Again, I have to say that I am very impressed with Accurail’s kits. I’m in the process of finishing a twofer kit of D&RGW Stock cars. I think everything on these kits is exactly right (for me)! True, if closer than 2 feet from the model, you will see that there is molded on details and maybe the car is not exactly like the D&RGW prototype. The truth is, all that separately applied detail, when viewed from my normal viewing position simply is not visible, so, for me this car is exactly what I want for my railroad!
I’m so glad that Accurail is committed to providing those of us who want to build freight car kits with the products we want.
I have no problem with those of you who feel that more prototypical freight cars with all the bells and whistles is what you need. It’s a great and diverse hobby, so do whatever floats your boat!
I have to agree!
I just stocked up on some grain hopper kits for a project, & those also offer a nice platform for weathering experiments, & are nicely done.
Accurail is kind enough to offer these kits & all the way up to very detailed models, a very nice line-up, to fit any style one would choose.
Thank you Accurail!!!
Please keep the great products at every level coming down the rails!!
So am I and I had so much enjoyment building this kit I plan on ordering several more kits.
The truth is, all that separately applied detail, when viewed from my normal viewing position simply is not visible, so, for me this car is exactly what I want for my railroad!
You’ll get no argument from me there.I’ve notice that before but,I’m still impress with the detail on the modern cars.
However…
I’m thinking of changing eras and these Accurail cars will fill my needs quite nicely since I’ll be needing 50/60 era 40-50 cars.No need for high dollar detailed RTR 40 or 50 foot cars.
I really like the fact that they have decals available to renumber specific cars. This is especially handy for building up a fleet of cars. When Accurail produces a car of the right era for my Northern Pacific, I buy 'em by the dozen. I’ve found that the internet dealers have a wide selection of older foreign road Accurail kits. The Accurail cars are not going to be my “photo props” for close-ups, but they are quite reasonable for those trying to populate a model railroad with hundreds of cars. I do replace the couplers with Kadees and the wheels with Intermountain wheel sets. I enjoy building ‘craftsman’ kits, but I can’t afford the time to build them by the dozen, because I’ve got a railroad to build.
Since I only tend to go for the highly detailed (on my layout it is almost all within two feet) most of their offerings don’t cut it (era is to 1940), but I do have a lot of their OB boxcars as these cars because of their look with all kinds of external detail, it is hard to notice that they don’t have the grab iron detail or thin stirrups.
I too think Accurail car kits are great, and I have quite a few of them, along with a 40 year collection of Athearn BB kits, Roundhouse kits, TrainMinature kits, etc.
While I also have more detailed cars - built from kits and RTR, I would never consider retiring, replacing or disposing of any of these other models.
Especially since Athearn blue box kits are no longer produced, and other brands such as Intermountain, Proto 2000, E&C/LBF/Hubert are gone or have cut back, Accurail fills a niche now that is needed. Rising costs of the HQ RTR products and the lack of other items, Accurail may have a solid place in todays MR market. Hopefully they are maintaining a healthy sales due to this.
Accurail kits are some of my absolute favorite rolling stock - especially their 6- and 8-panel wood boxcars.
I would encourage you all to take the time to individually send your praises directly to Accurail via e-mail. They have always been responsive to my e-mails and they VERY much apprecitate the kind words. Companies like this should be supported as much as possible; whether financially, verbally, or both.
They’re terrific kits, especially for we steam-era modelers. I’ve got a relatively sizeable fleet (15 or so) of their Rio Grande stock-cars, and they’re one of the few manufacturers who are doing Rio Grande boxcar kits that AREN’T the ubiquitous “Cookie” box, LOL!
Here’s one of my 2-8-0’s doing a little switching of a few Accurail stock cars at the cattle pens at Wagon
Wheel Gap.
It’s true, much of what Accurail offers is Steam or Steam/Diesel transition. So for me, a 70’s and 80’s modeler, only the kits which are “later” of their line would be good for me.
As far as the Cookie Boxes go, so far I have opted not to buy any because AFAIK, there are no correct 40’ Cookie Box cars in plastic. It looks like according to Jim Eagers Color Guide book they were all built by Pressed Steel in the mid 40’s. The examples in the book were painted silver and had a straight side sill, and were still in use during the mid-1960’s. There were 50’ orange (with black stripe) painted box cars built by North American in 1967 to replace the silver Cookie box cars which carried Keebler cookies, so I’d guess by the late 60’s the 40’ footers were being retired. The North American box cars shown in Jim Eagers book have been made in HO by Athearn Genesis, but I haven’t seen any with the wide door painted for orange Rio Grande. If anyone did offer a correct cookie box, I’d probably get a couple for mid to late 1960’s running.
I have to agree with the consensus of opinion regarding the Accurail Kits. I have bought RTR if that is the only way to get a particular car and also have assembled some of the more “craftsman” kits.
To my mind, even though I miss the Athearn BB, that while the Accurail kits are still being produced then "the sky isn’t falling down " on this hobby.
Two stock cars I’ve recently assembled , just picked up another Two pack. Still got to decal them for my RR, then weather them.
I feel sorry for you guys who model more modern times and can’t use Accurails Outside braced, Wood 40 foot box cars which are sort of the staple of my transition era freight car fleet. The subtle wood grain on the boards these cars are built from is something to behold! Even the lumber used in the floors as viewed from underneath has grain and this will never be seen by anyone other than the builder, unless you model a train wreck.
Accurails offerings are reasonably priced; so, in my opinion this makes them absolutely the best supplier there is, for HO scale freight cars. I also replace the wheels with metal wheels sets (Life Like P2K) and I use only Kadee couplers. ( I never had very good luck with Accumate, McHenry or some of the other Kadee look alikes).
I also agree and have sent praise to Accurail for their staying with kits and the quality of their products and always recieved appreciation for having done so!
Jabear, I agree, if freight kits go away, this hobby will have lost it’s attraction for me and I will find something else to do with my time!
