Anyone have experience putting Des Plaines Hobbies passenger car kits together? I am an engineer and I can't figure out the sparse instructions. They appear contradictory and what I think is right, is definitely not what the instructions say. Any help would be appreciated. Also, the etched sides have holes for all the hand grabs etc. but no material is provided. The kits I have are the chrome ATSF cars and I have no idea what to use. I have made plenty of grab irons and stirrups from brass wire and there is no way that painted brass would match the chrome sides. So if anyone knows what I need to use, let me know.
I've put together a few. The biggest help in assembling them is prototype photos, as this is the best way to figure out what details are needed and where they go. What specific car are you trying to build? I might be able to answer more specifically... As far as grab irons, I use stainless steel wire instead of trying to paint brass. I don't have a direct source for it, as I was given some... but it is available. Anyone else out there have a source for purchase? Here's a Northern Pacific 8-6-4 Sleeper I built from the etched sides on a core kit:
DesPlaines does not have the NP Sleeper or any NP specific cars. The sides are part of the former DesPlaines Hobbies etcher's line and may be available through Challenger Hobbies, but I am not aware of the status of that connection at the moment. Other NP car sides are available from Brass Car Sides. Charlie
Funny you should ask. Ron got the sides in and should be making progress in getting the kits packaged within the next month. I will let you know when he announces the availability of the kits. Charlie
