Details West make quality boxcars?

[BRAKIE]

G Paine

Much better quality than Athearn BB and old Roundhouse models.

Which btw are now RTR with the same detail issues and some BB and Roundhouse cas are a foot to wide. The Roundhouse FMC boxcars has been upgrade with metal grabs,stirrups,crossover plate and of course metal wheels.

With that said the new releass sell out at a rapid pace.

 

[G Paine]

I agree with DR Wayne. The Details West models were high end grade when they were new, and are still in the midrange of contemporary models. Much better quality than Athearn BB and old Roundhouse models.

[IDRick]

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[IDRick]

Thanks Wayne and Mike!  I have since found a local source for undecorated 50' Details West plug door box cars for less than $10 each.  Wahoo, score!  :-)  Gives me a nice car to learn the finishing process (painting, decal, and weathering) and have a nice a model at the end (well hopefully)!  Course, I'll start out working on some old athearn 40' boxcars which don't fit my modeling time frame.

[mbinsewi]

I've never owned one, or assembled their kit.  The only thing I know is from other forums, through the years, is that the DW cars are "close" to prototype, but really don't match any particular prototype.

I would think like any freight car, you could probably make into a prototype if that's what you want, or it's probably in the "good enough" catagory.

But then again, a lot of Athearn BB kits were just "close".

I'd say if the price is right, and it's something you could use, go for it!

I use DW for lots of diesel detail parts, but I've never bought any kits.

Mike.

 

[doctorwayne]

I was very impressed by those cars when they were first released, with separately applied ladders and fairly nicely-done underbodies, too.  I had quite a few of them, all bought as kits, but sold them all when I backdated my layout. 
They were definitely a cut above Athearn, MDC, et al, but not at all difficult to build.

Wayne

[IDRick]

I found a details west car in a road that appeals to me but the seller does not provide a very good picture.  Are they very good quality?  Do their boxcars have any known issues?  At my age, I don't need or want the expensive but very well done rail cars.  Athearn BB, Roundhouse, Atlas Trainman, Accurail are more my speed...  :-)  The price is more in line with the above train lines than with the modern, elite brands.