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Good Freight Car Rolling Stock
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<p>Maybe I've got a different perpective on this question since I also semi-seriously colect older HO items. Perhaps I've grown nostalgic in my old age, but I get a kick out of tracking down and operating stuff I didn't have a chance to own 50 odd years ago.</p><p> As a result I've played around with a lot of older stuff and can offer some comments on the operational posibilities of older items. Most of the plastic cars can be made into excellently operating models simply by replacing the wheel sets and equiping them with new couplers, properly installed. This is nothing new. Back in "the day" we routinely pitched factory trucks, installed Central Valley trucks and k-d couplers. Today we've got much better wheel sets, and simply replacing the old ones with a quality product will cure 99% of rolling and derailment problems.</p><p>As far as painting and detailing are concerned, each modeler has to decide for himself what he can live with. No model is perfect, and most of us live with oversized flanges, couplers, rail, and other conventions of the hobby. If incorrect/lack of detail, and innaccurate paint, numbers or reporting data bother you, you've got two choices: Change it, or don't use it.</p><p>That said, for most of us, most of these cars are still useful for creating a reasonable impression of an operating railroad which is what we are after. Afterall everyone has different interests. If you really want to create the most accurate string of rolling stock, go for it, and I'll be glad to admire your accurate modeling. On the other hand I'll also appreciate the railroad put together by the guy running nicely weathered bachman and tyco cars rolling thru great scenery.</p><p>And for you new guys, it can't be said often enough, the object of the hobby is to have fun, not to please the critics. The most dedicated rivet counters started out with the same basic equipment as everyone else. Their particular interests led them to research and improve the detail of their models based on that research. If that type of thing appeals to you, that's great, but it isn't the whole hobby.</p><p>JBB</p>
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