i am thinking of buying one of american model builders' katy wood caboose kits and wondered how easy is it to assemble? does the kit come with an athearn caboose floor and does the floor need to be modified in any way such as shortening? i have never assembled any of the AMB wood caboose kits. does the sides of the katy caboose once ready to be attached to the athearn caboose floor, do the body just go on the floor?
caboose,
FWIW, I've never assembled any of the AMB cabooses. However, I have put together AMB, Blair Line, and Branchline laser kits. Of the three - AMB is the best quality laser wood kit. The pieces/parts go together very well and cleanly - with little to no trimming required at all.
I'll also be curious to hear how well the caboose kits are. Wish AMB would make a NYC wood caboose. I think they could sell a few.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I have a mostly built a BN/GN AMB caboose & because of it I have a couple others in stock fro future builds. The ones I have, you actually build the floor & the frame assembly. I use some KitBits Caboose Trucks on mine & when I built the frame I used the tapered L girder parts & they just clear these trucks.The body is a 5 sided core box with Roof trusses, that you eventually mount on the frame, after further construction. You laminate the Self Stick sides & ends to your core & add the window & detail trim.I feel it is an easy & nice build, taking it slow, one can make sure it is square, & you can pre-paint most of the items before assembly. Always mark your sides & ends so you will have the correct orientation of the windows, & everything will work out great.