Guys -- Here's my take on brass (expensive) vs. plastic/resin/urethane (less expensive): If the car was seen less often than once a day on a railroad with 100-car trains, brass is OK. If the car was ubiquitous -- several in an average train -- it should be produced in plastic/resin/urethane. The reason is simple: If the car was common, you need a lot of them. If you have just one, it looks really out of place. But if you have none, it won't be missed.
A good example: PRR X29 boxcar. If you have none, no one will miss it (except PRR fans). If you have only one, you will likely think "that was such a common car. It doesn't make sense that I have only one. I shouldn't have bought it." I'm waiting for the DPH/SSA X29 so I can have several without breaking the hobby bank. In my experience, brass and plastic don't compete. Each has its place. Dick Karnes
