Attention and focus turns to the newest 4 sets of rolling stock on the line, RLD Hobbies Aristocraft Great Northern Vermilion Red 2-Bay Off center Coal Hoppers. I tracked down several prototype photos literally looking for something wrong. I couldn't find much in the way of research. All 4 of these custom runs sport high quality paint with crisp graphics. Easy to read. Just remember to handle these new 2-Bay's with care, as the ends are like the 100 Ton hoppers with brass ends. The brass can bend if given enough pressure. I don't normally rivet count so I couldn't tell you if the rivets are exact. What I can tell you is the attention to underframe detail is amazing, if not well done. But visually speaking, there is a lot at a loss on these models that makes me wonder if the 500 paid for all 4 was even worth it. Starting with the top, the coal load is so fake it hurts. It falls out very easy and isn't even attached. I have a foam coal load that I misted with gloss spray paint on the top to make it more realistic that the 100 Ton Hopper uses. The 2-Bay's use a plastic injected mold that really makes this look like a children's toy. Don't get me wrong, with features like opening hopper bay doors, you don't have to use the plastic load, it's just it would be nicer if it was at least attached better. But it doesn't stop there. The 100 Ton Hoppers had Ball Bearing Freight Trucks with Plastic Wheels. The sprung Bettendorf Trucks on the 2-Bay's are the standard non-ball bearing trucks that most of my older equipment comes with. So rather then buying metal wheels and saving some money, AristoCraft has gone back to making money by forcing us to purchase replacment ball bearing freight trucks. In all honesty, the average G-Scaler isn't going to be willing to do that. In fact it may be a long while before I do that myself. But there is a huge redeeming feature that USA Trains always had that Aristo has begun to do. Body Mount Coupler Slots. Much like USA Trains Fashion of cutting the Coupler Arm off and mounting the body couplers on pre-drilled holes, the Aristocraft 2-Bay Hoppers has a mount on both ends with holes mounted and drilled for the acceptance of a Kadee 830 Body Mount Coupler. For those who wish to do that, can rest easy and not have to cut and drill like mad. For those who have had to do so, know what I'm talking about. Overall, despite it's flaws, it's a well produced model and would look good on any layout. Things that would have improved it usually result in the brake wheel platform being made of real etched brass. I'm sure that would have spiked even the commercial price up, but details can make all the difference. RLD Hobbies still has some of the Great Northern Hoppers in stock along with their Custom Run Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo, Canadian Pacific, and Illinois Central. Also to avoid confusion between RLD Hobbies and Aristocraft: RLD Hobbies-Great Northern Vermillion Red | Aristocraft-Great Northern Freight Car Brown. This is to avoid any confusion someone may have. I give these cars 3/5. If only a little more time was spent on the designing of the cars and they actually added ball bearing trucks with at least plastic wheels, It wouldn't cost me so much to replace them. But they do win a good number of points for the pre-built Body Mount Kadee Coupler pads.
The original Aristocraft 100 ton hopper cars in the begining did have all metal whels standard with rotating wheel bearing caps, I bought 4 of the origianl Rio Grande ones, but soon sold them for the USA Trains 70 ton hoppers. The next runs they used plastic wheels to reduce the cost of the product to be cheaper than USA Trains 70 ton hoppers but when you factor in the cost of repalcement metal wheels and the aggravation of putting them in, Aristo should have left well enough alone. Aristo still has a ways to go on truck and wheel design on thier freight cars, USA Trains now uses diecast metal trucks, with metal wheels, spinning wheel journals and metal couplers standard since the introduction of the 55ft freight cars. The new 42ft and 29ft tank cars will have the same standard features. However, I give them the thumbs up for making this one with actual working doors unlike the 2 bay covered hopper they had for years. This one is a perfect freight car for shortlines and small railroads.
