I need some passenger cars for my model railroad. I found La Belle car kits while researching a possible future layout. I like the small size of the cars and think it would be fun to try something new, as the only kits I have ever assembled have been bowser freight cars. However, I have a few questions before I spend $80 on two cars:
How hard are they to assemble, especially for someone who has never done anything of the sort? Are they challenging in a fun way, or are they super hard to the point of being tedious?
How exactly are they assembled? Is there any cutting involved, or are all the parts precut?
How long does it take to build a car?
Finally, Is it worth all the work to build the kits versus settling for something easier to build or ready to run?
While I have never built a LaBelle passenger car, I have built several HOn3 LaBelle freight cars. They are fun kits to build, but they require a bit of patience. The instructions are written well, but you will need to take your time and make sure you have a prototype photo available to help see where everything goes.
You will need to measure and cut some. To me, that is part of the fun! Make sure you have a metal scale ruler and I also use a single edge razor blade for most of my cutting.
I think the kits are worth the money, because they provide me with hours of entertainment, both in the building and the running. I also know that very few other modelers have what I have. I worked on each car for about a week each, a few hours at a time. I’m not sure the total hours to build each car…I just keep building and adding details 'til I’m finished!
If you have never tried building a wood kit before, my personal opinion would be that you start with something simpler, a boxcar perhaps.
But it might help you decide if you look at some typical directions. I don’t know which kits you are thinking about, but the HOSeeker website has some of the directions available for you to view. Here are links to two instruction pages for a 1905 coach:
I’m pretty sure that LaBelle still produces, so it’s possible that the kits have become easier. But they probably will still be challenging to a first-timer.
I built one of the combines (HO-2) back when they came out. I loved the kit. I thought it was very well designed.
I don’t think I’d call the car I did “difficult”. You just do what the instructions say. My recollection is that rounding the ends of the roof was the hardest part; but, really, using one’s grown-up-patience (I was about 20 years old–a mere sprout) and common sense will lick that problem. I ABSOLUTELY recommend using sanding sealer. You should probably only seal the sides of the wood that show, as the glue (see below) has to soak into the wood. I just put the car together (see “sprout” comment) in a hurry–now it’s all painted and it’s a bit late to fix that lack. It coulda looked a lot better.
Glue: I’d use “yellow” glue. Mostly, anyway.
The sides build up in layers. That’s why you should seal as you go. Later, it’s pretty tough to get down inside with sandpaper.
I’d be totally willing to build TWO of the cars. Much more, and maybe the fun part starts evaporating.
How long? Quite awhile, if you do it right. And you really should. They deserve it. In plastic, the only thing that comes close to looking as good as the LaBelle are the Athearn/Roundhouse FULL-LENGTH woodies. The short ones by pretty much everyone are pretty crude.
Precut-ness? I don’t recall. I think a lot of the major parts were.
Anyway, “Is it worth it?” It’ll be a good bit of work. Nothing difficult, but time consuming and fiddly. The completed cars will most likely (if you do your part) be better looking than anything else except perhaps brass (another possibility, if you can find it, and if you can afford it). The good news is that you only want two. Very doable. That was/is my plan, as I wanted a coach to go with my combine.
I think I’d recommend picking up one of LaBelle’s freight cars first. &nbs
I just went to the LaBelle website, so they must still be producing. They’ve got the directions for the kits online, so you can check out the assembly method.
First, let me note that I used microscope cover slides for the windows. They look great. The interior was painted grey. I used seats from wherever. The inside is really not highly detailed–just sorta looks OK. But back then, not too many people did interiors at all.
The lights are grain-of wheat stuck on the ceiling. You can see them through the open clerestory windows. Yeah, that’s not authentic looking from the side; but that’s what I did. I wanted the light inside to be from the ceiling, so there was little choice. Now, I think it might have been a good idea to put a couple of lengthwise strips of metal next to the bulbs so you couldn’t see them through the windows. I put them underneath each of the roof mounted vents–those are for the gas lights. So, they were at least in the right location. I didn’t put any in the baggage section. I used the trucks for pickup and ran wires accordingly through the baggage section. That would be a good place to put a capacitor to minimize flicker–I didn’t do that. If I ever get that car out and “fix it up”, maybe I’ll add one.
I doubt I’d put lights in now. As I said, these cars probably wouldn’t run much at night, anyway.
To be honest I haven’t done a LaBelle kit, but I’m pretty sure they are about the same as the Northeastern wood car kits. How hard are they? Not too bad. I built a Northeastern 60 foot coach back when I was in grade school, it came out OK, and I’ve built others since. They ought to come with the windows precut into the sides, but a lot of strip wood needing to be cut to length for window frames, trim, belt rails and such.
Ask yourself if you like building kits. Many of us do, and some of us don’t. Kit building, for those of us that enjoy it, is fun, and you get satisfaction from doing a good neat job of assembly and painting. You only need a good sharp Xacto knife (fresh blades to keep it sharp) and some sandpaper. Working just evenings, an hour or so per evening, it might take a week or two to get the car together. Look at it as a week or two of enjoyable modeling. If that
I have about 4-6 of the La Belle passenger car kits in HOn3. I looked at a couple of them & was very impressed. (as I was glad it was not ‘just-o-box’ of wood!) As a former scale model RC airplane builder, I think wood kits are great! To me wood kits let me excercize all the tips I’ve enjoyed from the ‘New Yankee Workshop’ & other PBS craftsman shows. However, I have not built my La Belle kits as of yet, as I am practicing my skills on some AMB cabeese, & box car depots, & some JV Models flats, & Durango Press kits. All are very neat & make very nice finished products. However, one must be very patient, & plan ahead, if not it may show, remember, it should not be on a schedule (that way leads to madness!). As far as tools I really enjoy & stand by using very high quality chisels, yes Chisels! I use my 1/4 inch one the most, & a 1/2 for panel trimming, (both in cutting plastic & wood) in my opinion they are indespensible. Learn how to properly stone them & keep them sharp.
In all, I would suggest getting a few laser kits, & then progress to the more advanced ‘craftsman’ kits. A little learning really does go a long way towards a nice model.
I built my cars over 40 years ago, long before this service was available. I did okay on the first try, so I’d say it’s unnecessary, but if you mess up, I’m sure they’ll send a replacement (for a price, probably).
I used Central Valley trucks, which are no longer made. Try ebay. Couplers are Kadee #5.
My former layout date for the 1900 era, and I assembled both LaBelle and Northeastern car kits. LaBelle was the better of the two because the clearstory roofs were open inside. Northeastern roofs were solid.
The kits, of course, are “craftsman kits”. They are not too difficult as long as you use the proper tools with sharp blades and work slowly with care. You need to provide trucks, couplers, and interiors.
You can modify the cars if you like. I recall changing the window arrangements for example. Also, I changed two of the cars from enclosed vestibule to open platform.
I think I would choose them in descending order–try to find the Walthers ones or wait for them to be re-issued.
And then there’s the Central Valley, if you can find them. That’s what I used. I would recommend their T-25 first, then their T-31. If you can find them.
And, being only slight weird, you could use Pennsy trucks:
It might be neat to run the olive green version under your car. Or you could paint the car yellow and use the tuscan trucks–I’ve seen a real car like that–not bad!
Hi I have built three of their HO scale traction kits. They are craftsman kits so like others have said start yourself out on a few laser cut kits to get your feet wet. Use care with the glueing and painting. To much 'wet" on the bodies from either glue or paint can cause warpage issues.
To answer your question about teh roof rounding service.I’s say if you think you may be unsure about doing it pay for the service.Theyw ill replace a part you mess up but teher will be a charge,been there done that ,got a new part ( which I had them shape ) and I’ve used their shapping service since.I’m happy with their stuff really is top quality,you just can’t rush it.
My Goldfield & Hangtown RR is of the 1890-1915 era: I have built one of every LaBelle passenger car kit offered. They are as close to scratch-building as you can get in a box. Once you have built one, you can buy “scratch” at your local hobby shop and build more without the expense of a kit, using the well-done plans. Be careful about diaphragms between cars, use of long-shank Kadee coupler is advisable, so the diaphragms dont “hook” on curves. I have a supply of Central Valley trucks, (no longer made) that I use exclusively. These kits are an excellent lead-in to scratch-building cars.
I read about your layout in model railroader and it is spectacular! Congrats! I am very inspired by it and in my opinion it is one of the best I have seen in the magazine. That was actually where I found the name La Belle.