Keith wrote: > Since I still have to plan and build a layout, I am reluctant to > start ordering kits such as the Kaslo Budd cars and the CNR caboose. > Are these kits time consuming and tedious to build? I've never built > a kit from any supplier. I see so many old kits for sale on ebay, I > wonder how many actually get turned into finished models. I don't > want to buy something that will be sitting in a box 5 years from now.
Keith et al -- Most of us acquire some rolling stock before beginning to build a layout. And most of us in S have learned over the years that when a product comes along that fits our requiremenrts, we'd better buy it. If we don't, it may no longer be available when we can actually use it, or -- worse yet -- it may never have been produced for lack of the required number of orders. Anyone who plans and then builds a layout first, before acquiring rolling stock to run on it, must be very well disciplined indeed! (And without a loco, a short freight car, and a long passenger car, how will you test portions as you build wiring and trackwork?) Regarding kits -- They are all time-consuming. American Models plastic kits (do they still put out kits?) are the easiest, taking only an hour or less. Pacific Rail Shops plastic kits take an evening or more. The older rolling-stock wood kits are two- or three-evening jobs. An old SSL&S brass loco kit will take a year or so. But hey -- While you are pondering what sort of layout to design and build, why not get your feet wet with a kit? There are plenty of people on this e-list who can help you through whatever one you choose. Maybe try a small laser-cut wood structure kit first -- These are easy and go together without much fuss. Banta, PBL, and BTS come to mind as suppliers of a wide variety of laser kits, including some very basic ones -- outhouses, handcar sheds, "company houses," etc. As to the "aging" of kits -- I started building kits when I was twelve. I am now approaching 66. I still have several kits that have sat on the shelf for 50 years. But I am working off my stash, finally getting around to them. My latest locomotive project utilizes a boiler and cab that was built while I was a college student. On the other hand, I also take Pacific Rail Shops kits with me when my wife and I spend a week at the ocean. Last June I built five of these in a week, all of which were in my stash for less than two years. I must admit that I have laid in a fair supply of "stuff" over the decades, like small tools, drill bits, taps, "scratch" supplies, couplers, trucks, adhesives, paint, etc., etc, so I can pretty much find everything I need for a project in my basement, without having to go to the hobby shop very often. But when something comes along that I really know I want, I buy it. I want ICC 103 tank cars, so I have a few S Scale America tank car kits, some of which I have converted and assembled. I wanted an Alco DL109, so when Tom Hodgson came out with his DL109 hirail conversion kit last year, I bought one from Alan Evans and put it on an Omnicon Alco chassis that I was able to scare up from Alan. And -- finally -- I want Budd passenger cars, full length. I will be a happy customer of whomever comes out with these first. Dick Karnes Change your membership, change your message settings, use our CALENDAR, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
