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Walthers HO scale El Capitan cars
The comparison of the “stainless steel” finishes on these models and others Walthers has done quite recently is helpful. Thanks.
Having recently purchased the El Capitan train set, I believe your product review about the train will be very helpful when I install additional passengers and lighting in tow of my dark cars. Thanks guys!
The cars are beautifully done…makes a striking train. The cars track well - far superior to other iterations of the hi-level cars sold by Train Station Products.
The article does not go into detail as to how to remove the roof to install passengers and light bar. I called Walthers when the cars first came out and one guy told me it took him 45 minutes to remove the roof. He said you need to remove the sides first before the roof will come off. Oliver Zoffi’s description and photos help , but the English translation leaves me wondering!
Definitly those cars are wonderfull made, like the others made by Whalters, BUT I regret not to be able to buy cars ready with lights, too difficult for me to open them. I already broke 2. Others problems: on the sky dome and the baggage dormitory the small ladders are too close from the trucks, and mka difficult the turn of the cars.
Hello, I have described here: http://zoffi.net/MOBAZI/umbauten/ElCapitan/elcapitan.htm
the digital conversion of F3 units and the opening and lighting of the cars. The description is in German, but you can use the translation button at the bottom of the page.
my most important knowledge in opening and assembly the cars ia, remove the side panels as well, then the roof can be put back easily and blends seamlessly with the side panels.
Reminds me of the summer of 1959 when I was working for Santa Fe on a bluff above the track in Cajon Pass. As the two sections of the Super Chief and El Capitan would come by about 3:30 in the afternoon, the passengers in the dome cars would swivel their heads in unison to look at the native homosapian up there with his shirt off, driving stakes, or just enjoying the view of those magnificent trains as they passed. If we were working close to the track, a person would want to get back some distance away from the passing passenger train, because a toilet could be flushed at any time and you could be hit with debris from that event.
Looks like a wonderful model! I have the Warbonnet Diesels to pull them, but having the 24" radius curves to run them on is another matter. Thanks to Walthers for giving an old railroader some happy memories!!
I hope that someone at Walthers eventually figures out that their roof tab system is the worst in the entire industry! These cars were a design from scratch and an opportunity to make a product that modelers could actually open to add lighting without breaking and again they failed to make any improvement. If anything these are even worse than their old streamline cars. There is no way they should continue to get the same price for their cars as Rapido or BLI until they start including lighting and provide easy interior access like everyone else!
At least they have improved the wheelsets. Now they are somewhat free rolling from the factory.
Rating is a 2 because they improved the wheelsets and the finish.
They really deserve a 1 for not getting rid of the roof tab system and having a retail on an unlighted car that is more than better designed, better detailed, and lighted models from everyone else!
The new “plated” El Capitan cars are fantastic!
I just installed the new Walthers lighting kit in the first of seven cars. Your article and picture was very helpful in getting the upper level window assembly off. Its very important to take off the end where the circuit board will be installed (look at your car drawing to see which side needs to be removed). You don’t need to take off the other side. Also, after installing the lighting kit, be sure to test out that the lights work before closing up the top. I put my car on the track with the top next to it and wouldn’t you know it, it didn’t light. I was sure glad that I didn’t have to take the top off again. It turned out that the spring contacts weren’t making good contact with the lighting pc board. I bent them up slightly and everything worked fine. The lights really look great, and it looks like Walthers came up with a good design.