DM&E business cars - HO model to begin with?

[RichDahl]

I recently purchased decals from Highball to help me decal SD40-2's that will be DM&E engines, and I also picked up decals for DM&E business cars. Through another forum I have learned that one business car used to be MoPac business car #8, and a couple of others are (rebuilt I believe) CP 2200 cars.

Would anyone have any pointers on good (and hopefully easy to obtain HO scale starting points for making DM&E business cars?

Thanks,

Richard

[jrbernier]

Richard,

  I am aware of the business car 'Pioneer'(re-built HW  car), and at least 2 streamline coaches(Silver Lake & Plum Creek).   Here is a link to pictures of them:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsList.aspx?id=DME

  Not sure what would be the best models to start with.   If the coaches are ex-CP, maybe Rapido has something close.  The Pioneer is a typical HW car hat has been upgraded through the years.  It has new thermopane windows, RB trucks, and a new roof.

Jim

[cv_acr]

The Rapido cars are based on CN prototypes.

There is nothing RTR for the CP coaches.

There was once a pretty involved craftsman resin kit for the CP 2200 series coaches available from an outfit called Norwest Models, but that's been unavailable for several years now. Norwest's patterns, masters and research materials were acquired by BGR Group, another Canadian manufacturer of resin craftsman kits of Canadian passenger cars, mostly heavyweights. They're supposed to re-release the Norwest coaches with a one piece body at some point, but it hasn't happened yet.

I don't know enough about the ex-MP business car, but those old heavyweight business cars tended to be very unique, plus that thing has been heavily upgraded and modernized. Even on the same railroad probably not too many were the same. So any model will also be a vague stand-in at best or a heavy scratchbuild/kitbash from various heavyweight car components and details.