Does anyone here know of a prototypically accurate HO scale N&W late steam era caboose? So far all I’ve been able to identify are rare brass models and craftsman laser cut wood kits. Is there anything else on the market that’s at least decently accurate? Or were these too road-specific for it to be worth any manufacturer’s time? Seems like with all the nice late steam N&W locomotives around these days there would be a demand for this.
Well I think they used the standard “Eastern” center-cupola caboose during that time. The steel version of that was being built by the 1940’s. It’s based on the USRA wood caboose.
Good question. I have been trying hard to find one as well, so far no luck. Can’t figure out why because Norfolk & Western was a major railroad, you would think Walthers or Athearn would have some out…[%-)]
If you’re speaking of the American Model Builders N&W CF caboose for the laser cut wood kit, I wouldn’t pass it by. I have a couple of their other caboose kits and they go together fairly easily. Of course you do have to get the details and add them yourself but its not nearly as daunting as you would think.
Ricky
If you want an N&W steam era cabin car you will either have to go brass or a Gloor Craft/Quality Craft craftsman CF class kit or the peel & stick CF class by AMB.
The “Northeastern” car was a post NKP/Wabash car and NOT a steam era cabin behind any N&W engines.
There are models of every N&W cabin in brass, as far as I know, and several importers do the CF, CG and C-3. The Westside & Balboa cars can be purchased as low as $45 at times on ebay. I recently got a PFM C-3 on ebay for $45. That was the last series cabin used behind steam.
The GC/QC kits go together with a little skill and a lot of patience. I haven’t built an AMB kit but I’m told they are much easier. All 3 are CF models.
If you don’t want to buy brass or build one of the earlier class cabins a “reasonable” C-3 can be made using the old AHM/Rivarossi, Athearn or Atlas wide vision caboose kits and narrowing the cupola to the same width of the body. Not 100% but usable. I think I remember someone in the Walthers catalog making a replacement cupola for these cars that was body-width.
For late steam you can use any N&W cabin from CF to C-3 and be accurate.
Roger Huber
I have a N&W caboose I pull behind my Bachmann Spectrum 4-8-2. I got it about 6 months ago, its an Atlas RTR. I believe most places are now out of stock on these. I believe they are correct for the late steam period.
PS I did some research and these cabeese where built starting in 1949, so yes they would be right for the late steam era…barely.
But that doesn’t help much since his post was for a prototypical N&W steam era caboose any more than a Walthers PRR N6b or Athearn ATSF/Clinchfield style caboose would do.
Roger Huber
I believe it is Moloco that makes the replacement cupolas. Also, the new Rapido caboose has a cupola the same width as the body but not sure if it is prototypical for N&W in other areas.
Ricky
I have found that the old MDC Roundhouse 2-window steel caboose is a pretty close match for N&W’s CG steel cabooses. I have a pair that I painted and decaled.
Athearn has a RTR version, but the paint scheme is the blue one from the late sixties, after the steam era. The Atlas Trainman caboose is also a good start, I’m hoping they will offer it in N&W steam era lettering sometime.
John
Thats a very nice job. I wish Athearn had one like that.
Looks pretty close to the Atlas Trainman one to me…
http://www.atlastrainman.com/Images/HOFreight/HO%20Cabooses/0409/11259_TQ.jpg
Thanks for all the great information. I think I may give one of those American Model Builders’ kits a try. I always associated laser cut wood kits with requiring a great deal of modeling skill, but I’ve put together a few kits, and done detailing work on locos before, so I should be able to manage.
Oh, thanks, I didn’t see that one.
The logo is the new one, for the steam era pretty much didn’t have the logo, just paint it out or remove it somehow, I bought this myself. I’m looking at the laser kits also.
When BLI brought out the N&W H2 Coal Hoppers they announced a wood N&W caboose to go with the engines and hoppers but never delivered. Maybe we should contact them and get more of the hoppers and the caboose produced with enough prodding.
Rick