'Old' Athearn Cabooses (Cabeese?)

[CNW 6000]

I have two older Athearn Cabeese that were kits about 15-18 years ago.  Both are bay window.  One is 10399 (yellow side w/green roof) and the other is 11052 (all brown).  Both need railings, windows, roof detail, etc.  The decals on 10399 have tarnished and faded and need to be replaced.  My question is are they worth sticking the $ into?

[Blind Bruce]

First of all, are they authentic to the C&NW and are you prototypical with your MRR? The cost of decals is small and cabooses are more expensive than other rolling stock (as a general rule).

Other than that, they can always be used as derelects.

I share youre respect for the C&NW as well. I grew up in Waukegan.

[jasperofzeal]

I was kind of in the same boat as you not too long ago.  I have a Southern Pacific bay window caboose that I was considering upgrading and repairing and use as a piggy back caboose.  Mine needed the end railings, ladders, and I was going to add windows to it since it originally didn't come with any.  I was also going to add some other details and decals.  In the end I decided not to since it was going to cost a bit.  Here's the price data on which I based my decision upon:

These parts and list is from: http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/default.asp (good place to deal with, BTW)

140-12856 - Window Set -- Bay Window Caboose $4.89

140-12855 - Smoke jack bw caboose 6 (6 smoke jacks) $1.57

140-12504 - Ladder regular caboose 4 (4 ladders) $2.10

140-12507 - Railing reg caboose 6 (6 end railings) $1.89

FYI, the first 3 items are currently not in stock.

The total for my proposed project was going to be $17.83 (I didn't need the smoke stacks) plus maybe $3 for a decal sheet and maybe $6 in the Details west parts I was considering, so really I was looking at $26.83 or so.  In my eyes, that was not worth it for a $5 caboose.

Now if you were to add all this up for your project, and don't forget to add the $4.89 twice since you want to put windows on 2 cabooses, the total for only the merchandise above is $14.93.  Now this online retailer charges $8.95 for shipping, so that brings you to $23.88.  You said that one of you cabooses might need a new decal job, maybe new paint job?  Don't forget to add that too.  You're probably looking at close to $30 for your project.  Now I don't know about you, but that seems pretty steep considering that's probably the cost of a new RTR caboose.  Hope this info helps but in the end it's your choice.

[dieselsmoke]

Pleasure from the project: "Priceless!"

Jim 

[BRAKIE]

I have two older Athearn Cabeese that were kits about 15-18 years ago.  Both are bay window.  One is 10399 (yellow side w/green roof) and the other is 11052 (all brown).  Both need railings, windows, roof detail, etc.  The decals on 10399 have tarnished and faded and need to be replaced.  My question is are they worth sticking the $ into?

 

Depends..Are they worth it to you?

I have one old Chessie side bay that will never be used again because I replaced it with the RTR Chessie caboose that has scale size railings,glass,sharper printing and metal wheels.

[CNW 6000]

I was kind of in the same boat as you not too long ago.  I have a Southern Pacific bay window caboose that I was considering upgrading and repairing and use as a piggy back caboose.  Mine needed the end railings, ladders, and I was going to add windows to it since it originally didn't come with any.  I was also going to add some other details and decals.  In the end I decided not to since it was going to cost a bit.  Here's the price data on which I based my decision upon:

These parts and list is from: http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/default.asp (good place to deal with, BTW)

140-12856 - Window Set -- Bay Window Caboose $4.89

140-12855 - Smoke jack bw caboose 6 (6 smoke jacks) $1.57

140-12504 - Ladder regular caboose 4 (4 ladders) $2.10

140-12507 - Railing reg caboose 6 (6 end railings) $1.89

FYI, the first 3 items are currently not in stock.

The total for my proposed project was going to be $17.83 (I didn't need the smoke stacks) plus maybe $3 for a decal sheet and maybe $6 in the Details west parts I was considering, so really I was looking at $26.83 or so.  In my eyes, that was not worth it for a $5 caboose.

Now if you were to add all this up for your project, and don't forget to add the $4.89 twice since you want to put windows on 2 cabooses, the total for only the merchandise above is $14.93.  Now this online retailer charges $8.95 for shipping, so that brings you to $23.88.  You said that one of you cabooses might need a new decal job, maybe new paint job?  Don't forget to add that too.  You're probably looking at close to $30 for your project.  Now I don't know about you, but that seems pretty steep considering that's probably the cost of a new RTR caboose.  Hope this info helps but in the end it's your choice.

Thanks for the info.  FWIW I did win some decals on eBay a while back which included the CNW BW Caboose ones so that cost is down.  I noticed that the ladders, smoke jack, and end railings are multiple/pack so that helps as I'm doing 2 cabeese.  Upon reflection that might keep some costs lower.  I think I can invest a little bit of money and get 2 more cars out of it.
Were those part numbers Athearn part numbers?

Pleasure from the project: "Priceless!"

Jim 

There is that, too.  It's fun to bring new life to older cars.

 

Depends..Are they worth it to you?

I guess that is the telling question.  As of now: probably worth it.

 

Thanks for the responses folks.  I guess I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one thinking of attempting this kind of thing.  Any others?

[jasperofzeal]

CNW 6000,

The numbers I provided break down as follows: 140 is the manufacturer number and the 5-digit number is the actual Athearn part number, I did double checked them at the Athearn website.  Depending on where you choose to get the parts, the 5-digit number is the important one to know.  Good luck on your project and let us know how it turns out for you.

*EDIT*

Here is the webpage in case you need it: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Parts/Default.aspx

Another note, the prices on the Athearn website are the full retail.  The prices I quoted on my previous post are the discounted price from that particular store.  I also noticed that on the Athearn website, the window set shows 2 as quantity per pack, so you might be able to get them for both after all, and they retail at $6.98.

[CNW 6000]

Thanks!

[mobilman44]

Hi!

If that baywindow is close to the prototype, I highly recommend fixing them up. 

The regular Athearn caboose is based on an ATSF prototype.  A few years ago I gathered up 8 of them, sprayed them the proper color, bought and installed the decal sets, weathered the trucks, installed KD couplers and Intermountain wheelsets, and picked up the Precision lanterns (with jewels) and installed them as well.  As I was not lighting the cabeeese, I tinted the windows.  The result was frankly pretty nice, and well worth the effort.  

By the way, I got the inspiration from Andy Sperandeo (spelling?) who did an article on this in MR a number of years ago.

Mobilman44

[NSlover92]

Just last night I added windows to my old PRR baywindow Athearn Caboose. I spent the couple puts on some clear styrine, and it added so much quality to the car. Mike

[dti406]

Just last night I added windows to my old PRR baywindow Athearn Caboose. I spent the couple puts on some clear styrine, and it added so much quality to the car. Mike

Why would you add windows to a "foobie"  the PRR did not have any baywindow cabooses, except for a few made out of old X23 wooden boxcars, if you want to count those.

By the way the Athearn bay window caboose is based on a SP prototype.

Rick 

 

 

[gmcrail]

Just last night I added windows to my old PRR baywindow Athearn Caboose. I spent the couple puts on some clear styrine, and it added so much quality to the car. Mike

Why would you add windows to a "foobie"  the PRR did not have any baywindow cabooses, except for a few made out of old X23 wooden boxcars, if you want to count those.

By the way the Athearn bay window caboose is based on a SP prototype.

Rick 

 

Because he wanted to?  If you can't be nice,   --  He didn't need that kind of comment.

[CNW 6000]

What's wrong with artistic license?  I have a CNW lettered and numbered -9W in UP paint. 

[CNW 6000]

Here they are:

CNW 10399:

CNW 11052:

Both will need some work, as you can see.  Is there any roster (photo or otherwise) of CNW BW Cabeese?

[Rotorranch]

Maybe the CNW historical society can help?

http://www.cnwhs.org/index.htm

Rotor

[CP5415]

As others have stated, what are the cars worth to you? Of course it'll be worth it. Why else would you have kept the vans for as long as you did?

I have an ancient Crown CP Rail van (caboose) of my dads. The coupler pockets were wrecked & the trucks needed upgrading. Origional metal coil spring trucks

I had bought an un-dec Athearn caboose 10 years ago & hadn't done anything with yet.

While looking the Crown van over, I saw something that caught my attention.

The body mounts on the Crown were identical to the Athearn.

So I grabbed the un-dec, moved the body of the Crown to the un-assembled Athearn chassis & voila, instant up-grade, couplers & trucks.

Gordon

[CNW 6000]

I see your point on what they're worth.  Honestly...I thought they were lost when I took down my layout when I was 10 y/o.  I'll see what I can do with them and re-post pics.  Thanks folks.

[Steve_F]

To my untrained eye, (I've only seen these caboose's in photos, mainly black & white) to me they are the nearest thing I've seen to the ‘70s prototype that I have seen. The Walthers ones just look too good (new) for me they are very nice but would show up all my others with there great detail! I am trying to buy any Athearn s I can get my hands on in any road name and repainting them in the green & yellow, any pre painted ones are getting individual numbers to suit. Your brown oxide one would get the repaint also from me.

I guess I'm saying that I would put the money into them.

I must add I also replace the wheels with P2k steel wheels and scale Kadees (158s) and add weight per NMRA recommendations.

[fmilhaupt]

Dan-

There are a good number of C&NW caboose photos on George Elwood's Fallen Flag Railroad Photos site at http://rr-fallenflags.org. The listing of relevant C&NW equipment is at http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cnw/cnw-frt.html

That's my "go-to" site when I'm looking for prototype photos from the past 35 years or so.

 

[Mr. SP]

The Athearn bay window caboose is a Southern Pacific prototype C40-5. As for the project to upgrade them I would do it. Make the corrections & modifications to make them look like C&NW cabooses. Not only will you have a fun project you will build some model skills.

[Philcal]

Why not? I've restored a couple of "old" cabooses. By restore I mean a new paint job,maybe some detail parts,and there are all kinds of decals out there. Sky is the limit. Lot of fun, for pretty low cost.

[jasperofzeal]

Dan-

There are a good number of C&NW caboose photos on George Elwood's Fallen Flag Railroad Photos site at http://rr-fallenflags.org. The listing of relevant C&NW equipment is at http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/cnw/cnw-frt.html

That's my "go-to" site when I'm looking for prototype photos from the past 35 years or so.

That's true, nothing like a prototype photo to see if the model you have was real or made up.

These pictures here are not very clear of the prototype for the models in question, but you can still find some good pictures from similar cars to get a better idea:

CNW_10398 (1 number less than the Athearn model CNW 6000 has)

Here is a better example similar to the caboose above:  CNW_10526

CNW_11052 (The same reporting number of CNW 6000's caboose)

Besides looking at the Fallen Flags website, you can also visit this website for very good prototype pictures:  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx

 

[CNW 6000]

Thanks again.  I'm now waiting on parts from Athearn via LHS (in Green Bay!).  I hate waiting....