Does anyone have any experience with the Precision Scale Models HOn3 car kits? Specifically the D&RGW long cabooses. Are they complex kits that require drilling a bunch of holes or relatively easy to assemble; pre-painted or decals? The company website provides little information. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
DA,
Hmm, probably no one out there with experience with this specific kit. AFAIK, the PSC HOn3 long D&RGW caboose is a new item. I wasn’t aware of it and it seems to have popped up on their website in the last month or so.
I have built multiple other PSC kits and it’s likely very similar to their short caboose kit. It’s likely not extraordinarily complex, but it is much more than a shake the box kit. You will have to drill holes for the grabs, although there’s not a lot of them compared to a box car. But the build is pretty straightforward. The platform railings/ladder assembly will be delicate.
The kit will be mostly unpainted plastic, with the tricky part being when to paint things before final assembly in order to get the handrails, etc done easily, so will require painting. I generally pick the kit with brass trucks, because that adds some weight down low. However, Blackstone makes excellent plastic caboose trucks that are another option. It will have decals in the kit, but that’s relatively simple due to the small number of them that need applied compared to most rolling stock. You also supply the couplers.
So this kit may sound a little intimidating, based on your question. But I would still say give it a try, as PSC kits are good ones to learn on if you want to improve your skill-set.
Hi Yes I have built many of there kits. And as mlehman said it is somwhat complex I have built the short and am building the long one now. As said the railings on the end and laders. are trickey to remove from the sprues. I think the plastic would be easer than the brass ones but the brass are more substanel. sorry about speling Never could spell. Or type to well for that matter Roy
A belated thank you for your comments. I did buy the kit, with the brass trucks, and will give it a try. I’ve been model railroading off and on for nearly five decades but have generally steered clear of “flat” kits, Guess it’s time I learned something new. da fox in cold Wyoming
Thanks. Kit is on my desk just waiting for me to get to it. da fox
da fox,
Great! Keep us posted, just ask if there are any questions.
The trickiest thing with the caboose kits for me is painting things in the best order, with the windows glazing and contrasting handrails colors. The short caboose kits were somewhat hazy on when to paint. Best to read through the instructions, think about which way fits your skill set and tools best, then work from there.
A good pair of sprue nippers is very handy. Using a knife blade to cut parts loose may break the smaller ones.
Typically, you want to find the specific caboose pics that match your kit. I have some references here, so ask you can’t find suitable pics.