Looks like we're hitting the summer doldrums, when some decamp to cooler climes or otherwise step away from the layout. So thought I'd start a general kit thread, since we haven't had a good one of those in awhile. Now, this is not for complaining about the kits you can't find, or the fact that you can't get kits for many things or they are just as susceptible to being shorted when they're reserved as that RTR stuff is these days.
In fact, any trouble with kits should be part of a story of how you overcame that difficulty, because we all know there's no ordering missing parts from the 40-year defunct kit shop. Basically, it's a thread about building kits, not whining about them.
Kits are out there...or under your layout. Wherever they are, they can be instant inspiration. I tend to think of kits as a great box of raw material in many cases these days. So maybe you were inspired or will be inspired somehow with what people do and show here.
I'll even open by giving a third option...What kit are you building now?
So tell us about the last kit you built. I know some of you folks did that several decades back because you've been opening RTR boxes ever since. That's OK, too....mostly, since that Next Kit may be equally far off.
Tell about the kit you're currently building. Maybe you aren't. You can work on that. But it's OK, just don't forget if you built one, you can build another...which leads to --->
What's the next kit you plan to build? Because sometimes that doesn't happen. For years, even, for reasons good, bad, or indifferrent. Maybe it's a kit you've been putting off and subbing something in line ahead of it because, well, it intimidated you when you opened the box once. That's OK, too, we'll encourage you to spend $1000s on a therapist to help you deal with that crippling fright...nah, you just need to start that kit, it won't bite.
Extra Credit/Gold Stars/Study Hall Skip-Out passes if you include pics.
Coming up...an example.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
OK, my very last kit wasn't even a train, but worth relating as a good example of overcoming "issues." I bought a scratch and dent 1:144 kit by Roden to build a C-124C transport. One of the last big reciprocating-engine transports, it served from Korea to Vietnam...and people know I like to have something flying over the layout.
It was $5 and looked like most of the vital part were there...except I discovered the tail, vertical and horizontal, was gone. Instead, it had an extra fret of parts of something else. Explains why it was a consumer reject...except at Mike's Shelter for Broken Kits. I figured a tail couldn't be that hard...and it mostly wasn't. The supplied MATS blue and golld band for the tail even fit. We won't look to close at it's rear...it's not polite.
Interesting fact about this kit. It was made in Ukraine, but had instructions in 4 other languages, including Russian...hmmm, maybe Roden knew something was up?
Just to be fair, we're looking for lots of train kits and relatively few aircraft, please. There's another sector of Kalmbach that handles the Aircraft crowd. I merely dabble.
So here's the last RR kit I built. It JV Models HO Austin Burg Lumber Company. Stick-by-stick means you can really build anything you want with it. Nice wood, but the instructions were a little sketchty. Definitely shouldn't be your first kit, but the bountiful material means you can make a mistake or two and still be able to start over when something doesn't quit go as the architect planned. Mine also includes a coal dealer. No signage yet, but I've been doing some detailing, slowed because it's a reach and my back is giving me fits right now.
The Kit I'm Working On Now: It's a Westerfield HO 6403 40' Fowler clone D&RGW Boxcar. Beautiful resin castings, I hope I can do it justice. Just getting started so am removing the resin flash from the various pieces, then will start in building the ends. Makes a great model, you need some skills to do it, but most of the magic is in the fine castings. No pics yet.
The Next Kit I Plan to Build: I think it will be a PSC HOn3 Alco DL-535E. It's a brass kit that was also available as an assembled brass model over the years. Great 1970s technology, but still supported by PSC. This will be the second build for me of this kit. The first was missing a cab door, but a call to PSC and they replaced it from stock (note: applies only if it is in stock, they're not making more of these any time soon AFAIK). I could use another unit or two of serious motive power. The first kit was a satisfying build and a great learning experience. I plan to take more than a week on this one. You end up with this, if you're a little weird like me, anyway.
Last/current kit completed: A couple of Accurail steel gons for pulpwood cars painted and lettered for a friend's layout, the Mackinac Northern.
Next kit: Two Walthers Russell steel snow plows, as Pere Marquette plows SP21 and SP22. The only thing I can see that I'll need to do that is specific to these prototypes is to make backdated side doors, like those on the Illinois Railway Museum's very similar ex-CGW plow X38.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
Right now I'm making very slow progress on three AC&Y Mather boxcar kits by Sunshine. These are particularly important to me because I was involved in gathering data for the project, and Martin Lofton used some of my drawings (plus other sources) in developing the resin kit. I don't expect to complete these kits very quickly.
Kit? What kit?
All of the structures on my On30 layout will be scratchbuilt. Right now, I am completing the engine house, only the doors and a few minor details are missing.
There are 2,500+ parts in it, half of which are the shingles I individually cut and laid out on the roof.
My next project will be the buildings on the wharf I built a few months ago.
O scale really is a scratchbuilder´s scale!
Great thread idea!
I've recently finished up this Branchline Trains kit called Munnsville Depot. I renamed it for Railway Express.
It's a lasercut wood kit. I enjoyed putting it together and painting it.
The next kit is a truss bridge from Central Valley. I've just built a new section of benchwork, and this bridge will go on the liftoff section that connects the old with the new. First, I need to raise the original track back up to the level of the rest of the layout so that I'll have a nice flat run. It was a siding, so I dropped it down just for some visual interest, but now it's got to come up because I don't want the longer trains coming out of the new staging to have to climb to get where they're going.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Timely topic, as I just opened the Old Man Dan's House from American Model Builders. Still debating as to whether or not to give it a "peeling paint" job before the assembly/kit bashing activity starts. This kit will replace an older two story house that after a few decades now looks to be about halfway between HO and N scales.
Don H.
I have to confess to buying several RTR freight cars recently, but I also picked up a pair of P2K Canadian Pacific 52' 6" Mill Gondolas. I'm glad they include extra detail bits because I haven't done one in a while.
I have also just received a Canadian Pacific wood reefer which was built from an older kit. I had not seen one of the older kits at close range and I have to say that it is a very nice model. That has me thinking that I might just buy an older kit or two and have a go at them. By 'old' I mean the all wood kits from the 50's, 60's and 70's.
Here is the car I just bought. Can anyone tell me who made the kit?:
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Last kit was a Roundhouse FMC boxcar lettered for Cotton Belt (SSW).
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I have a lot of Accurail/McKean/Front Range/I-M 40' box cars waitring to be started on. Part of the 'grain loading' fleet. Once these cars are complete, I am on to scratch build several Milwaukee Road prototype models as contest entries for next spring.
To be honest, I have completed over 200 freight car 'kits' since I retired(2+ years ago). I am still 'unearthing' kits I have no clue why I bought over the past 40 years!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Last kit built? Accurail ACF 4600 Center Flo hopper.Current kit build? Accurail ACF Center Flo hopper.Next build same as what I'm doing now.Also redoing some older Bachmann and TYCO 4 bay covered hoppers.These are all being done for the HO version of my Grande Valley Railway.Thanks to Highball Graphics for the super job on the decals.
hon30critter Here is the car I just bought. Can anyone tell me who made the kit?:
Ambroid.
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Kit, whatjamean kit? You mean people do only one kit at a time? How boring!
I seem to always have a nuimber of things going on. Now I have 3 Sylvan Scale cars (Chevy, Dodge and Studebaker), Phils Power Equipment a DPM Modular, an Athearn BB GP-7 (only calling it a kit because of all the added detail parts), detail parts for the Greenvale Elementary School playground, and a couple more gathering dust because I got burned out on them and lost interst.
I have too many kits / projects in the waiting list, I have not decided what to do next.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I've been tinkering with other things lately so my current kit under construction is getting dusty while partially done. It's a SS Ltd boiler house. I get to do things like build trusses that will never be seen (under the roof) just to see if I can do it. Scale 2x4s, etc. Kinda fun but painstaking.
An upcoming structure kit may be the Suydam station I picked up at local train show. It will require some tweaking to shorten its length, or the CEO (me) may decide on a different station kit in the end. Car kits seem to be stacking up faster than the kitbuilder can sit down and build them. There are all kind of reasons to acquire them. I found a UP (my line) 200T crane car kit in a Ft Worth shop that can replace the ATSF version I have. Yesterday I went to the LHS to buy some traction tires and found two Walthers fridge car kits...I like to spend a few bucks whenever I go in and would feel awkward just buying $4 of traction tires.
An upcoming structure kit may be the Suydam station I picked up at local train show. It will require some tweaking to shorten its length, or the CEO (me) may decide on a different station kit in the end.
Car kits seem to be stacking up faster than the kitbuilder can sit down and build them. There are all kind of reasons to acquire them. I found a UP (my line) 200T crane car kit in a Ft Worth shop that can replace the ATSF version I have. Yesterday I went to the LHS to buy some traction tires and found two Walthers fridge car kits...I like to spend a few bucks whenever I go in and would feel awkward just buying $4 of traction tires.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
My last kit was a Kit bashuing project of the Front Street Warehouse. The first picture is what it was supposed to look like, and the second plus photos are of what it is now.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Elmer, can you explain how you curved the building front? I may have a similar opportunity but had not considered that. It looks great.
I am building a Model Tech Schooner, trust me, if you don't want to rengineer a kit, don't buy this one! There are a lot of bad castings and cheap paper parts, really bad instructions. The paper parts are bad because you need to tie off the rigging to them and they don't hold up to this treatment (I made the paper straps with styrene). Includes a lot of plastic eye bolts and only a few metal ones (how much could it cost to make them all metal). The list is endless.
Last kit finished was a AAR 1937 Boxcar kit from Pacific Rail Shops
Currently building a refrigerator car by Ye Olde Huff n Puff and a handcar shed by B.T.S.
Next kit is unknown at this time, but I do have a lot to choose from. Most likely a water tank from Lehigh Valley Models or the Ma&Pa flat car from B.T.S. - probably switch back and forth between them.
I'm also considering building a handcar shed from scratch to see if I like that better than laser kits like the one I'm building now. After all I can probably use at least 3 or 4 of these.
But working on the layout is my primary goal, kits are just a change of pace activity for now.
Enjoy
Hi Dave:
Thanks for identifying the maker of the reefer.
being semi -lazy off work, I don't build much, I would have to say largely because I don't have a layout,...yet. However, my next project I want to tackle scratch building all of the structures that were in the Glen Wagner "Boy's Life" layout In styrene. I did the handcar shed in Matt board and that gave me some idea of how I want to do them. Of course, this will probably take a long time, like as in years. But hey, it's all fun.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
The last kits I built were a pair of Rail Line 3000 series boxcars, modified to a more turn-of-the-century appearance.
(The first and last cars are the Rail Lines - the two in the middle are modified Blackstones built at the same time).
Not a kit, but a slightly more recent project was this backdating of a Spectrum 4-4-0 to be my railroad's only standard gauge engine:
Currently in progress I have a Precision Scale short caboose. No pictures of it yet.
I'm not quite sure what's up next - now that I have a standard gauge locomotive, I might build a few cars to go with it - I have some Silver Crash Car Works and Westerfield kits waiting. Or I might get to work on backdating a couple more Blackstone C-19s...tough call.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
A couple of car kits I am currently working on, while working on these and waiting for glue to dry I am usually building more simple kits like IMRC, Branchline, Front Range, etc. so I usually have from 6 to 8 kits going at one time.
IMRC Pflauder Milk car, has a lot of wire parts that have to be installed, a really neat car.
It is in the paint shop now, and will be getting its second color applied as soon as I get it masked. PC X79 60' Boxcar used in transporting Kellogg's Cereal. a Rail Yard Models kit. I have sort of stagnated on this one right now, have to install the brake rigging and airlines and it is a make it up as you go thing, a great help was the building of the Moloco GATX RBL I did a couple of years ago, now understand how all the parts go together. I am also working on a couple of Athearn Tank Cars, but they are a real PITA as all you get is an exploded parts diagram with no instructions and the part numbers on the spriues do not match the part numbers on the diagrams, no wonder Athearn does not want to sell undecorated kits anymore. As for next kit, I have a number of ExactRail, Railyard Modles, F&C, Molocco and other kits to choose from along with some kitbashes of other simple kits. Rick J
It is in the paint shop now, and will be getting its second color applied as soon as I get it masked.
PC X79 60' Boxcar used in transporting Kellogg's Cereal. a Rail Yard Models kit.
I have sort of stagnated on this one right now, have to install the brake rigging and airlines and it is a make it up as you go thing, a great help was the building of the Moloco GATX RBL I did a couple of years ago, now understand how all the parts go together. I am also working on a couple of Athearn Tank Cars, but they are a real PITA as all you get is an exploded parts diagram with no instructions and the part numbers on the spriues do not match the part numbers on the diagrams, no wonder Athearn does not want to sell undecorated kits anymore. As for next kit, I have a number of ExactRail, Railyard Modles, F&C, Molocco and other kits to choose from along with some kitbashes of other simple kits. Rick J
I have sort of stagnated on this one right now, have to install the brake rigging and airlines and it is a make it up as you go thing, a great help was the building of the Moloco GATX RBL I did a couple of years ago, now understand how all the parts go together.
I am also working on a couple of Athearn Tank Cars, but they are a real PITA as all you get is an exploded parts diagram with no instructions and the part numbers on the spriues do not match the part numbers on the diagrams, no wonder Athearn does not want to sell undecorated kits anymore.
As for next kit, I have a number of ExactRail, Railyard Modles, F&C, Molocco and other kits to choose from along with some kitbashes of other simple kits.
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
My current kit is also my next kit, as I'm putting together a 12-stall roundhouse using four Walthers' Modern Roundhouse kits (two 3-stall full kits and two add-on stall kits). Here's where I was a couple months ago:
Since this was taken I've nearly finished the track wiring (with the help of a couple friends), weathered the floor and begun installation of the roof support frames. It's taking half of forever because it's been many years since I've built a structure kit, and I'm doing a lot of trackwork and such on other parts of the layout. Maybe I'll take a few pics of current state and edit the post to add them.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
peahrens Elmer, can you explain how you curved the building front? I may have a similar opportunity but had not considered that. It looks great.
Thanks.
This started as a square kit, and as such didn't have "floors" in it. To make the curved front, I had to add "floors" that would provide the curved support for the front at each level plus the roof. Each "floor" was shaped like the foot-print of the final building shape, minus the material that the sides and face would add. (I used .030 plastic in the form of a handicapped parking sign from Lowes.) The "floors" were then spaced apart with "walls" and everything was glued together as a framework similar to those interlocking egg crate type seperators that you see every so often, although the floors and walls wern't interlocking on mine. Since the back of the building is flat, the assembly of the frame was done while it was laying on it's back to keep everything even and in line. Once the frame was made, the front and side walls were glued in place. It wasn't hard to do, although you had to think ahead of the building and assembly process so things would work out right.
I've just purchased Bar Mill's "Sweaty Betty's Cafe". It'll be my lst wood kit so it'll be awhile before I start it as I want to read everything I can about sealing, xtra bracing, etc. lst.
If anyone has built this and can share their pics or tips to make things easier (if that's even needed) it would be great to see them/hear them.
My last kit was the completion of the roundhouse (Walthers Modern) and t.t. install. The r.h. was a pre-owned model, partly reglued with stall extentions being considered.
My definite next projects are the Bachmann City Scapes Metropolitan Bldg. and Trade Tower kits to start the big city scene mock ups. I'm trying to avoid the use of bldg. flats wherever possible and use the entire structures even though it's not a huge area.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
My last kit was a Tichy USRA box car.
My next kit will probably be the Campbell's grain elevator.
I am currently in scenery mode so I won't be building structures for a while. There is too much bare plywood on my layout right now.
My last set of kits involved my Walthers Coke Oven battery. It started with a local friend giving me an almost complete Coke Ovens kit, for the purpose of doubling the number of ovens. One piece that it was missing was the discharge-side door panel, so I had to make my own using Evergreen styrene:
Here's what they looked like after fitting them to the original model:
...then I assembled the quench car and the so-called "larry" car from a details ki; but first, I had to scratch-build a few more detail items, starting with a discharge guide car and an oven discharge door-opener car:
...my quench car also needed a specialized loco to propel it, converted from the remains of an old Athearn Hustler:
Then, to complete the coke mill, I partially assembled a Walthers North Island oil refinery kit [without the "furnace" part] and ran a connecting pipe to the coke ovens, to serve as a coke gas by-products facility:
These are all under-construction shots, I eventually got rid of the superfluous clutter from my layout surface.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Does an older Athearn Genesis SD70M (1990s/early 2000s run) count as a kit? Handrails, sun shades, truck details, ditchlights, bell, grab irons, the lot... I've had plenty of freight cars that went together easier than that thing; it was quite a challenge...
The last proper kit I built was a Bowser 100-ton coal hopper... Easy assembly and it was rolling on my layout in less than 5 minutes...
My little 4x10' HO layout may be small, and I may not have enough money to make it a masterpiece, but that doesn't make me any less of a modeler!
Matt,
If it's a kit to you, it's a kt for us all
Wow, I'm just stunned at all the great work here! Some folks whose work I'm familiar with, but a whole bunch that I'm seeing for the first time. If you haven't done so yet, please consider contributing to the Weekend Photo Fun (WPF) threads. Works in progress are very welcome there, too.
I squeezed in some more hours and just need decals and weathering on my Westerfield Rio Grande Fowler boxcar clone. An in progress shot and one after I put the trucks back on with the paint dry this morning. The kit was much easier than my last resin kit, a pair of Westerfield hoppers. It advised 5 to 6 hours to build to this point and that's about what I have in it.