I am looking for some HO covered hoppers labeled for the New York Central. Kits will be more cost effective than RTR.
After searching through the 'Net, I found that Wholesale Trains has a good price for the Bower kits, about $10.00 each but searching the archives here, I see a not to good response to questions about this company.
Greenway has the kits for about $12.00. I could not compare shipping prices.
I can get three different numbered cars at both companies.
Any ol’ NYC covered hoppers? These cars are very era and commodity specific. You need to be more specific, like “who makes a good HO-scale covered hopper suitable for hauling cement in 1950?” or “… for hauling grain in 2004.”
I’m not sure about this information but I’ve assembled several Bowser kits (hoppers and boxcars) and found them to be a reasonable value for the price. They are not super detailed and have trucks with plastic wheels but for the money I think they are a good addition to my layout. I’ve replaced the wheelsets with metal ones and added KD couplers and they run fine a look good. I will agree that they don’t have all the detail that some higher priced models have but they are about half the price.
I am thinking the same for the Bowser. I saw their weathered kits at a show but they are pricey. I can do that myself after building a kit and, are more of a challenge. I usually install all metal wheels anyway and Kadee couplers. There are covered hoppers at higher prices and greater detail but I am not a rivet counter and the Bowser detail is ok with me. I would like to have a string of these for a couple Bowser/Stewart VO-1000 locos I an sound equipping.
I have looked at some Walther’s covered hoppers also.
I am not interested in the commodity, only the NYC labeling. My way.
I found quite a selection of hoppers at Blue Ridge Hobbies but have had poor service there over two years ago.
I went to the Athearn site and all the covered HO hoppers are sold out, besides there were no NYC. I did find one green NYC covered hopper on ebay but I am looking more for the grey type cars.
River City RR still sells the 54’ Roundhouse covered hopper kits but no NYC. Too much trouble to strip and repaint.
Bachmann does have three NYC covered hoppers.
I will have to look at Atlas. They might have some.
If you’re looking for 2-bay covered hoppers (e.g. for cement), try looking for old Roundhouse kits on eBay or elsewhere. I bought a 2-bay ACF covered hopper kit by Front Range Models, which is now out of business, I think. That kit wasn’t anything to write home about.
Walthers and Atlas’ Trainman line have RTR 2-bay covered hoppers for reasonable prices. Check walthers.com or toytrainheaven.com for pricing.
If you’re looking for 3-bay covered hoppers (e.g. for grain), try Accurail kits. You may also be able to find old Athearn Blue Box kits. Life-Like / Walthers also made kits in the Proto 1000 or 2000 line a few years back; they are pretty decent models.
I am quite sure I am going with the Bowser kits. $10.00 to 12.00 each is ok with me. All metal wheels and Kadee couplers are quite cheap with the places I buy from. Athearn and Atlas RTR are quite pricey.
I did pick up two covered Roundhouse RTR NYC hoppers in excellent condition for $10.00 each at a show nearby but no show until Jan 2011. Both had metal wheels and Kadee couplers.
Rich I have around 20 Bachmann Silver Series cars and I do like them. Of the 20 I have 4 of there covered hoppers and would take them of Athearn RTR cars! If you try them, you will need Kadee 148’s.