I was in a hurry at the time, so I missed the out of stock tingie’.
I did check my LHS and He did have one six months ago…but that’s it. He knew exactly what I was talking about. I looked for it on many other places and no one has it or did and are out of stock and new stock is unknown. I did ask my good friend at the LHS about getting in touch with the MFG. and He said, I would be wasting my time and He was right…could not reach them. Very small outfit started in 1975 by a few guy’s, that 's all I could find out. I’ll keep trying, when I can.
Good Luck!
Take Care! [:D]
Frank
BTW: I’ll put a note in My E-bay account and see if I get any hits.
Edit: Just checked e-bay…they have #503,504, no 501. left a note.
You might try calling Jack Hawkins at Hawkins Rail Service in Lafayette, IN; (765) 742-5577. He has a huge inventory of detail parts. From memory, his email address is jack@hawkinsrailservice.com. Good luck.
Tichy makes brake gear for freight cars - K, split K, and AB types, and lots of other interesting stuff for boxcars, including wood and steel doors, various Murphy ends, etc., etc. You can also buy from them directly: tichytraingroup
Here’s a re-worked Athearn Blue Box boxcar, with Tichy 5/5/5 Murphy ends, and Tichy doors and ladders. I lowered the eaves by about 6"HO, then replaced the roof with a Viking roof from Des Plaines Hobbies.
I used the Central Valley floors and underframes for the eight cars done, then mounted them on Proto National B-1 trucks.
This is a Tichy boxcar, with Tichy AB brake details:
Little up-date…called Jack at Hawkins Rail Services and He checked for Me…no go…He has #500 which is for a caboose and #504 which is a tank car I believe. He said that Detail Associates Inc. is still in business though, but it’s unknown if He will get anymore. I can not reach Detail associates…will try still if I can. Jack has My number, should He come up with any.
…it appears to contain wheelsets, brake gear details for both the car end and underbody, and some ladders. The rest of the contents aren’t discernable. The ladders and brake parts appear to be Tichy, and you can view their entire catalogue here:
The easiest upgrade to make for Athearn boxcars is to replace the cast-on sill steps with ones from A-Line and replace the grabirons with wire ones from Tichy or homemade versions of the same using, repectively, flat brass bar from D.A. and .012" phosphor bronze wire from Tichy.
However, the most significant change, and one which will improve the appearance markedly, would be to replace the oversize doortracks and the “working” doors with properly placed ones more to scale.
I just spent over two hours…still looking for all the parts that came in the #501 kit and Wayne is about right, but I think the kit came with roof walks also. As far as where and how to put all the brake detail, Like I said in My E-mail, in the manual that You are waiting for, are diagrams of box cars, tank cars etc. showing You the placement of the brake rigging, grabs, ladders and so forth for alot of rolling stock and also the parts & numbers of, Cal Scale, Tichy and I believe another. You should be able to super-detail most any piece of rolling stock, with the diagrams provided in that Manual. You’re going to be amazed, at what is in that Manual…I was. LOL
BTW: I ordered the DA #503 for Tank Cars, just to see all the parts that it entails, there are many in the kit, along with a few other items from E-bay, a lot of etched brass parts in the kit.
Monday, I am going to try to get in touch with Detail Associates again. I’ll let You know. They are still supposed to be in business, since the founder passed away, but that is all I know. Last time I tried…no one answered the phone and no response from E-mail.
Take Care, talk to Yah’. [:D]
Frank
EDIT: Anyone interested: The Manual I am referring to in the text…is a Bowser Parts and Repair Manual 16th Edition, that I thought only had things for Loco’s, but it has much more in it, than I thought. You have a better chance of getting one, if interested by calling them.
The seller had 13 of those kits available for sale, so you might contact him to see if he can source another kit for you. T-J Model Trains is extremely active as an eBay seller, so there is at least a decent chance that he can find the kit for you. Worth a try. And, keep checking eBay for future sales of the parts kit.
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been searching high and low for that item…the part # matches…so we will see…cause I just ordered it.
Brent,
If You get this msg. I will send You a E-mail later. Run into same problem as before, with shipping to You, will advise. Should be the one…If not…I will eat it…the $$$, that is. LOL.
No…the Toy Train link. Brent already got the Msg. I’ll call them tomorrow and see if it’s the correct one…if it is…He wants two. It’s a discontinued item…hopefully it is the correct one. If not…the one I ordered…I’ll send to Him anyway…Free. That’s good customer relations. LOL.
