[video=youtube;VS6Dw0dWays]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS6Dw0dWays[/video] Available at www.esmc.com.
Info on the history and proto photos are near the bottom of this page on building the kit. (waiting on one to be delivered) http://www.esmc.com/extra/instr/6001/6001instr.html
$45 for a kit such as this seems reasonable. It is an accurate recreation of a distinctive, but limited prototype. ESM has used top quality materials and I expect that they fit together flawlessly. Plus, it is made in the US, which ads to the cost. It seems like people want goods produced in the US, but don't want to pay for them. I doubt that Bryan is getting rich on this model by inflating his profit margin, and he has undoubtedly tried to keeps costs down. I applaud his efforts at producing this distinctive model. Best wishes, Dave
You guys are right, $45 and it's a kit. Of a unique caboose specific to a unique railroad that is not modeled by enough people to warrant it to be mass produced and sell for $23. So the choice here is simple if you model the Lackawanna. Scratch build one yourself (Time+ materials+ paint +decals+ more time etc.)or let someone else design and produce all the parts and send them in a neat package so you can build it yourself. $45 is cheap for the pile of parts to build this unique car. If I didn't model the Lackawanna, I would say " Yikes that's gonna cost those Lackawanna modelers a bunch!" But I don't need a bunch, just 1. Plus It's a hobby, and I enjoy building kits of all sorts so for MY hobby $$ it's a great deal. $ 45 , several hours of enjoyment and I get something unique. Did I mention it was unique? If they can make a few bucks at that price for all these cool parts, I'm in. We need more stuff like this for different unique railroads. I'll post pictures when I finish it.
Actually, I'd rather spend 45 bucks for a kit than the same amount for a pop it out of the box job. But that's me. It's much easier to make any modifications or paint and weather during assembly. Plus I get more enjoyment from my hobby dollar building something. I wish I could justify one of these on my layout, but it just won't work. Bob
Looks like a nice kit and very reasonably priced for a rare, otherwise unavailable model. If such a kit modeling the Minneapolis & St Louis Railroad were available I would buy four.
If you think 45 is alot for a plastic kit, you should see the prices for plastic models are.. It's not bad for something made in the USA that only a few modelers will want. Heck, the resin F45's that were put out a few years ago were double and you still needed a power chassis. But it's like anything else, you want one, it's not an issue.
It is not 'plastic' but actually a resin kit. The ESM website states it has, "...polyurethane resin body, roofs and floor/underframe...". But as someone once said, "if you want one then the price doesn't matter and if you don't want one then the price still doesn't matter". I think he was talking about Cadillacs at the time but the saying fits. The corrollary is, "It is only when you want one and can't afford it that the price matters."
Calm down. It's a REALLY nice hack. Would love one, but out of MY price range right now. I'm in a bit of a bind right now. A few years ago, I would've ordered one right away. Yes, like it's made in USA. Would like to support that, can't right now. Joe D
Sorry Joe, I'm calm now. It's just that anytime a specific Lackawanna (not E-L) item comes to market, I get all excited !!! I'm so used to making do or scratch building that I can't believe it when I get something, kit or otherwise. There isn't a whole lot of Lackawanna N-Scalers out there. It understand the Bind thing, but I had some $$ left in my PayPal account from some recent sales. I have to be more careful spending myself, but if I HAVE to sell an organ.
Well, I DO have two kidneys, and half a brain for the market!!! Thank you for the laugh. I might have to just break down, and buy. Love the old NE roads. And I love hacks. Joe D
Ordered mine on Friday, got it in today's mail. I think I'm going to need some better eyes to get all the detail parts installed. Looks like the kit is worth the money. Anybody know a paint match for EL spartan red or a mix ratio for Pollyscale?
Way to go, Joe! I got mine today. It looks good. Nice casting with minimal flash. I won't be able to start building it right away as my hobby desk had to be put away for a few days. My Daughter came to visit for a week with the twins. 18mo and full of energy and too fast for an old f**t like me. We have to use my "office" as a bedroom, so I figured it was safer for everyone involved if I packed my stuff out. It'll give me a chance to reorganize and actually clean it off. Can't wait to get started. I'm going to work on putting working marker lights on it.
Bob, That's an oversight on our part on not putting suggested colors in the instructions, which will be rectified in the next few hours. To answer specifically - we suggest Polly Scale #411263 Pacemaker Red for the Spartan Red scheme.
