So many things to talk about. Yesteaday I received my new Intermountain step up (transition) coach I bought from eBay. A few things those of you should know before buying. The paint and grill work is superb, metal wheels and top interiors are great, but you would think for the price $64 on website, I did not pay that much, it would have working diaprahgms and body mounted couplers. It does not. The couplers covers are even glued to the arm. Prying will have to be used to get it off (if you wanted), and getting into the body for lighting would have to break the paint seal on the undercarriage. I do like it and I will keep it, it looks great and rolls well, but just be aware that you can get working diaphragms and correct couplers on Superliners from Walthers for much less money.
Your only choice is to purchase brass or buy these plastic models if you want a Hi Level SF train. Only you can answer the question. Are they worth it? I purchased one of the kits about five years ago before Intermountain released them as a completed car. The kit was not worth it, but the completed car probably is a good model.
They are nice models but need the window separators installed in the side glass if I remember correctly about the details on this car.
AREN’T the InterMountain cars AT&SF ‘El Capitan Hi Level’ cars, not 'Superliner cars - except for the 'step-up coach or any ‘Dormitory’ cars?
(2). ‘Assembled’ cars are just that - assembled - by you or someone else … as opposed to 'kit’s.
As for “Are they worth the money?” it DEPENDS on your comparison: For 4’X8 layouts, they are too long - as are all ‘full-length’ passenger cars;
The same ATSF cars in brass are $200 ea. and don’t come with diaphrams or windows; and the original $40 KITS, are no longer available from Train Station Product’s, but ‘SUPERLINER’ cars from Walthers are available.
If you have a train of Superliner cars with one ‘step-up’ hi-level coach, you are modelling the Western AMTRAK trains, and probably are ahead of 98% of others that do. As for the couplers, the first thing I am going to do is replace those Talgo mounts. Since Walthers, Train Station, and InterMountain aren’t going to produce the (El Capitan) hi-level Diner and Lounge. I’ll have to wait for brass @$200+ per, while you can buy Walthers’.
First off, these kits are very much still available from Train Station Products. There are even still some of the Detail Associates “Super Kits” available. Intermountain is doing the diner. As a matter of fact, the diner is currently available in Amtrak colors. The Santa Fe diner is coming out within the next couple of months.
The latest brass offerings of the Hi Level cars were from Overland at a MSRP of $499. The Coach Yard is about to release hi level cars, but I am not sure of the pricing yet. They will probably be about the same as the Overland cars if not more.
The Intermountain offering is missing the end yokes and roof grabs, which is dissappointing considering the price. I myself buy the hi level cars undec and detail them myself. You get a much better car that way. You can also get the window inserts from Train Station Products if you want to model the transition dorm/coach. I don’t believe the Intermountain actually represents the dorm. I also believe that Amtrak has retired all the Hi Level transition cars, and is using all Superliner transition equipment.
Just to add a few things about Hi Level models. The $200 cars mentioned above are/were from Soho, HCB, and Hallmark. They were pretty much garbage. Hallmark (Crown series?) did do a run of Hi Levels that were detailed much better than their first run and had glazing and all the other good stuff, as well as a better finish. The Overland cars have full interior details, diaphrams, lighting, and all the other bells and whistles. All that is available now are the lounges and diners. The transition coaches, and regular coaches are VERY hard to come by now. The Coach Yard cars should have the same level of detail and quality, if not better. The Coach Yard is not doing a lounge, at least as of right now.
Your right. It is a high level car. I miss spoke. I am using it with my Superliner cars. I will have to get American Limited or the High Tech Details diaphragms for it.
The Hi Tech diaphragms look great, don’t they. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of them. I wish I would have run across them before I started my current passenger train ('59 consolidated Super Chief/El Cap). Oh well. The American Limiteds are decent enough. I gave up on a good, solid, working diaphragm for my Hi Level cars. The Train Station Products working diaphragms are garbage in my opinion. They were a real disappointment considering that everything else they produce is top notch, especially their trucks.