its really a shame that athearn is not going to produce any of the mdc passenger cars as kits, especially undecorated ones. will make it hard for me to get any mdc 50’ pullman overland cars. right now my only alternative is purchasing some of model power’s 48 wood coaches and couple of baggage cars. that or pray i find some undecorated mdc 50 foot and 60 foot passenger cars at the huge model train flea market at MSU in east lansing, michigan on november 12, 2006. Athearn not producing undecorated kits is another reason i won’t be placing orders with them ever more. if only walthers would bring back their short lived 60 foot passenger cars.
It’s time for you to experience the joys of Ebay. I just picked up 10 of the 50’ Overland cars and 16 of the Pullman Palace cars, all for less than $5 apiece. Yes, they were decorated, but a little soak in 90% iropropyl alcohol takes care of that problem.
I agree that it’s a shame that Athearn is releasing the old Roundhouse like as RTR only, but what ya gonna do? RTR is where they’re making the most profits, so RTR is what they’re going to sell.
jrinnorthcountry63,
You might try www.buynscale.com or www.trainworld.com as both co’s may carry some older version of the MDC coaches. Keep in mind that when Athearn aquired MDC most of the original dies used in the making of the kits were discarded, sold or dismantled for various reasons. But anyway, don’t give up and good luck. If I can be of any assistance please let me know.
Regards -
orsonroy and tln1870 thank you for the input on mdc passenger cars. i would try ebay but have no credit cards. will try some of the discount model trains dealers like trainworld. if that fails i will look for some cars at the enormous model train flea market at michigan state university november 12th. i know rtr trains make more money, but i think in some ways athearn will loose lots of former would be customers like me. only way i will buy any of their stuff is a flea market. i will stick with companies like accurail, walthers, and bowser that still offer cars in kit form
I agree with you that I would love to see the return of more kits - especially the ones that work for my era! And in my case, that includes the Overland and Overton series from Athearn/Roundhouse.
For a change of pace - try an F&C or a Labelle kit for passenger cars. A chance to raise your skills, and quite possibly the detail level of your cars. The outcome certainly won’t be mistaken for an everyday plastic RTR. No, you won’t find them at every LHS, but they can be ordered direct or from good hobby shops.
Most eBay sellers will take Post Office money orders (many prefer them due to PayPal fees), so you don’t have to have a credit card.
yours in kit building
Fred W
Chief Engineer, wiper, and jack of all trades for the
Picture Gorge and Western Railway
in foggy coastal Oregon where’s it always 1900
how is easy is it to put together say a passenger car from F&C? i have not even tried a craft trains kit from them like that. depending on the length of the kits i might have to keep searching for some shorty passenger cars online and at flea markets