Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Ambroid HO Model 1 of 5000 Triple Decker Dormitory Car

8772 views
21 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Ambroid HO Model 1 of 5000 Triple Decker Dormitory Car
Posted by Budliner on Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:38 AM

I have been looking to score one of these puppies

but they look like a chore

I see them from $6 to $25 as a kit

think I need to add this to my to do list

dont think I have seen to many built

I like them though

 

K

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:44 PM

Ambroid kits are definately in the "craftsman" category.  They are essentially a box of strip wood that you have to cut and fit yourself for most parts.  My eyes are just too old to even think about an Ambroid kit anymore.

However, they do make nice models if you have the time and do it right.  You typically need to add more underbody detailing if you are looking for a prize wining model. Their biggest claim to fame is that the Ambroid line produced a lot of unusual cars.  Pickle cars, dry ice cars, and the dormitory car you mentioned. 

I  think that most Ambroid kits that you see on e-bay today are just traded between collectors and never actually built.  I think the same is generally true about early FSM kits.

Good luck,
-John

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Thursday, December 20, 2007 2:55 PM

thanks rusty

thats some good info, I see that there is a 1st and 2nd kit, and was not sure what was different, and I dont think I am ehat good with craftman type kits. I can get them done, and they come out better that average. I see ypur point that there mostly traded between collectors .

I just think that I seen a photo of the early railroad workers with that dorm car and ?it struck a nerve

 

K

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 20, 2007 4:38 PM

Silly me, I thought the purpose of these kits was to build them.  Seriously if you like the car hunt down the kit and give it a whirl.  The collectors value of these is debatable, and anyway its a problem for your heirs to fret over.  The ambroid kits were good quaility, and a lot simpler than scratch building the whole car.  I would substitute nylon fishline for the wire truss rods, and substitute Thichy or Grandt turnbuckles for the ones supplied in the kit.  I don't think the orignial had airbrakes so handbrake rigging could be easily added if you're so inclined, but not necessary.

  There is no difference between the first and second edition.  These were made in runs of 5,000 kits and when there was enough demand, another edition was issued.  So the "limited editon" business was something of a sell.  These kits were made by the folks who owned Northeastern strip wood.  They said they never made much on the kits, but it helped sell their other products.  The market was exactly folks like you who thought this or that car was a neat kit they had to have.  Since buying kits takes less time than building, there are a lot around that never got beyond the looking at the parts step.

  You find that todays glues make the job faster and easier.

Oh yeah, if you want to scracthbuild the whole deal, there was an article on doing this in a mid '60's MRC. The article apparently inspired the kit, which came out shortly there after  You might want to hunt that one down.

Give it a whirl...you may find you really like working with this style of building, and you'll have a really different piece of rolling stock

Hope this helps

JBB

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Thursday, December 20, 2007 7:30 PM

There is one on ebay right now but only thirty five minutes left at the time of this posting.

It went for $18.00, plus $4.00 for shipping if you ever bid on one in the future.

Rich 

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Canada's Maritime Provinces
  • 1,760 posts
Posted by Railphotog on Thursday, December 20, 2007 8:45 PM

I built one of these kits many years ago.  Sure is strange looking - and really tall too!

 

 

Bob Boudreau

CANADA

Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 735 posts
Posted by wgnrr on Thursday, December 20, 2007 11:41 PM

I saw one of these models, RTR, go for $125 a few months ago. Never knew that they were Ambroids.

Phil

My Photo Albums: http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k32/martin_lumber/ http://tinyurl.com/3yzns6
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Orange County, CA
  • 98 posts
Posted by marthastrainyard on Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:59 PM

Ambroid made a number of different kits. Take a look at my web site where I have listed all of them. There are a couple that were recommended as starter kits so that may be the kits to look for. I don't think the triple-decker dormitory kit will be that difficult to build so goo luck!

 

Per 

Home of the Ambroid history page and the up-and-coming City Of Los Angeles from 1950 http://www.trainweb.org/ambroidkits/ My pictures are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514678@N08/
  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Friday, December 28, 2007 11:28 AM
That car was a lumber camp car and not used by any railroad that I know of. 
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Wisconsin
  • 735 posts
Posted by wgnrr on Friday, December 28, 2007 5:20 PM

From the web... "This is a model of an 1887 car built for the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway. It was used to house the large crews and maintenance personnel employed as the railroad moved westward. It was also called "skyscraper bunk car" and it included a suspended storage platform under the car body to store tools and boxes. The large ropes that were fastened to the upper corners of each side may have been used to tie the car down during high wind storms."

The Union Pacific used similar cars durring the building of the transcontinental railroad.

Phil

My Photo Albums: http://s84.photobucket.com/albums/k32/martin_lumber/ http://tinyurl.com/3yzns6
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Thursday, January 3, 2008 7:44 AM
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Jersey City
  • 1,925 posts
Posted by steemtrayn on Friday, January 4, 2008 1:47 PM

You just missed another one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310010503404&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=021

Although these cars are somewhat interesting, I can't see a place for them on a layout, unless you're modelling a railroad under construction in the 1880's. My guess is that they became firewood shortly after the line was completed.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Monday, January 14, 2008 1:26 PM

thanks steam you know I will get one for $5

I wait I look I take my time

I want a good one too, nice box, all there.

 

 

cheep no just spend thrifty

 

K

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Orange County, CA
  • 98 posts
Posted by marthastrainyard on Monday, January 14, 2008 1:36 PM
 Budliner wrote:

thanks steam you know I will get one for $5

I wait I look I take my time

I want a good one too, nice box, all there.

That will be tough. The lowest price so far is $5.50 back in 2005, but you can always hope. I got an S-scale snow plow for 10 bucks when the average price was $70.

Per in Plano

 

Home of the Ambroid history page and the up-and-coming City Of Los Angeles from 1950 http://www.trainweb.org/ambroidkits/ My pictures are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514678@N08/
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Boston
  • 2,226 posts
Posted by Budliner on Monday, January 14, 2008 1:58 PM

hmmmm'

 

 

 

this one was $10.50 but it looked like it was started so I passed on it

see here  dorm car here see

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Orange County, CA
  • 98 posts
Posted by marthastrainyard on Monday, January 14, 2008 4:36 PM
 Budliner wrote:

hmmmm'

 

 

 

this one was $10.50 but it looked like it was started so I passed on it

 

Yes, but that's HO, they go for much less.

Per in Plano

 

Home of the Ambroid history page and the up-and-coming City Of Los Angeles from 1950 http://www.trainweb.org/ambroidkits/ My pictures are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/8514678@N08/
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 76 posts
Posted by nvrr49 on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:26 PM

I am in the process of buildiing one of these.  My main questions is what color to paint it?  

I have a picture of the real thing, but with an 1880's b&w picture to go with, it is still a guess.

 

Kent in KC'
nvrr49.blogspot.com 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 76 posts
Posted by nvrr49 on Sunday, November 24, 2013 6:51 AM

Just found this old thread, and thought I would show the car I finished.

Kent in KC

nvrr49.blogspot.com

Kent in KC'
nvrr49.blogspot.com 

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Denver, CO
  • 3,576 posts
Posted by Motley on Sunday, November 24, 2013 8:17 AM

Budliner,

Is it really neccessary to have that huge photo in your signature? Its really annoying.

Michael


CEO-
Mile-HI-Railroad
Prototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,853 posts
Posted by maxman on Sunday, November 24, 2013 10:35 AM

Motley
Is it really neccessary to have that huge photo in your signature? Its really annoying.

I don't believe that he has posted here since May, 2009, so...........

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Sunday, November 24, 2013 2:41 PM

nvrr49

Just found this old thread, and thought I would show the car I finished.

So...does that puppy exceed Plate H clearence or not? Probably need to paint the top floor white and add an excess height car warning decal...Stick out tongue

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!