streetcar poll

[BR60103]

Hi trolleyboy. I just noticed this thread.
I already have 2 PCCs and 1 and 2 truck birneys and a line car. Also a bunch of assorted interurban types. Started a laBelle car about 35 years ago; got as far as installing the motor and trucks on the floor.
(If you pm me when you're going to Rockwood, I could bring the Birney out for show and tell -- it's a brass one.)

[trolleyboy]

Thanks Jetrock spelling seems to have never been my strong point. Now that you found the site, what do you think. I've ordered one of the dump cars, hasn't arrived yet but it looks for the pictures not to bad.The price is certainly reasonable. Looks allot like the differential steel type work equipment,it has a close appearance cab wise to the subway workflats the TTC uses as well.This observation I'm going on is from the two subway flats that we have at the museum. Rob

[Jetrock]

It's nice to know that such kits are available--I assume that the Baldwin-Westinghouse kit is the MRR Warehouse Class C kit. I am sort of tempted to order the Class D, but apparently the kit is just a bunch of pre-cut flat sheets of brass, more primitive in some ways than the plastic 44 tonner they sold. I have one of those, but in order for it to look decent you have to order the truck bolster/power truck frame re-do from LaserKit.

Maybe I'm just being picky. I may order some stuff once it comes time to start scratchbuilding/kitbashing some Sacramento Northern juice-jack gear...

[trolleyboy]

I could be wrong but I was under the impression the the Class c was Eric's own kit.I've stayed away from the"'warhouse kits" I've yet to actually get a hold of anyone there.They don't seem to want me business. I've used erics diesel detail parts for yearsand have yet to be disappointed.Some of their lost wax detail parts need a bit more clean up but like I've said the finished product has never failed my expectations yet. I'm semi-picky,but not to the point of insnaity yet.

[Jetrock]

Really? That has me curious...and, sure enough, it calls for an NWSL PDT instead of the Spectrum 44 tonner motors. Hmmm....is it a Class C? The photo is of what looks like a C, with the hood ends, but the description says the kit is a B1, which didn't have the hood ends. Now I'm intrigued...even though I'm waiting for a Class D, a Class C would be close enough to work!

[trolleyboy]

An interesting conundrum to be sure.Do all or are all class "B's" without hood ends? Our Museum has an ex Grand river Railway/ Lake Erie and Northern loco which is a BW class B it has hood ends.Now I'm really confused. Your right though most of the model railraod warehouses's loco kits call for a 70 or 44 tonner power train so the need for the NWSL kit makes me think that it is a different kit. That or the warhouse has upgraded their kits.I may order one it's awfully close to the 335 loco at our museum,I could scratch build but if good kits are around, I figure we may as well use them as it should tell the manufacturer's that there are some interested people out here and to keep them comming. Just a thought, but I must say that we seem to have a few more options now, other than brass imports now then we did say ten years ago.Here's a shot of 335 click to enlarge.Our line car Oshawa railway 45 is doing the pushing.

[Jetrock]

B's had hood ends--the B1 was an "economy" model that did not have hood ends. I didn't see a photo of the model itself anywhere on the site--just a small shot of a prototype B-W that didn't look like a B1. The Ds were considerably heavier.

[trolleyboy]

Thank's that clears it up a little. I suppose, that the different RR's that ran these tended to make their own modifications over time. So by that thought process B1's may end up with hood ends after a wreck rebuild or general re-build by the RR in questions shops.Electric lines did tend to be a bit more money conscious and re-built instead of re-buying.Perhaps this photo that they used is just such an instance?

[trolleyboy]

For those not scared off by the labelle kits,this car (wooden combine) is a very close likeness to the sac & northern combine they make. Montreal and southern counties # 107. This cars dates to 1912 and as you can tell from the shots it's allot narrower than most cars of it's vintage.This was donre to navigate the Victoria Bridge accross the st Lawrence river. BTW the car is fully operational, I ran it over the weekend,very smooth car.

[Jetrock]

I have the Labelle model of the Sacramento Northern combine, although I haven't built it yet--it is very similar in window configuration, although the ends are a bit different. One of these days I'll break down and build it. Sacramento Northern cars tended to be broader than most interurban cars, in fact most were built pretty much to steam railroad standards, so maybe the LaBelle kit (which is on the narrow side) actually is closer to this car than the SN prototype!

About the B1 and the photo: If it is a B1 rebuilt with end hoods it seems like it would be a poor choice for a photo--if I was marketing a product and wanted to choose a photo, I'd want the photo to resemble the product I was selling.

[trolleyboy]

Hi the Labelle kit is certainly narrower,when i was e-mailing back in forth with labelle they sadi that they could and may do some MS&C cars both combine and coach,he indicated that the Sac Northern kit was easily changed by them to make the Montreal cars sooo I would say that you are correct in your observations.As to the B1 or B or whatever it is.The picture is far too small to give you a diffinitive read. It looks like a nice kit, I'm thinking as are you it's mislabelled as to its designation.Bottom line they made a BW steeple cab I suppose we should be happy. The B's were fairly standars an spread out over allot of different roads so in my humble thoughts a good choice for a kit. I mat still order one it's close enough to 335 for the girls I hang out with.

[dinwitty]

I have one of these trolly bus systems where the bus has the poles in front and is steered by them, but its just way too unprototypical, there were a few buses with the trolleypoles as such on the front but I want rear mounted ones and a bus you can steer yourself. Theres been ideas in mags about doing this, but no really good commercial models have been made except for non-powered versions and those are rare to find today.

So I stick to the railed versions...thaanx... 8-D

[Jetrock]

The trolley bus models are old 1950s toys, not really intended to be exact models of the prototype. I got such a set at a garage sale, it was cute but not really useful to me, so I sold it at a swap meet for about half what one would get for it on eBay.

The nice thing about trolley modeling is that you can get the overhead to look pretty good--while I'm not quite dextrous enough to try the super fine scale Proto:87 overhead methods that are just coming out, the older brass overhead fittings from Suydam and such look pretty good when blackened.

[trolleyboy]

A brave man,I may not actually hang the wire as I've got some pretty fat fingers,though I did get a couple sets or sudyam poles so I guess the wire will get hung(not going to be powered though)As to the trolley bus systems,when I browse e-bay I niotice quite a few for sale mostly french or english kits.though I have seen a couple of nice faller ones complete with the overhead. If one digs there are some quality powered trolley busses on the market in HO scale.

[ErnieC]

How about an H & F box motor (#5)? Or the W&OD motor with the portholes?
Ernie C

[trolleyboy]

Hi Ernie those both sound like good possible kits.Not having seen pictures of the H & F box i'm wondering if you might be able to kit bash one from the Roundhuse boxcab diesel. I've used a couple of these for L & PS boxcabs that were built by BW. Just a thought. If you get a chance take a peak at labelles website http://www.labellemodels.com they make quite a few freight motor kits. According to them they can rework them to come up with custom kits.One of their kits may suit. Rob

[Jetrock]

One of the major issues with trolley modeling is that trolleys, freight motors and other juice-jack type things tended to be limited-production or home-brewed, with only a handful of types common enough to be in general demand by trolley buffs. Thus, trolley equipment has always leaned towards scratchbuilding, limited-run cratfsman kits, or brass.

[trolleyboy]

True true. I have noticed more and more small cottage industries doing some traction.MTS imports who are a major brass trolley importer, may be taking a page out of overland's book.The yahoo trolley group I belong to has MTS's president as an owner due to costs ( to the purchaser ) they are concidering doing more plastic and resin type kits instead of and alongside their brass imports. Time will tell. I myself an hoping that they reproduce their brill snowsweeper in a resin kit. The brass one ran well and had both sweep brooms powered. The $500 price tag was too much for my budget. Here's hoping. Rob

[trolleyboy]

A kit update for everyone. The miniatures by eric steeple cab abd the dump car kits are resin bodies with resin and brass detail parts.Talking on the yahoo traction group to a couple of members with the kits say they aren't to bad quality. The locomotive needs more details but is far from awfull as they have put it. also since it requires NWSL power units it tends to be easier to power the the etched brass kit from modlerailroad warehouse which requires the old style bachman 44 t kit for power trucks. I've ordered both and once thye arrive I'll let everyone know what I think of them. Looks as though you can power ther dump car with a NWSL power unit as well. Talk to you later. Rob

[Jetrock]

Whoa!! Resin bodies means I'm in for one of those...I've got a NWSL PDT knocking about I can use for that project!

[trolleyboy]

I'm with you resin brings it into the realm of afordability.At least you have the PDT I still have to pick mine up. I'm hoping that the cabs on the dump car are going to be released as a separate detail part as well. I'm waiting for an answer on that one still. Call me lazy but a nice cab that can be grafted onto things to make work equipment would make my scratch projects a whole lot easier. I'll keep everyone posted. Oh and Eric has both kits in stock as well so they are but an email away.[tup] Rob

[julius_olajos]

Trolleyboy,

You mention that AMB makes laser cut windows and stained glass kits for the Bowser Jewett. I've looked at AMB's website and can not find any reference to these. Where would I be able to get them?

Thanks,
Julius

QUOTE: Originally posted by trolleyboy

Jim hi thanks for participating in the poll.Depending on your preferences the Bowser Jewett is a nice looking kit in my estimation and the AMB laser cut windows and stained glass kits would help make this an even better kit. I'm not sure if I've ever scene a Niles car model if ever likely MTS brass. I have a book at home on the Toronto Civic railway (this is one of the TTC'S) predessesor's which shows their 1916 Niles cars and there are some good plans in the book as well I've pften thought of attempting one but it's on the backbburner the book is a good read with some wonderfull photo's it's out of print but I've met the author as he's a member at our museum we still have several copies in hard and soft back for sale in our giftshop if you were interested hit the museums web sight www.hcry.org/hcrycoll.htm Happy training. Rob

[Anonymous]

Just an update on the Corgi trams - I've now managed to motorise a pair. There's a kit from BEC models specifically designed for the "Feltham" type cars (two versions, one with equal-wheel trucks for the Sunderland version and one with maximum-traction trucks for the London and Leeds variants). The Blackpool ones are best motorised with a couple of BEC 18mm wheelbase equal wheel power trucks, you can either saw off the cast-on truck sideframes and replace with new detail parts or leave the cast on sideframes alone and have the trucks swivelling behind them. Here's my current fleet of three - the Blackpool Balloon on the left, the Feltham on the right, and a Tramalan whitemetal Glasgow Cunarder in the centre