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"3 Brothers" kits?

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,299 posts
"3 Brothers" kits?
Posted by Dave-the-Train on Sunday, November 1, 2009 7:28 AM

I've never heard ofthese before.  They seem to do passenger cars...

Anyone had experience of them please?

I'm looking at their bi-levelcars in particular

Thanks

Cool

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: 200 feet from the Mackay Branch
  • 97 posts
Posted by larsend on Sunday, November 1, 2009 9:39 AM

I have a 3 car set of them, A C&NW Cab car and two coaches. 

The floors and roofs are wood and the sides are plastic, with windows, etc., printed on them.  There are metal castings for the ends and center doors  No trucks or couplers were supplied.

Very nice cars, as long as the three-foot rule is observed

I bought mine about 20 years ago.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Sunday, November 1, 2009 3:35 PM

I think the Three Brothers firm has either disappeared or is in a long term hiatus (every time I bought one of their kits, the address on the box was different).  Three Brothers reissued the old Holgate & Reynolds bi-level "Chicago style" kits, both the smooth side such as the C&NW and Rock Island ran, and the corrugated or fluted stainless steel type such as the CB&Q and Milwaukee Road ran.  The metal castings are a bit rough, but with very careful construction they cars can put on a nice appearance.  Walthers has the smooth side bi levels in HO but I think we are still waiting for another firm to take up the corrugated side cars.

They also featured a plastic kit for a truss bridge that was so challenging that frankly I just gave up and used the plastic sheet of various rivet patterns for other uses.  Actually they sold sheets of rivet patterns and I have long felt there is a demand for that product. 

At one time they also sold sheets of what looked like roofing material to model asphalt roads.

Who knows maybe this firm will reappear.  The main thing is that Three Brothers also offered the various separate parts, including trucks, for separate sale. 

Dave Nelson

 

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