From: "Dennis Hultay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >American Models still has some "Scale" (painted) Empire State Express Locos in stock with (painted but short 74') Passenger cars. <snip> Is there any chance a better one is "in the works" <snip> See on some websites list of 85' aluminum kits. Are these still available in various cars? What is the quality? Again what are chances of generic 85' plastic ones showing up in future.
Hello Dennis... I will take a whack at answering your questions about full scale length Budd passenger cars. You have correctly stated that the American Model's product is too short at 74'. This is an advantage for those with sharp curves, but a disadvantage for those who desire true realism. Your question regarding extruded aluminum kits of 85' Budd cars can be answered by understanding that these kits were generally made in the 1960's (give or take a few years) and are rather crude by today's standards of fidelity and detailing. You probably would not be happy with them. You asked if some other Budd cars might show up in the near future. An excellent question, I might add. Here is the skinny on that: A Canadian company, Kaslo Shops Distributing, has announced an entire 9-car train of S scale NYC full scale length Budd cars in kit form. The specific train being offered is the NEW ENGLAND STATES which ran from Boston to Chicago in the late 1940s and early 50s. This train started it's prototype life with a brand new set of perfectly matched Budd cars, although in later years the consist became quite mixed. The one-piece body will be a resin casting with numerous details to be attached by the modeler. Full interior detailing, full underbody detailing, etc., etc. Kaslo has even hinted at cutlery for the dining car. I don't know if the scrambled eggs will also be included. This is not a generic train, but an exact replica of a well known name train made directly from Budd blueprints, photos and the like. More details upon request directly from Kaslo Shops Distributing. Note that you can order a complete train and receive a slight discount or you can order just a car or two if that is what you prefer. The choice is yours. Kaslo's standard operating procedure is to announce a project, wait for sufficient reservations, then request a 25% down payment (to pay for tooling), manufacture the product, then request the 75% balance when the product is almost ready to ship, and then ship the product. In this case, due to the overall size and complexity of the project, it is most likely the train will be shipped in sections so that the customer gets a couple of cars at a time over some number of months. It is unlikely that the entire train will arrive at your doorstep all on the same day. The current status of this Kaslo project is that the number of additional reservations needed to officially launch the NEW ENGLAND STATES project is very small indeed. I do not know the exact number and you'd have to ask Kaslo directly for that kind of information. I am, however, under the impression that the number is really very small and a only few more orders can, in fact, make a HUGE difference in getting this project off the ground. So this is your chance to help S get some full scale length very highly detailed Budd cars. No money needed to place a reservation. The 25% deposit is needed later after sufficient reservations have been received. Click here for details: http://www.kasloshops.com/projects.htm To add a bit of perspective, the NEW ENGLAND STATES utilized post-war Budd cars whereas the Empire State Express, being an earlier all-Budd train, used pre-war Budd cars. The skirting is different as well as the treatment of the observation car round end and a few other details -- roof vents, etc. So there is a difference, but whether the difference is great enough to be of concern is in the eye of the individual modeler in his quest for realism. Personally, I'd rather have full scale length and model the NEW ENGLAND STATES, but that is just an individual preference. Interestingly, the American Models' Budd cars are based on the NYC Empire State Express drawings although they have been shortened to keep the American Flyer guys in a buying mood. Can't blame AM for that, I guess, but my likes tend to run in the opposite direction. If you are interested, I have a 4-page flyer describing the Kaslo Shops Distributing S Budd program and will be happy to send it out to anyone requesting it. Just let me know your snail mail address and I will send it out. No cost or obligation except you should have somewhat of a serious interest and not just be wasting my time and money. Fair enough? Kaslo Shops Distributing has always been very good at answering questions via email. I would encourage anyone with even a slight interest in these Budd cars to contact Kaslo directly with your questions. Kaslo has made products for N, HO, S, O and G scales and from all the accounts I have heard on this list and others, the quality is very good indeed. The only negative I have heard is that some folks think the etched stainless steel ladder details were a bit too thick (or was it too thin? Don't remember for sure.) Substituting a plastic ladder solved the problem for those folks who didn't like the original kit-supplied ladder. You can actually buy some S scale freight car kits from Kaslo and form you own opinion. Place your order via their web site. Kaslo has assured us that the quality and level of detailing on the Budd passenger cars will be equal to (or better?) than that of their freight cars. Regarding motive power for a NEW ENGLAND STATES train, you could use a Niagara, Mohawk, Hudson, ALCO PA, EMD E-units, and who knows what else. There is photographic evidence for all of the above although the diesels were probably the most common. S scale has just the assortment of locos needed for this train although the steamers are all brass imports which will have to be acquired via eBay or at NASG conventions or other train swap meets. You can find the stuff, but it is not down at your corner hobby shop on the shelf merely waiting your credit card. If you have an interest in an S scale NYC layout article, check out the GREAT MODEL RAILROADS 2005 publication by Kalmbach Publishing. Some neat photos with Niagaras, Mohawks, F-units, and some dirty crummy Pennsy hopper car to show contrast. :>) (My moderator insists on smiley marks to show when I am joking.) Anyway, I hope you enjoy your venture into S scale. It can be frustrating at times when you cannot get exactly what you want instantly, but quite rewarding when it eventually shows up and you can grab at it and win it and run it on your layout. Much more satisfying than simply giving your plastic card to the guy behind the counter. Of couse, I am biased. "S"incerely....Ed Loizeaux The poll results are in....... To REPLY to the list, use REPLY ALL, to reply to the sender, use REPLY. I do NOT know if this works on all e-mail software, but it works on some of the most common ones. For those of you on DIGEST mode, all REPLY messages go to the list. 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/
