Hi Aggro,
A quick question - I have just practically spent a good two hours on your website, and am not even half way through the photo’s yet!
I have been looking at your box cars, refers etc, and am intrigued to know what make they are in general? Have your gone for really expensive models, or just blue box Athearn (or equivalent) and tarted them up to a superb degree?
Most of my box cars are Athearn BB’s and I intend to give them a good weathering - is there anything else that can be done to them to make then that little bit better?
Regards,
Stephen.
My fleet consist of mostly Athearn blue box kits. With a few Accurail, Walthers, and MDC.
SOME people here claim they have outgrown blue box or whatever. All the little inaccuracies aren’t a big deal to me. A few alterations and weathering make them awesome.
On a few of my units, I shaved off the molded on grab-irons and added metal ones. I should’ve done that to more of them, but meh…
All of them have metal wheels, Kadees, and mulitple layers of weathering.
Hi Aggro,
Thanks for the reply - I have to say I have always thought Athearn box cars are extremely good value for money. Its the same over this side of the pond, with certain groups type-casting Athearn stuff as ‘kid’s’ trains! No doubt Kaydee box cars are great but when you want to run a 40 box car train - thats a lots of ca***o splash out! Athearn and Roundhouse all the way for me!
Another point I would like to make is that is was really refreshing to see:
- A steam era American layout
- A different and interesting setting
- A layout that looks like it has been designed with the sole purpose of running trains!
I’m going to generalise here and I appologise if I offend any UK based US modellers, but all the American layouts you see at UK exhibitions (in HO scale) are all the same - a single track line, leading into a passing loop with a few siding next to a grain silo in the middle of nowhere! All of course swamped with diesels!
The single line obviously leads to limited train movements and I get very board with the same trains running around the circuit again, and again and again! AND NEVER A STEAMER IN SIGHT! If anyone knows of any steam era US layouts doing the UK exhibition circuit please let me know - I will travel to see!
My next stop however is to the art shop for some pastels to get weathering!
Regards,
Stephen.
Athearn used to be a good value. Now, if you can even find the ones you want, the price is cranked up. Since Horizon took over, everybody and their momma bought up all the good Athearns. At the LHS, and shows or whatever, the selection of body styles and paint schemes blow. Most the steam era stuff is gone, and the few remaining items are disporportionally inflated. I don’t find them for $5 or $6 anymore. Now sellers want $8-$10 for say, an 50’ steel box.