Ed ---
Since I'm not primarily a logging guy, the log loader would just be a secondary thing for me --- a curiosity. I expected the age and rarity of the loader would mean the price went fairly high, but I'm not prepared to go quite that high. So I'll bow out of the competition for this item and leave it to somebody else.
Thanks anyway.
Tom
ACY I recently discovered an ad for a companion powered Model Engineering Works log loader on page 66 of the October, 1960 Model Railroader. This was listed as a "redesigned" model, to be available October 1, 1960. I have no idea when the previous model (before the redesign) was introduced, or how it differed. If anybody has one, I might be in the market. Tom
I recently discovered an ad for a companion powered Model Engineering Works log loader on page 66 of the October, 1960 Model Railroader. This was listed as a "redesigned" model, to be available October 1, 1960. I have no idea when the previous model (before the redesign) was introduced, or how it differed.
If anybody has one, I might be in the market.
Here's one that's for sale:
http://brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/064413/HO-Brass-Model-Train-MEW-LL50-Barnhard-Operating-Log-Loader-Crane-Custom
I would guess that this is an example of an early one. And I suspect there never was a re-design. Suspect, but don't know.
Ed
Oldest unfinished kit was found this spring in a storage cabinet. It is an old late 60's, early 70's Ulrich car kit. I started the kit but never finished it and have no recollection as to why. Plan to finish it as soon as I order a tap set as a tap is needed to finish installing the coupler pockets and couplers. Probably why it was never finished.
Jim
I don't think Ulrich ever made a log car. They did make a couple of 40' flat cars, though.
The oldest log cars I can think of are the Model Engineering Works "log buggies":
The above cars go back to the late '50's, or so. Notice the Mantua couplers on the car on the left. And, although there are brake beams and shoes on the trucks, there are no air or manual brakes on the car. At least as far as I can see. While awfully cute, the car looks way too short to me to be useful as a prototype.
The next log cars out were the Kadee ones. They are still made, and you can see them on Kadee's site. I'm thinking they came out in the early '60's. I know the disconnect trucks were the first.
Yeah, no kidding on the details... I ended up removing the compressor on mine and replacing it with one off a Flieschmann engine.
I would have to go and unpack a few boxes but I think the one I have the oldest was made by Ulrick and it is a Log car. I bought it second or third hand (maybe more ) unbuilt and have not put it together yet. Anyone know when these came out ?
I have a few old Campbell kits and a few old Suydam kits still awiting assembly.
Last month, I put together an old Suydam metal office building kit and it is now in my new rural scene. ... So eventually, the kits are assembled.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Not sure this qualifies as a 'kit' but I still have some HO fiber tie strip that I got it in the late 1950's and may still have a couple of pieces of brass or ns rail to put on it.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
tinplatacis How about the MDC 0-6-0T? I ended up replacing the drivers and the boiler front still needs to be done on mine, but it's a "cute" little engine.
How about the MDC 0-6-0T? I ended up replacing the drivers and the boiler front still needs to be done on mine, but it's a "cute" little engine.
Nice little fella. Like a lot of old tank engines, it can always use added detailing. I recall the front of the PFM catalog, where they showed 3 different "remodels" of their basic $8.95 0-6-0T. My inflation calculator says that $8.95 is now $71.95! Get out your checkbooks. Oops! Er. Debit cards!
riogrande5761 fieryturbo I actually have no unbuilt kits. I finish what I start before I buy more. Mutant! j/k!!
fieryturbo I actually have no unbuilt kits. I finish what I start before I buy more.
I actually have no unbuilt kits. I finish what I start before I buy more.
Mutant! j/k!!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Thinking about this topic, I started wonder which kits from the olden days ('50's and '60's, say) still make presentable models.
Cast on grabs need not apply.
Curiously, there are some that are still useful/presentable.
For instance, I've got a Varney switcher body (metal) here. It's aimed for a Hobbytown drive someday. Anyway, it's better than the Athearn body. And it's certainly as good as the BLI and P2K. I don't have a Kato handy. Anyway, it's certainly as good as these. And, being metal, it adds another couple of ounces, or so. Not as much as one would think, as the walls are pretty thin.
The Cary SW1500, on the other hand, is quite a dog. The hood is too wide and the detail level is bad. Heavy? Oh, yes.
Something else that endures is the Model Engineering Works side dump car. There's nothing else like it, if you need one. Mine's tucked away, so I don't know if there's any cast-on detail to modify. But it's the ONLY small side dump car. And it actually works.
They had a real cute little caboose. But cast on grabs. Too bad. By the time you remove them, you might as well build it out of Evergreen. The trucks were pretty nice. They had outside brake beams and shoes.
And then, let's get to the stamped sheet metal Athearn boxcars. I've got a number of the round-roof cars, and they look bee-youtiful to this day. Separate ladders and grabs. Nice thin doors and delicate door guides. My only gripe is that I've gotta figure out how to do that clearance dent for the grab iron above the side ladder.
The Gold Spike reefer is still pretty good. Not great, but pretty good.
So. Anyone got other nominations?
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
riogrande5761In my case, I have done some running with a modular group and felt very nervous about running my more expensive or nicer models, and have held back on most of them naturally.
IMHO this is where BB and Roundhouse cars are needed the most-unless every member of the club is perefect but,that's a dream since there always a foul up in that slings alcohol over everything to not paying attention.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
IRONROOSTER Well the flip side for model railroading is the sporadic production of rolling stock and structures. If you don't buy it when you see it, it may not be available next year or 5 years or ever. This is especially true in a minority scale like S or O. Or a minority era like 1900 to WWI. Enjoy Paul
Enjoy
Paul
Thats for sure. And since there have been episodes of chinese factory closings and other interuptions etc. some companies go out of business etc. you never know so if you are going to need items, sometimes you do have to squirrel some away for the rainy days or years. Thankfully, things like Train Shows and Ebay etc. have allowed me to back fill items I missed out on from some years back, at least much of the time. I wanted to get some Intermountain 40' SP/UP ice reefers and those are rare as hens teeth, but I only just started looking and "hopefully" Intermountain will continue to re-run them for a few years to come!
riogrande5761 IRONROOSTER Well, if it's confession time.... I have 150 rolling stock kits, 16 locomotive kits and 50 structure kits. I also have enough parts to scratch/parts build more. This is across 3 scales and multiple eras. 43 years of accumulating adds up. I may never get them all built, but I never lack for a kit to build either. I continue to buy kits in HO, S, and O as they appeal to me and I find them at a reasonable price. Enjoy Paul I suppose having a large collection of kits can be like having a ton of cloths or stuff in your house, for some it's can come down to a point of, if it hasn't been build or used in X number of years, it probably never will be so it may be a good time to "clean house" and sell or give away to a needy person/cause. As always, YMMV. I'm finding it somewhat liberating to free my self of some excess stuff and the cash comes in handy too!
IRONROOSTER Well, if it's confession time.... I have 150 rolling stock kits, 16 locomotive kits and 50 structure kits. I also have enough parts to scratch/parts build more. This is across 3 scales and multiple eras. 43 years of accumulating adds up. I may never get them all built, but I never lack for a kit to build either. I continue to buy kits in HO, S, and O as they appeal to me and I find them at a reasonable price. Enjoy Paul
I have 150 rolling stock kits, 16 locomotive kits and 50 structure kits. I also have enough parts to scratch/parts build more. This is across 3 scales and multiple eras.
43 years of accumulating adds up. I may never get them all built, but I never lack for a kit to build either.
I continue to buy kits in HO, S, and O as they appeal to me and I find them at a reasonable price.
I suppose having a large collection of kits can be like having a ton of cloths or stuff in your house, for some it's can come down to a point of, if it hasn't been build or used in X number of years, it probably never will be so it may be a good time to "clean house" and sell or give away to a needy person/cause. As always, YMMV. I'm finding it somewhat liberating to free my self of some excess stuff and the cash comes in handy too!
Well the flip side for model railroading is the sporadic production of rolling stock and structures. If you don't buy it when you see it, it may not be available next year or 5 years or ever. This is especially true in a minority scale like S or O. Or a minority era like 1900 to WWI.
BRAKIEOf course some contend the older models like the older BB engines that now comes RTR,older Atlas engines and older LL P2K engines still has a place in the hobby.
In my case, I have done some running with a modular group and felt very nervous about running my more expensive or nicer models, and have held back on most of them naturally. Unfortunately I sold off pretty much all of my older simpler/cheaper loco's so I don't really have anything like that to run a moduler meets. I've ran some Athearn RTR tunnel motors, SD45's or Atlas GP40's so far and been very careful with them but, only a few times.
In terms of rollings stock, mostly I've brought older Walthers, E&C, Athearn, MDC etc. cars and. So it definitely makes sense for club use to have some trains which are have less bitty details and lower cost which can take a little more handling etc. Otherwise it's up to folks to decide what is good for their personal use and what meets their goals and needs.
IRONROOSTERWell, if it's confession time.... I have 150 rolling stock kits, 16 locomotive kits and 50 structure kits. I also have enough parts to scratch/parts build more. This is across 3 scales and multiple eras. 43 years of accumulating adds up. I may never get them all built, but I never lack for a kit to build either. I continue to buy kits in HO, S, and O as they appeal to me and I find them at a reasonable price. Enjoy Paul
riogrande5761 dknelson Well that was a mistake. This thread made me go to the shelves and count the unbuilt kits. I have about 130 unbuilt rolling stock kits. And just slightly under that in structure kits. {Amended post: No! It is over 150 unbuilt structure kits, if you count the Walthers Modulars boxes. I feel worse than ever now.} I should not have done that. Now it feels hopeless. <snip> Dave Nelson Don't feel too bad now, I'm sure there are many people in a similar boat. I think it's situations like this that are responsible for much of what we see at train shows, many people bought far more kits than they would ever build have finally decided to clear-out, or some end up there when owners pass away too. I'm just as guilty as many others. I had accumulated mostly a lot of rolling stock kits, far more than I had the time or desire to build. For a several of reasons my kit collection has been decimated down to about 2 boxes worth or less: 1) I've gone through some lean periods and needed cash to help afford newer rolling stock which matched many freight cars I needed. 2) I have moved quite a few times in the past 15 years and had to haul many boxes of trains from place to place and store them, so it was imperitive to keep the size of the collection from growing too big as I did continue to buy new items as they fit my plans. 3) I also realized I simply wasn't going to build much of what I had collected so might as well be realistic and sell off kits which for one reason or another I deemed needed to go. I find as time goes by, more and more I am finding rolling stock in my collection I am willing to sell that a few years ago I though should be kept so I've been getting more brutal about unloading stuff. In some ways I feel I can't just keep accumulating stuff unabated without finding some things to sell off. The high cost of newer HQ rolling stock is a strong motivator also, to raise cash through sales. I certainly agree to with some that I'd rather have fewer, nicer models than a gazillion lower quality ones too. So, out with the old and in with the new, although I probably will continue to keep a few older items around - some still are appopriate for my era - including a few Athearn blue box, Accurail, MDC, Walthers red box kits - kit built Intermountain, Proto 2000 etc.
dknelson Well that was a mistake. This thread made me go to the shelves and count the unbuilt kits. I have about 130 unbuilt rolling stock kits. And just slightly under that in structure kits. {Amended post: No! It is over 150 unbuilt structure kits, if you count the Walthers Modulars boxes. I feel worse than ever now.} I should not have done that. Now it feels hopeless. <snip> Dave Nelson
Well that was a mistake. This thread made me go to the shelves and count the unbuilt kits. I have about 130 unbuilt rolling stock kits. And just slightly under that in structure kits. {Amended post: No! It is over 150 unbuilt structure kits, if you count the Walthers Modulars boxes. I feel worse than ever now.} I should not have done that. Now it feels hopeless. <snip>
Dave Nelson
Don't feel too bad now, I'm sure there are many people in a similar boat. I think it's situations like this that are responsible for much of what we see at train shows, many people bought far more kits than they would ever build have finally decided to clear-out, or some end up there when owners pass away too. I'm just as guilty as many others. I had accumulated mostly a lot of rolling stock kits, far more than I had the time or desire to build. For a several of reasons my kit collection has been decimated down to about 2 boxes worth or less:
1) I've gone through some lean periods and needed cash to help afford newer rolling stock which matched many freight cars I needed.
2) I have moved quite a few times in the past 15 years and had to haul many boxes of trains from place to place and store them, so it was imperitive to keep the size of the collection from growing too big as I did continue to buy new items as they fit my plans.
3) I also realized I simply wasn't going to build much of what I had collected so might as well be realistic and sell off kits which for one reason or another I deemed needed to go.
I find as time goes by, more and more I am finding rolling stock in my collection I am willing to sell that a few years ago I though should be kept so I've been getting more brutal about unloading stuff. In some ways I feel I can't just keep accumulating stuff unabated without finding some things to sell off. The high cost of newer HQ rolling stock is a strong motivator also, to raise cash through sales. I certainly agree to with some that I'd rather have fewer, nicer models than a gazillion lower quality ones too. So, out with the old and in with the new, although I probably will continue to keep a few older items around - some still are appopriate for my era - including a few Athearn blue box, Accurail, MDC, Walthers red box kits - kit built Intermountain, Proto 2000 etc.
Well, if it's confession time....
riogrande5761I certainly agree to with some that I'd rather have fewer, nicer models than a gazillion lower quality ones too.
Oddly enough we were discussing that last Sunday at one of the local clubs I was visiting and the general consensus agreed that fewer quality cars and locomotives would be better then a basement full of older stuff.
Of course some contend the older models like the older BB engines that now comes RTR,older Atlas engines and older LL P2K engines still has a place in the hobby. The discussion then went on about large versus small layouts and small loop layouts versus a switching layouts like Lance Mindheim covers in his books.
I walked away feeling that the overall consensus of that group was quality over quantity and obtainable smaller layouts was better then building a basement filler based on overall costs,construction time and dream versus reality.
I have two Ambroid boxcar kits and two Varney kits that had metal sides and wood floors...Late 40's Early 50's probably.
Needless to say, they are show and tell items and will never be built.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
I have a Locomotive Company 4-6-0 kit that I bought on ebay a couple of years ago. I wanted one desperately when I was in high school in the 70's, couldn't afford the $100 price tag back then.
I have a Walthers Santa Fe business car kit that I mail ordered at back then as well; I wasn't prepared for the "craftsman" nature of the kit, and I never built it.
I have two kits around the same time, that I received.
Woodland Scenics- Cricket's Saloon, and a Model Power- Joe's Fruit and Vegetables. Both kits have been opened, only one was painted but not glued.
I need to replace the roof and window glass sheets.
How old probably around 1997-98, I just can't remember.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
There are times when an old kit shouldn't be built. There's been hints of this in the topic.
Way back when, I bought the Hobbyline Berkshire kit. $1.98, as I recall. At the time, it was the closest I was going to get to big steam. Well, yeah, I built it. More or less. And I painted it with Floquil Grimy Black, just after it was introduced.
(I will digress and say that I really liked that color back then. It was dark grey, of course. But it also had a real small tint of green. I thought. And a very small smidgen of aluminum sparkles. These two colors were barely noticeable. And now back to our show.)
Anyway, some years later I picked up one of their switcher kits--in the box, fresh. Now, that little UNPOWERED engine is never going to be as detailed as the steam switchers I've got. So I'm just going to leave it in the box. And open it and look every few years. Just for fun.
On t'other hand, I've got an Ulrich B&O triple hopper that I've just GOT to build. Someday.
7j43k E-L man tom The oldest kit that I have that is unbuilt is a wooden kit of a barn, HO scale, that I picked up at a silent auction about 4 years ago. I forget who makes it but it looks like it dates back to the mid to late 50's, maybe earlier. Ayers: Ed
E-L man tom The oldest kit that I have that is unbuilt is a wooden kit of a barn, HO scale, that I picked up at a silent auction about 4 years ago. I forget who makes it but it looks like it dates back to the mid to late 50's, maybe earlier.
Ayers:
Your post actually piqued my curiosity, so I dug that kit out. Its actually a Tiny Town Building Kit by Ideal. Its a barn with out buildings. This kit, by the looks of it, may even date back to the 40's. The instruction sheet is actually starting to fall apart. I'm afraid to take it out of the box as I may not ever get it back in in the original way it is packed. Don't know if I'll ever build the thing. Says on the box its 1/8" scale; not true HO, but close enough I guess.