Brass trains

[Anonymous]

What is the reason of buying brass?
They are expensive and you have to paint them. Brass companies like Overland models makes alot of train that you cannot get from other companies.

Can someone tell me why you bye brass, if you buy them, and what are the advantages of brass?

[Anonymous]

I buy brass passenger cars only. Yes, they are expensive, however, the advantage is that the cars I buy are railroad specific. The advantage is that while the detail of passenger cars has gotten better, it is expensive to produce cars specific to each railroad in plastic.
Ch

[Anonymous]

My number 1 reason?
Accurate modeling.[^] I model the Western Maryland, and while many diesels are available, most even painted for the WM, Only 1 accurate plastic steamer is available. The Bachman I-1 decapod is oh-so-close, but if you want the biger I-2, you gotta go brass. Bachman does a 2-8-0 in WM paint, but it's too lightweight and small for a WM model. IHC does several engines lettered for WM, but every last one of them is dead wrong for the WM. Much more accurate models are avaiable in brass. My personal favorite, the WM 4-8-4 Potomac, is only available in brass.
True, brass is more expensive, but they should not be viewed as the fragile, poor running pieces of art some folks may have you believe. They are usually fairly easy to remotor with can motors and flywheels if needed. They usually have lots of space for additional weight and decoders too! Frankly, after converting lots of brass H-7s, H-8s, H-9s, I-1s, I-2s, and J-1s to DCC,(most for a friend who also models the WM) I'm more comfortable converting brass to DCC than most plastic steamers now!

[Anonymous]

I've said this before, brass pieces hold their value and can almost be thought of as an investment. They are railroad specific. They are super detailed and generally of higher quality than other items available. If you have the money brass is a better buy than any other model available.

[Jetrock]

Because some prototypes aren't available in anything but brass! If you have a source for GE or Baldwin-Westinghouse steeplecab electric freight motors in plastic, or Niles interurban cars, heck, point me to 'em and I'll buy 'em!!

Right now the only brass I own are two single-truck Birney trolley cars, which match the prototype I run. The closest thing I've seen in plastic was a plastic casting of a Bendigo Tramways birney, which cost more than I paid for either of my two Birneys ($80) and didn't even include motor, trucks or trolley poles.

And yes, brass holds its value, in fact it gains considerable value over time if kept in good condition.

[Fergmiester]

It's already been said above, to add to it brass is heavier and more robust. It will also be around for a long time

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by deschane

I've said this before, brass pieces hold their value and can almost be thought of as an investment. They are railroad specific. They are super detailed and generally of higher quality than other items available. If you have the money brass is a better buy than any other model available.

Yeah, I would buy brass..... if I were rich.

But if I really, really desired a locomotive that would only exist in brass, I would just kitba***he hell out of affordable stuff to make it myself!

Brass is not an option.

[Jetrock]

It may not be an option RIGHT NOW, but that doesn't mean it will NEVER be an option--and there's also a relatively inexpensive option, namely scratchbuilding in brass. It's not that expensive a material and is extremely durable. There are also brass kits--MRR Warehouse is working on the tooling for a brass Baldwin-Westinghouse kit (although one that will need power and detail parts from other sources) that will cost aroun $80 but it's easier than trying to find $400-500 Ken Kidder brass B-W's that need repowering and added detail anyhow.

I hear you on the "kitba***he hell out of" front. All for it. But it would be nice to be able to just buy a Suydam "Niles" car...in traction even the affordable stuff is either expensive or very hard to find!

[Anonymous]

I'd buy brass if I had the money.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by t3488g

What is the reason of buying brass?
They are expensive and you have to paint them. Brass companies like Overland models makes alot of train that you cannot get from other companies.

Can someone tell me why you bye brass, if you buy them, and what are the advantages of brass?

I buy brass for one reason: sometimes you can't get a model of something any other way. There are many popular engines, cabooses and freight cars that will never be made in plastic because it's not worth the investment. Most modelers have never had the skills level to build a steam engine from scratch, so we revert to buying brass.

Now, I don't buy NEW brass, it's too expensive (I have ONE new brass caboose, and it's the nicest non-engine on my roster). Used brass is much more affordable, even if it does need some work.

Not all brass needs to be painted. Much of it comes factory painted in stunningly good paint jobs. And there's a lot of non-brass out there that needs to be painted too, especially resin kits. Painting is a part if the hobby.

[Anonymous]

I'd like to have brass, but they're way too expensive for me to afford.

[CP5415]

I'd buy brass but the wife has problems with me spending $150 on a Proto locomotive so $400 on a used brass locomotive would probably mean divorce.

Gordon

[AntonioFP45]

Many HO brass locomotives are gorgeous pieces of art, however, price has always been an issue. I do regret that years ago, I had an opportunity to buy a pair beautiful brass Penn Central Metroliners from Chester Holleys in Tampa. The finish looked like real stainless steel. These are now collector's items!

If I did see a used model of a brass locomotive that I strongly like that's not available in plastic HO, I would strongly consider it! A Metroliner or an EP5A (if it was ever produced) would be in my "sought after" category.

[Budliner]

One Man's Trash
Another Man's Treasure

[lupo]

BRASS? I am not used to spending huge amounts of money IN ONE TIME to my hobby, and the stuff I want to have is only available for almost double the original RSP
For that money I can buy a realsize car or a realsize motorcycle,
I only have "PLASTIC" and I am happy with it, I am now looking at cast-metal and trying to get used to prices they ask for those locomotives, for brass and brass pricing I think I still have to grow up a bit.
BTW: For the price of one locomotive, you could also build an entire lay-out,

[Anonymous]

[#ditto]

I would rather buy a car.

[BRAKIE]

There is no way I would buy a brass diesel when Atlas,Athearn(Genesis) and Life Like(P2K) makes highly detailed locomotives that run as smooth as a high price brass engine.

[Anonymous]

The only brass I see worth getting would be the UP 4-12-2 offered by Key Imports (or some brass manufacturer). I saw a brass DDA40X on ebay and it was $1,500!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

I had an opportunity to buy a pair beautiful brass Penn Central Metroliners from Chester Holley in Tampa.

I like that hobby shop. The people are friendly.

I would like to buy brass equipment, but they're too expensive for my budget.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

The only brass I see worth getting would be the UP 4-12-2 offered by Key Imports (or some brass manufacturer). I saw a brass DDA40X on ebay and it was $1,500!!!!!!!!!!

Indeed. I would like a UP 9000 class. To create one, the body is relatively simple compared to many other steam locomotives, but the 12 drivers and frame would prove to be a challenge! Plus I don't have many of the tools used to scratchbuild in brass.

Has anyone tried building a steamer from mostly styrene?

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train-Master


I would rather buy a car.

I never thought of it in those terms. I always thought like, "for the cost of that one locomotive, I could own 5 or 6 of the new generation steamers".

"Buy a car". Hmmmmm.....

[brothaslide]

Saving for my daughters education or brass engine - Education
Saving for a cruise with my wife and girls or brass engine - Cruise
Saving for a new car or brass engine - Car
Saving money for a rainy day or brass engine - Rainy Day

Brass is just not high on the priority list for me.

Sean

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by brothaslide

Brass is just not high on the priority list for me.

Sean

However, I wish I could afford an Overland Models AC4400.

Sean

[JoeUmp]

Onlyreason I don't buy brass is because I can't afford it.

[Anonymous]

Go to Ebay, type in their Search window, BRASS. You may be surprised how affordable some brass pieces sell for. I have two brass locos, a 20 ton two truck shay made by PSC and a PFM Northern Pacific Y-1 Consolidation. Both where purchased for less than $500.00 each. I no longer make enough money to buy locomotives this expensive. However, I also have 4 brass Cabooses, which I bought with the procedings from selling stuff on Ebay. These cabooses are Northern Pacific models of specific prototypes. They are wonderful models and a real boon to my layout. Never say Never!

[AntonioFP45]

Thanks for the tip Deshane. [:D][8D][:)]Will check it out to see what's there.[tup]

Guys, some of you are reacting "harshly" to this thread. No need to be defensive about financial conditions. Most of us here are likely not making $70,000 a year. We all do the best we can with what we have and earn!

To those of us that are saying that we can't afford HO or N brass:

There are still hobby shops that offer "LAY AWAY" plans (10% or 20% down, pay off in 6 mo. or 10 mos. etc). My LHS offers this. Some of you that would like a particular brass model should check with your LHS.

A few years back, a friend of mine who was not making a lot of money at his job managed to obtain 5 Union Pacific BRASS DIESELS in a 2 year period, all on layaway! Another close friend bought a gorgeous West Side Models Southern Pacific Daylight GS4 on layaway back in the 80s. It's now a collector's item. He just intalled a Mars light kit and a Digitrax DCC decoder.[swg][tup]

I currently have no brass locos or rolling stock, but if a locomotive that I really wanted, like a New Haven EP5a, were produced in brass......I'd go for it! There are options for those of us on "ultra tight" budgets.

Peace out![;)][:D][:)][:D]

[Anonymous]

I don't own any brass equipment right now. I've already dumped a fist full of money just building an engine terminal. I'm focused on the DCC system with sound decoders and computerized interface and signaling.

[IRONROOSTER]

I have one brass passenger car It's the SR&RL parlor car. It is the only passenger car in Sn2 available in plastic, wood, or brass which is why I bought it. I will buy more but only for unique pieces and then only sparingly.
Enjoy
Paul

[CBQ_Guy]

I bought a couple brass cabooses for the Burlington over the past dozen years only because an accurate model in plastic wasn't available. One model, an NE-12, still isn't available in plastic. The cheapie toy train Model Power one, or whomever makes it, doesn't count. I've got one and also laser cut windows to use on it, but I haven't played around to see if it's worth it yet.

One brass model I ALMOST bought recently was a two bay, whale belly covered hopper the Burlington had called an LO-9. I could really use a couple of these but I thought the price for one was too high. Anyway, they didn't come out with it after all, so it's a moot point now.

[Anonymous]

Why buy brass? Beautiful HAND-MADE models that are accurate (although degree of accuracy varies) to very specific prototypes. And as others have said, while I would not go so far as to call brass an investment, my brass collection if sold today would fetch at least what I paid for it INCLUDING inflation: something I cannot say for any other part of my HO collection.

If you model a prototype, especially steam-era, brass cabeese are still affordable unpainted (and are easy to paint) and add the proverbial finishing touch to any train, that no plastic caboose can come close to (there are some craftsman kits that are nearly as good if you are sufficiently skilled, but none are as accurate as good brass).

Having said that, the only brass that I've bought in the past five years were a pair of Sunset M-class N&W steamers. Why? My reasons in order of priority:

(a) Even though I know that over the long term, brass prices have risen pretty much in line with inflation, when the price of non-articulated models reached (and now generally exceed) $1,000 the sticker shock became too much for me. As prices still continue to go up, sticker shock becomes comparatively irrelevant and my ability to pay the price even if I wanted to becomes the issue.
(b) There is a rapidly growing availability of very high quality plastic steam from Life-Like, Spectrum, Broadway (sorry folks, the Athearn line doesn't quite cut it) although the prototypes covered are still limited.

The availability of that high quality plastic steam is driven by the coming together of several trends: cheap skilled labor in China, more affordable toolwork for plastic molds ... and the high price of brass models!

Looking back, the Eighties were a magic period for those who wanted brass, and I feel fortunate that I was able to take advantage of it. Very high quality stuff was coming out of Korea and while not cheap, it was in "real" terms (i.e. general income levels versus brass price levels), the period of greatest affordability for brass. Quality plastic wouldn't have had much of a chance at that time. I have never heard a convincing explanation of why Korean brass became so much more expensive so rapidly.

By the way, since the arrival of great mechanisms and great mold work in plastic diesels in the 80's, its always baffled me that the brass importers continue to be able to sell brass diesels.