What is the reason of buying brass?
They are expensive and you have to paint them. Brass companies like Overland models makes alot of train that you cannot get from other companies.
Can someone tell me why you bye brass, if you buy them, and what are the advantages of brass?
I buy brass passenger cars only. Yes, they are expensive, however, the advantage is that the cars I buy are railroad specific. The advantage is that while the detail of passenger cars has gotten better, it is expensive to produce cars specific to each railroad in plastic.
Ch
My number 1 reason?
Accurate modeling.[^] I model the Western Maryland, and while many diesels are available, most even painted for the WM, Only 1 accurate plastic steamer is available. The Bachman I-1 decapod is oh-so-close, but if you want the biger I-2, you gotta go brass. Bachman does a 2-8-0 in WM paint, but it’s too lightweight and small for a WM model. IHC does several engines lettered for WM, but every last one of them is dead wrong for the WM. Much more accurate models are avaiable in brass. My personal favorite, the WM 4-8-4 Potomac, is only available in brass.
True, brass is more expensive, but they should not be viewed as the fragile, poor running pieces of art some folks may have you believe. They are usually fairly easy to remotor with can motors and flywheels if needed. They usually have lots of space for additional weight and decoders too! Frankly, after converting lots of brass H-7s, H-8s, H-9s, I-1s, I-2s, and J-1s to DCC,(most for a friend who also models the WM) I’m more comfortable converting brass to DCC than most plastic steamers now!
I’ve said this before, brass pieces hold their value and can almost be thought of as an investment. They are railroad specific. They are super detailed and generally of higher quality than other items available. If you have the money brass is a better buy than any other model available.
Because some prototypes aren’t available in anything but brass! If you have a source for GE or Baldwin-Westinghouse steeplecab electric freight motors in plastic, or Niles interurban cars, heck, point me to 'em and I’ll buy 'em!!
Right now the only brass I own are two single-truck Birney trolley cars, which match the prototype I run. The closest thing I’ve seen in plastic was a plastic casting of a Bendigo Tramways birney, which cost more than I paid for either of my two Birneys ($80) and didn’t even include motor, trucks or trolley poles.
And yes, brass holds its value, in fact it gains considerable value over time if kept in good condition.
It’s already been said above, to add to it brass is heavier and more robust. It will also be around for a long time
Yeah, I would buy brass… if I were rich.
But if I really, really desired a locomotive that would only exist in brass, I would just kitba***he hell out of affordable stuff to make it myself!
Brass is not an option.
It may not be an option RIGHT NOW, but that doesn’t mean it will NEVER be an option–and there’s also a relatively inexpensive option, namely scratchbuilding in brass. It’s not that expensive a material and is extremely durable. There are also brass kits–MRR Warehouse is working on the tooling for a brass Baldwin-Westinghouse kit (although one that will need power and detail parts from other sources) that will cost aroun $80 but it’s easier than trying to find $400-500 Ken Kidder brass B-W’s that need repowering and added detail anyhow.
I hear you on the “kitba***he hell out of” front. All for it. But it would be nice to be able to just buy a Suydam “Niles” car…in traction even the affordable stuff is either expensive or very hard to find!
I’d buy brass if I had the money.
I buy brass for one reason: sometimes you can’t get a model of something any other way. There are many popular engines, cabooses and freight cars that will never be made in plastic because it’s not worth the investment. Most modelers have never had the skills level to build a steam engine from scratch, so we revert to buying brass.
Now, I don’t buy NEW brass, it’s too expensive (I have ONE new brass caboose, and it’s the nicest non-engine on my roster). Used brass is much more affordable, even if it does need some work.
Not all brass needs to be painted. Much of it comes factory painted in stunningly good paint jobs. And there’s a lot of non-brass out there that needs to be painted too, especially resin kits. Painting is a part if the hobby.
I’d like to have brass, but they’re way too expensive for me to afford.
I’d buy brass but the wife has problems with me spending $150 on a Proto locomotive so $400 on a used brass locomotive would probably mean divorce.
Gordon
Many HO brass locomotives are gorgeous pieces of art, however, price has always been an issue. I do regret that years ago, I had an opportunity to buy a pair beautiful brass Penn Central Metroliners from Chester Holleys in Tampa. The finish looked like real stainless steel. These are now collector’s items!
If I did see a used model of a brass locomotive that I strongly like that’s not available in plastic HO, I would strongly consider it! A Metroliner or an EP5A (if it was ever produced) would be in my “sought after” category.
One Man’s Trash
Another Man’s Treasure
BRASS? I am not used to spending huge amounts of money IN ONE TIME to my hobby, and the stuff I want to have is only available for almost double the original RSP
For that money I can buy a realsize car or a realsize motorcycle,
I only have “PLASTIC” and I am happy with it, I am now looking at cast-metal and trying to get used to prices they ask for those locomotives, for brass and brass pricing I think I still have to grow up a bit.
BTW: For the price of one locomotive, you could also build an entire lay-out,
[#ditto]
I would rather buy a car.
There is no way I would buy a brass diesel when Atlas,Athearn(Genesis) and Life Like(P2K) makes highly detailed locomotives that run as smooth as a high price brass engine.
The only brass I see worth getting would be the UP 4-12-2 offered by Key Imports (or some brass manufacturer). I saw a brass DDA40X on ebay and it was $1,500!!!
I like that hobby shop. The people are friendly.
I would like to buy brass equipment, but they’re too expensive for my budget.
Indeed. I would like a UP 9000 class. To create one, the body is relatively simple compared to many other steam locomotives, but the 12 drivers and frame would prove to be a challenge! Plus I don’t have many of the tools used to scratchbuild in brass.
Has anyone tried building a steamer from mostly styrene?