Hello,
So, I turned to Brass Car Sides for my dreams of the North Coast Limited in HO Scale. I have no prior experience with kit building passenger cars, so if you could give me like a video or pictures, that will be much appreciated.
Several years ago, I was trying to put together a GN Empire Builder and an NP North Coast Limited. As a result, I have 2 GN Budd dome coaches and one NP dome coach made with Brass Car Sides which I applied to modified Con Cor dome cars.
Later, Walthers produced the dome coaches for both NP and GN. So there is no need to use Brass Car Sides.
It is a lot of work doing each car. Just opainting and lettering is time consuming. The Wlathers cars look better than the Con Cor / Brass Car Sides models.
So, my opinion is it makes more sense to use Walthers cars to put together the NCL. ... I do wish Walthers would feature the NCL as one of its Name Trains so modelrs can do it right.
I suggest modelers write to Walthers requesting they produce the NCL for the next Name Train. Perhaps, they will listen if there is enough interest.
You can see the GN Budd domes in this old photo. (The full lenghth dome car is not Brass Car Sides. All I did was repaint a Bachmann Santa Fe dome car. SInce the photo, I painted the interior for correct colors of seats.)
Next photo: The dome car in this NP NCL is my Brass Car Sides model. Locomotives are Athearn dirves with Tyco shell for the A-unit and Athearn shell for the B-unit painted and lettered for NP. Since this photo, I now use a Stewart F9 ABA set which was factoiry painted in this two tone green paint scheme. Most cars on my current NCL are Walthers.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Garry,
Are those car sides comparable with walthers passenger cars,? easy to assemble,? interiors included,? I know some kits come with unpainted sides.
If you are referring to the Brass Car Sides - these are unpainted brass (actually they have a clear coat on them). As far as compatible with Walthers, that often depends on the cars. These are for someone with at least some modeling experience under their belt. The sides need to be fitted to replace the previous side on a Walthers, Rivarossi or "core kit". The sides are flat sheets of etched and cut brass. Small details, belt rails, etc are to be added by the modeler. Painting and lettering is also to be done by the modeler.