Arbour Models

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob

I am specifically looking at a 2-8-4 Kanawah (C&O) with a sagami can motor. This thing is totally unassembled and comes with the $40 superdetailing package. I have been a model builder most of my life and although I enjoy a challenge I (1) don't want to get something that is unbuildable (2) or would require a sizeable reinvestment in detail parts to replace unuseable parts from the kit. It looks like I may pass this one up even though it is of one of my all time favorite steam locomotives.

Bob;

P2K 2-8-4 or brass, even Rivarossi, and you'll be ahead.

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Blind Bruce

Sounds worse than my Varney Pacific. At least its tender halves matched. What's wrong with die cast side rods?

Nothing, if the metallurgy is good, and the mechanical design engineering has been done to size for adequate strength. Arbour Models had neither covered.

QUOTE:
If they are built to the same level of quality control today, do not purchase one.

Tom, they are long gone, out of business for a couple decades, as Ray mentioned above.

[Blind Bruce]

Sounds worse than my Varney Pacific. At least its tender halves matched. What's wrong with die cast side rods? At least they have some cross section. Not like the metal stampings of todays lower priced kits.
BB

[West Coast S]

I've got a Arbour 2-6-6-6 stashed away that I purchased in the late 70s. Those zimac siderods scare me to death, which may explain how come i've never bothered to assemble it. Yeks! Zimac sidrods, what were they thinking?

[Anonymous]

I purchased an Arbor kit some years back. Nothing fit, the axle slots in the frame were not parallel, the tender (came in two halves) could not be assembled in that one side was a half inch longer than the other, and on and on. If they are built to the same level of quality control today, do not purchase one. Take the money you would spend on an Arbor kit and burn it in your fireplace, you will have the same end product with none of the hassel.

Tom

[orsonroy]

You'd probably be better off looking for a basket case brass engine and repowering/restoring/superdetailing it yourself.

Even the RODS on Arbour engines are supposed to be white metal!

[Anonymous]

I am specifically looking at a 2-8-4 Kanawah (C&O) with a sagami can motor. This thing is totally unassembled and comes with the $40 superdetailing package. I have been a model builder most of my life and although I enjoy a challenge I (1) don't want to get something that is unbuildable (2) or would require a sizeable reinvestment in detail parts to replace unuseable parts from the kit. It looks like I may pass this one up even though it is of one of my all time favorite steam locomotives.

[orsonroy]

Fron what I've heard, Arbour models were the hardest of any steam kit to assemble, mostly because of the nature of the material used. The kits were made of a soft white metal, meaning that every part had to be screwed, pinned or glued on (no soldering!). Soft metal doesn't lend itself well to detailed casting, so the parts (I have a few) are crude and rounded. And the consensus is that NO ONE has ever built an exceptional running model out of one of the kits.

If you're looking for a steam kit to build, I suggest Bowser or DJH (for a real challenge!). BTW: Bowser bought out the Arbour line when it went under, and you can still buy most parts directly from Bowser.

[cacole]

I have never tackled one of these, but if you type Arbor Models into Google and then click on the first entry that comes up, you will see a rather heated discussion about these kits and how they suffer from horrible instructions, missing parts, wrong parts, etc. etc.

And these comments are from highly experienced model builders -- not your average type of shake-the-box Athearn kit assembler.

[ndbprr]

I would rate them serious craftsman kits not for the new or anyone who has not built a steam engine kit before. They have some serious flaws and surface imperfections and need a lot of filing and fitting. Like anything else they can be made into a fine engine but don't try it as a first time experience.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone on this list have experience with Arbour Models steam locomotive kits? I am mainly concerned with the level of difficulty in ending up with a decent model.