I am in the process of planning a new HO layout. I am new to this activity. I am looking for Freight and Passanger Rolling stock in the 1900-1930 US Era. I have not seen much to pick from, either kit or complete. I guess I am looking for cars in the mid range price area and have not found a supplier with much selection. Any help on a manufacturer that covers this era.
Wll St. Charles, Athearn offers a very broad line of in-expensive rolling stock. They also have what is called the 70 foot standard heavy weight passenger cars(not 100% scale) There are approx 8 model manufacturers of passenger cars and twice as many in freight Two things you must review, 1) style of coupler,horn-hook or knuckle 2) track radius, 18", 22" or larger. You should review the Walthers reference (catalog) book to see what all is out there. Athearns website, www.athearn.com Happy railroading Chuck-formerly of Glendale Hts,now Grand Rapids Mi. [ 31 January 2002, 11:27: Message edited by: locomotive2 ]
A few more ideas, The Great Midwest Train Show has a monthly show, 2/10,3/10,4/14, 5/12 etc(check MR) at the DuPage County fair grounds, a stone's throw from St. Charles. It's indoors & also outdoors, depending upon the weather. It's massive,new & second hand, all gauges. Some of the hobby shops out there also have web sites you can visit from home. Lombard hobbies @ www.lombardhobbies.com and Palitine hobby@ www.hobbyshopping.com Warning, their pages may not be up to date but gives you an idea what they handle and % of discounts off MSP. Most of us buy at discounts either over the counter or thru mail catalog firms that advertise thru MR Happy railroading Chuck Walsh-Grand Rapids Mi locomotive2@hotmail.com
Still talking here, since you are going to model the 1900 to 1930 period, I assume you will be doing steam locos only, since diesel didn't come out until 1939. Here again it will be product homework before you buy. There are Chevies and Cadillacs, from $75.00 to $400.00/$600.00 Keep in touch with the forum, lots of hands on experience here. Chuck Walsh-Grand Rapids Mi locomotive2@hotmail.com
I am modeling from 1900 to 1950's and being new to the hobby as well, I have noticed a difficulty in finding affordable old-fashioned rolling stock. Most of what I have seen are expensive kits from makers such as Roundhouse that look good, but I am looking for R-T-R. IHC supposedly has old fashioned rolling stock, but it is never in stock.
You didn't mention which roadnames you're most interested in, so I'll just give you some general ideas. MDC/Roundhouse makes several kits of cars for the 1900-1930 era. Their 36' old-timer cars would be suitable for early 1900s. Their 36' billboard reefers and meat reefers would be great for 1900-1930. I generally prefer the paint jobs on their models that were made prior to their new tooling about 10 years ago. Their new kits look like they've coloured the plastic instead of painting them, especially the new old-timer kits with the separate ends (and roof?). Their passenger equipment seems to be mostly pre-1900 era. The Pullman Palace Cars could be good for early 1900s. I'm not sure how prototypical their "Harriman" passenger cars are, but they're a 60' steel round-roof car that could suit your needs. Their website is www.mdcroundhouse.com My favourite manufacturer of plastic kits is Accurail. They're a little more expensive than Athearn or Roundhouse, but quite a bit nicer and, I think, an excellent value. They make a USRA 55-ton hopper that was built in the teens and early 1920s. They also make 40' single-sheathed box cars (designed prior to World War I), 40' double-sheathed box cars (built in the late teens/early 1920s), and 40' wood reefers (built in the 1920s/1930s). Most of their cars have reweigh dates that are in the 1940s or 1950s, but those dates are in the small car data printing, so if it's still an old paint scheme, it's difficult to see that. Their website is www.accurail.com Lifelike/Proto 2000 also make some models you may be interested in. They make really nice 8000-gallon tank cars and 10,000-gallon tank cars (built in the early 1920s). They also make a 40' Mather stock car that looks nice. They are a little more expensive than the others, but they're nicely detailed kits with separate grabs. Their website is www.lifelikeproducts.com Other than Athearn, those kits are probably the easiest to obtain. As far as passenger equipment goes, Rivarossi cars may be your best option for 80' steel heavyweight cars. They do a "1920s era" set of 8 cars that, although they've been around for over 30 years, are still beautiful and probably the best in plastic. They are best bought used at train shows for cheap since they've been around for so long. Walthers is now distributing them, so you can search for them at their site: www.walthers.com If you want to get into wooden craftsman kits, La Belle makes a beautiful set of 60' and 80' wood passenger cars built from 1900-1910. They also make cars similar to the MDC/Roundhouse Pullman Palace Cars. Their website is www.labellemodels.com Walthers used to make wood and metal craftsman kits of 60' to 80' steel passenger cars that were often quite specific to a particular road like NYC or GN. They are hard to find and train shows or eBay are your best bet. Hope this helps Ian
