood to simulate metal and that involves a tedious process of applying sanding sealer, sanding it down, and repeat and repeat until it does look like metal. Speaking personally I'd only bother with a wood kit of a wood prototype.
I'd also mention that while Quality Craft and similar lines from back then used good quality basswood, if the kit has been stored in wet surroundings be warned of a possibility of warped parts. I bought an old Alexander kit that was unbuildable because of that.
Dave Nelson
Thanks for the info and the considerations, fellas. The piece of rolling stock I'm looking at is a well car. (So no roof walks) And there are two identical kits for sale - both whose contents look in very good shape from the photos.
I may just pull the trigger on one of them. It's not like I don't have enough other projects to start or complete.
Way back when I first switched to HO scale, and the Stratton and Gillette was set in 1968, and there was an excellent hobby shop in Punta Gorda that sold used stuff, I built three Quality Craft freight car kits.
All of these were wooden kits of steel freight cars. I think when they were made, they were "modern" equipment that the plastic industry was not making yet.
Fit and quality of the kits was perfect. Sanding the wood to make it look like steel was not much of an issue because the material in the kits had extremely tight grain. The instructions were very good.
Go for it. They are fun projects.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Thanks for the additional input and your experience with the QCM kits, Kevin.
I did pull the trigger on the well-hole flat car. The contents & box (pictured below) look in very good shape.
I believe the contents of the plastic bag (lower left) are the pieces-parts for the two 3-axle trucks. Not sure if the feet come with the kit also.
Here's a photo of the prototype: NYC 62' 130-ton well-hole flat car - BLT date 3/51...
If you are interested in a well hole flat Plate C Models will have one available in 2024. I have one of the kits from a previous run and I hope to work on it in the near future. It is a 3d printed kit and the kit looks good and would be easier to finish than a wood kit.
https://platecmp.com/index.php/product/1008-00/
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!
Thanks, Rick. Those look nice. Even so, I don't mind the extra work required to put together a craftsman kit. I find them very rewarding.
The well hole car kit arrives this coming Monday. I'm hoping the assembly instructions also include some information on the actual prototype - e.g. whether the wood planking at the bottom of the well was removable to make it open at the bottom.