HI folks
I'm looking for some brass locomotive kit, ideally New Haven railroad. the outline been early electric traction. after search the net I cant find any brass locomotive kits in HO.
does anyone know if they're any kits in production?
chris
Chris,
I really do not remember very many 'brass' kits at any time. I do remember that PFM/Tenshodo had 'screw driver' assembly brass steam engines for about $5.00 less than the 'R TR' ones. I think 'Ken Kidder' may also had some small 'kit' steamers about the same time(mid 60's).
Locomotive/Rolling Stock 'kits' are getting sort of rare here in the US.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I think all the U.S. locomotive kits in HO are no more. There are some UK companies that do etched brass kits, but I think these are only UK locomotives and may only be OO.
S scale has some kits in standard and narrow gauge and O has some narrow gauge kits, but these are not brass.
I think you'll have to scratch build. There are parts companies like Precision Scale that may have some parts you can use.
Good luck
Paul
Old Kemtron C-16 kits sometimes show up, but they're steam and HOn3, so probably not of interest. Many of the parts can be obtained through PSC, though not complete kits.
PSC also produced kits for the WP&Y Alco DL-535E diesels, also in HOn3 and no longer in production.
My write up on building it is at: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/210285.aspx The British are especially regarded for their loco kits. Pretty much non-American, it's possible there's something suitable for conversion. If you want to build an electric, I'd first suggest looking for a possible donor for the drive. That would leave you the superstructure, etc, which might be plenty of challenge in itself.
My write up on building it is at:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/210285.aspx
The British are especially regarded for their loco kits. Pretty much non-American, it's possible there's something suitable for conversion.
If you want to build an electric, I'd first suggest looking for a possible donor for the drive. That would leave you the superstructure, etc, which might be plenty of challenge in itself.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Not so many years ago a brass kit for a small GE centercab traction locomotive was offered that fit the Bachmann GE44 tonner mechanism. I cannot recall the manufacturer.
Some of the New Haven electrics, the boxcabs, have somewhat similar lines to some Japanese and even European electrics -- I mean in general heft and bulk, not the details.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/electric11.html
For example this JNR EF15 has the general heft and bulk of the New Haven EP2 electric -- yes there are tons of detail and other differences. I am aware of that. I do not need a list of the detail differences.
http://www.newhallstation.com/store/product_info.php/cPath/26_30/products_id/945
And some of these European electrics also have a family resemblance to some NH motors
http://www.euromodeltrains.com/cgi-bin/search_gen.pl?company=Roco&line=HO2&categoryLabel=Electric%20Locomotives&mainGroup=Locomotives&subGroup=Electric%20Locomotives#
Dave Nelson
My friend Bill who has been modeling in HO since the 1950's brought back quite a few brass Tenshodo kits when he served in the Army in the early 50's. He still has a couple that he never even started! I'm not sure I want to take up the nightmare of building one myself, especially since there are so many great models out there now that are assembled, and great runners.
-Stan
dknelsonNot so many years ago a brass kit for a small GE centercab traction locomotive was offered that fit the Bachmann GE44 tonner mechanism. I cannot recall the manufacturer.
Dave,
Good memory there, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Keystone 44 tonner. However, it was around before the B-mann 44 tonner. I think that maybe someone else built the drive or it was Keystones. I'd know, but ordered one and Walthers was never able to get me it from B/O during that period of time that I kept checking on it.
The Keystone 44-Tonner used a chassis built for them by Northwest Short Line. I heard it had a few issues, but with the NWSL gear quality, I'm sure it's nothing a little fine tuning couldn't solve.
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mlehman dknelsonNot so many years ago a brass kit for a small GE centercab traction locomotive was offered that fit the Bachmann GE44 tonner mechanism. I cannot recall the manufacturer. Dave, Good memory there, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of the Keystone 44 tonner. However, it was around before the B-mann 44 tonner. I think that maybe someone else built the drive or it was Keystones. I'd know, but ordered one and Walthers was never able to get me it from B/O during that period of time that I kept checking on it.
chris86thank you for the replies I live in England and etched kits are very common and have a market. I find it very surprising the a large ho scale railroad market doesn't warrant a kit company. I've found a kit produced by high level of Durham U.K. it's a small shunter with some detail it should be in keeping with the railroad. great idea about using an E.U outline model has a base. I will look into it. chris
The UK is much more a kit- and scratchbuilder´s market than the US or my own country, Germany. UK railway modellers enjoy an abundance of small businesses, supplying etched metal kits for just about any type of loco that roamed the rails of Great Britain. I even found a kit for my German prototype short line!
Assembling etched-metal kits is challenging and requires a high level of skills, which certainly is not everybody´s cup of tea.
As to the size of the market in the US, I have my doubts that it is larger than the UK or German market. Model railroading is a much more wide spread hobby at this end of the Big Pond than in the former colonies.
thanks dknelson for the link, lots on promising models for yard and branch work. i'll skip the bachmann drive and use Hollywood foundry system like my other models.
I've done lots of models over the years including brass and etched kits. golden rules for soldering, keep every clean, lots of flux, plenty of heat and a 2lb lump hammer on work bench to ensure the joints tow the line.
dknelson Mike I think the Keystone 44 tonner was a soft metal kit. I was thinking of a metal etched brass kit. I think this website has the information (scroll down to the Baldwin steeple cabs) http://www.prototypespecificproducts.com/interurban/
Wouldn't surprise me if the Keystone 44 tonner (Keystone# 108) was partly soft metal castings. They also offered a 20 ton Class A Shay in HO or HOn3 (Keystone# 105 and 1053 respectively) which I know were composed mainly of soft metal castings. My Walthers '84 catalog indicated that the 44 tonner kit had an etched hood, though. They also list a Keystone #130 70 tonner.
Dragging out the old Walthers catalogs reminded me of other loco kits.PSC listed several. Circa 1984 there were Westside Shays #10 and #12, C&S 2-8-0 #75, and Rio Grande 0-6-0T, all in HOn3, along with Baldwin 0-4-2T and 2-6-2Ts in HOn3 and HOn30. Bachmann was represented, but no 44 tonner yet. There are several pages of traction, but no locos per se.
Going back a little bit, the '81 catalog listed a PSC SP AM-2 4-6-6-2 cab-forward kit, along with one for a Rio Grande K-28 in HOn3. Not illustrated were kits for a SP AC-4 cab forward and, of most interest here, they also listed a PRR GG-1 kit in brass.
All of the above were metal kits, most with brass components or were all-brass.
Locomotive kits are available in S scale. I built some years ago that had no business being called kits, but they are the finest running engines I own. There are no specific New Haven engines available, that I know of, but several diesels such as New haven owned, and some East Broad Top stuff, too. It's late right now, and I can't remember names, but I can come up with them if you're interested.
By the way, I operate DC as well, On the Yahoo list, I am known as "S"tring boB
Bob Nicholson
jrbernier Locomotive/Rolling Stock 'kits' are getting sort of rare here in the US. Jim
this is a sad thing. I'm getting to the point where my "kits" are gonna be brass (or other suitable material) stock... and plans from MRR back issues.
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
truly is sad no brass kits are made. if scratch building alUminium is great for detail.
I for one, would Welcome any good Brass Kits!It would be a welcomed thing, to try this medium & be an enjoyable experience.Unforunately, the markent demand, may make this prohibitive, which as stated, is unfortunate.
As Said; I'd welcome them..
Sunset models NYC P-2 (reviewed in latest MRR) is the first brass electric I've in the main stream media in ages. Priced at $1099.95, it's not for the light of pocket book. Rich