JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Incredible dedicated work. That is a very nice photo of Accurail. I'm just beginning to build my stock of cars as I'm new at this scale, and could use some help.My NMRA brethren said to insist on Kadee #5 couplers and metal wheels. But I did want to get to some Kadee advice.
You need to outrank your competition online. Ok..For your guidelines for operation and detailsand in no order.. 7.Some of the mid to upper endAthearn R-T-R cars.. IMHO these are the cream of the crop as far as details and all comes equipped with metal wheels. Since I have many years of experience of detailing and painting freight cars I find that Accurail is best for me. Gary W, PA, The most beautiful models Ive ever seen in my life Tim F, CA, I just purchased one of your new 6000 gallon GATX three dome tanks. This attention and focus is noticeable in the quality and variation presented in Tangent Scale Models releases. The increased volume of coiled steel transportation gave rise to a new purpose-built freight car. Lots of great brands mentioned already so I won't repeat.
Below is a Yardmaster model. This means high-detail accuracy, high lettering quality, accurate colors, as well as roadname-specific details where appropriate. They come with Kadee scale couplers and clean one-piece molded truck frames with metal wheelsets. It is like the real thing shrunk down to HO scale for sure. They are very simple to install on any of the cars I have converted. They operate flawlessly and have excellent detail. The citation services I choose are doing wonders!
4. They usually need some enhancement, especially replacing the stirrups; they stand out as overly large. Congratulations on a very impressive model and I am already planning to purchase a few more in the near future. Atlas' version of the 2-Bay Offset Side Hopper with Flat ends is modeled after the open hoppers that were built in the 1930s 20004762 Atlas BN Burlington Northern #214318 50' 6" Boxcar (HO Scale) Part # 150-20004762
I didn't mention them (or Athearn "Genesis") because I have no experience with them. Then Life-Like's Proto 2000 Covered Hopper kits hit the market featuring metal wheels - these were now "the best". For basic honor and bread and butter good prices I agree with James Six. I have gotten into the habit of replacing these with Kadee Sprung Trucks with the appropriate wheel size and tonnage. See-thru roof walks and individual grabs are my must have details. I've never had that problem with any other manufacturer in this respect. manage your account online and more! Picture may show a different road number. Jerry B, NC, My order of ICC Cabooses arrived the other day, and I have had a chance to examine each model. Intermountain meets most of these needs for me and is $10 to $20 cheaper than Tangent.
Our advanced reporting tools will show you what your website is lacking and why your competition is ahead of you. Kato has also done some very good cars over the years too. All have been converted to KD's & slowly replacing the plastic wheels for metal ones. There are 10 types of people in this world. If you are a local business owner you should already know that its getting even more complicated to have more clients knocking on your door. Every Walthers car that I have (4 or 5) has wheel sets that bind going around curves, requiring modifications. Dont miss our future offers!
Having started my layout around 30 years ago, Athearn was probably the best bang for the buck. You have all forgottern Tangent Scale Models, the most accurate models available includes Kadee Couplers, Metal Wheels, Accurate Paint Schemes. Gotta be a best first effort by any manufacturer. Get more customers today! However, some of the manufacturers nearing the bottom of the list above (very good to excellent) are very close to the same quality to one another so it made it rather difficult to rank them one better than the other. Those were "fab" at the time because they featured wire to form the visible, under-car brake rigging. I will probably keep ordering local marketing services for years to come! One thing I didn't see above was Kadee's #148 whisker coupler. I sure miss the short lived Branchline Blue print Series kits. Citations are very important for local marketing. Branchline Blueprint series (Passenger and box cars kits) (Now owned by Atlas), Walthers - While detailing is generally very good, I've been VERY disappointed with the "runnability". Features:
I am with you Doug. -- Doug -- Modeling the NorwottuckRailroad, returningtrails to rails. The biggest problem with Atlas Cars and Locsos, they include Accubreak Couplers. Large images may take a few minutes to appear. Tangent followed by Athearn Genesis and Atlas, Modeling Penn Central and early Amtrak in the summer of 1972. I bought a Tangent Scale Models Pullman Standard PS-2CD 4740cc kit just to have a fun build. All of my old Athearn freight were weathered when they were built and when I run them along with the much more highly detailed Kadee cars, it is really hard to see much of a difference until you really get close up to them. May not meet the standards of a rivet counter, but good scale appearance at normal viewing distance. ExactRail, Tangent, Kadee,Moloco and others are admittedly better detailed models but they are not best for me due to cost and the number of freight cars I need to operate my layout. Consider that at one point in time, Athearn "blue box" were considered the best. (That's NECESSARY if you plan to run the ore cars empty, as they are very light, and have no place to hide weights.). as well as D&H! I haven't bought many kits in recent years, but have acquired a number of Kadee freight cars. The reason that metal wheels are suggested is that they don't pick up dirt as well as plastic ones. I can tweak on an Accurail model and get results that meet my needs. I love your products and will be buying more in the near future. Mike W, WI, I think your products are an incredible piece of art recreating history ..keep it up! Mike M, Canada, You guys make the best cars bar-none! Model Railroader, December 2012, in reference to our PS 4750cc covered hopper: Tangent Scale Models has hit another home run with this car. Almost makes me want to switch to the modern era so I could partake of some of your other stuff LOL!Rick S, Holding these (UP Bethlehem-design Hopper) models in my hand was fantastic and the subtle differences in the detail on the draft gear (Coupler Pocket lids) between the Red (Non Rotary) and Black/Yellow Ends (Rotary) version is fantastic.James K, CA, I bit the bullet and decided to buy the 12 pack of these cars. One of the things I came away with was the level of knowledge Lehlbach possesses and the time invested in this area of railroading. For example, I have a Athearn Genesis Trinity covered hopper which needs a #78 plus some body work. I agree..I only seen one Tangent car and it was still in the box. This way, when I finish the model to match a photo, I know it's right vs a pretend that someone paid as much as $50 for. We have a new website! A Tangent 3 dome tank car is on my wish list; they look GOOD. What brands do you feel are the best for quality of operation and details? Atlas 20005899 2 Bay Offset Hopper MILW - Milwaukee Road #94264 HO Scale. Web Assistance & Help With Already Placed Orders: 727-457-9227, Atlas 20005899 2 Bay Offset Hopper MILW - Milwaukee Road #94264 HO Scale, 20004762 Atlas BN Burlington Northern #214318 50' 6" Boxcar (HO Scale) Part # 150-20004762, Atlas 20004564 70-Ton Hart Ballast Car - Soo - Soo Line #60103 HO Scale, ATLAS 20005022 Extended Vision Caboose - RDG - Reading #94114 (SCALE=HO) Part # 150-20005022, ATLAS {20005629} 17,360 Gallon Chlorine Tank Car Hooker Chemical HOKX #132414 HO Scale, 20004755 Atlas CSX Ex-Conrail NYC Patch #208017 50' 6" Boxcar (HO Scale) Part # 150-20004755, ATLAS 20005456 Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper - UTCX - Asbury Graphite #45123 (SCALE=HO) Part # 150-20005456, Atlas 20005602 42' Coil Steel Car - IHB - Indiana Harbor Belt (EX-NS) #166618 HO Scale, Atlas 20002963 50' Plug Door Boxcar - BN - Burlington Northern #745087 (SCALE=HO) Part #150-20002963, ATLAS 20005455 Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper - UTCX - Asbury Graphite #45122 (SCALE=HO) Part # 150-20005455, Atlas 20005598 42' Coil Steel Car - DRLX - GE Railcar Protect III #166287 HO Scale, Atlas 20005605 42' Coil Steel Car - INLX - Inland Steel (Open Coil Car) #20001 HO Scale. This model features accurate ATLAS20005022 Extended Vision Caboose - RDG - Reading #94114 (SCALE=HO) Part # 150-20005022
Picture may show a different road number. On a scale of 1 to 10 this an 11. Paint and lettering top notch.
In these instances I factor in the shipping, and what my out of pocket expense would be to travel to and and pay entry to a swap and have picked up many of the kits, thus keeping very close to the $10 threshold of a swap meet. I need about 150 freight cars and will NOT spend $30 to $50 per freight car. 3. We take care of your website SEO optimization factors. Plastic couplers just aren't as durable as Kadee #5s, and the similar Walthers couplers have shightly larger heads and cost either the same or a little bit more. That's why "superdetailing" is almost always required if you want to be authentic for a broad range of cars. They cover the a good spectrum from the 40's to the 70's. Tangent is owned and operated by modelers like you who know what high-quality products should look like, and demand near-perfection in our execution. I replaced them with Walthers trucks (which has the side benefit of having electrical pickups). Accurail and Bowser make some nice kits too. I have a number of Tichy kits. I have my priorities. Intermountain and Exactrail are both really good as well and have a larger variety of product available. Run, dont walk, these are just incredible and worth every penny. i am one of the lucky ones who gets away running about half my equipment with plastic wheels and experiences no problems doing so. I highly recommend for all local business owners! Kadee has a page to check to see which will work for your model. As a suggestion since you seem to be going for the gold may I suggest the KaDee#158 scale coupler? Company owner David Lehlbach is a stickler for detail and prototype information. If you are debating them because of the price, I can tell you I dont think youll be sorry. For couplers, Kadee is the only way to go! If your URL is correct, you'll see an image preview here. Depends on what you mean by "best".What is best for me is probably not "best" for everyone. The increased volume of coiled steel transportation gave rise to a new purpose-built freight car. Shop Tonys Trains Exchange for a variety of freight cars from Athearn, Broadway Limited, Kadee, Walthers, Atlas & more. And from years ago,some Walthers cars that got heavily cut and bashed. The BEST!!!!!!!! I believe there are 120 parts in this kit composed of styrene and metal. Our team will send you a custom local marketing report for your small business, so that you can check what part of your business needs optimization. Great suggestions and all are appreciated. I do own several cars of the brands I mention. A better way to ask would be based in what you model and what you want. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my rolling stock but so long as they operate without any problems, I am more than happy. These cars were all equipped with metal wheels (Kadee back then) and of course Kadee couplers. Thrall 4750 Covered Hopper - Ready to Run
My list is only of the models that I've either put together myself or bought RTR. Get the weathering chalks!, Model Railroad News, June 2008, in reference to our PS 4000cc covered hopper: These models are an extraordinary example of the prototype, good-looking and packed full of intricate details. Model Railroader, January 2015, in reference to our General American Dry-Flo covered hoppers: This is the first time the Dry-Flo hopper has been offered as an HO scale plastic model, and Tangent has set the bar high. I also liked Branchline's simpler Yardmaster Series kits which had a nice runof PS-1 SP freight cars. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Best PFE R70 might come from a different maker than the best Pennsylvania coal hopper. 2020, Local Marketing Agency. Atlas' high quality, ready-to-run HO scale tank car is modeled after American Car and Foundry's insulated general service tank car designed primarily for 20004755 Atlas CSX Ex-Conrail NYC Patch #208017 50' 6" Boxcar (HO Scale) Part # 150-20004755
Accurate paint schemes are also very important. Packaging is perfect. I've had good results with the one old Ambroid caboose that I've done, although I did add some modern parts, such as truck bolsters by Tichy instead of drilling out wooden ones, and a few other pieces replaced with Evergreen styrene and an Accurail brake system underneath it. Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1! these are just FINE models. Tangent, Exact Rail, and Kadee seem to be good at this, but after being burned over the years, I think in terms of trust but verify--particularly with the more mass produced models and RTR. To beall exceptionally detailed, and reliable. of New Jersey CNJ #23548 - RTR 40' PS-1 Boxcar, #6000 HO Scale Undecorated Sharp Slope No Lip Sill 50' PS-1 Boxcar with 9' Youngstown Door - Boxcar Red - RTR, #6416 HO Scale Missouri Kansas Texas MKT #90135 - RTR 50' PS-1 Boxcar, #6744 HO Scale New Haven NH #40514 - RTR 50' PS-1 Boxcar, #6927 HO Scale 2021 Kadee 75th Anniversary KDC #027 - RTR 50' PS-1 Boxcar, #7001 HO Scale Undecorated 50 Ton AAR Standard Open Bay Hopper with Wine Latches - Black - RTR, #700 Twin Rail Spiker - Gen 3.0 - Code 100, #158-50 HO Scale Bulk Pack - 50 pair #158 Scale Whisker Metal Couplers - Medium (9/32) Centerset Shank", #520 HO Scale 33" Diameter Smooth Back Metal Code 110 Wheels - Freight and Passenger, #148 HO Scale 140-Series Whisker Metal Couplers with Gearboxes - Universal - Medium (9/32") Centerset Shank, #158 HO Scale Whisker Scale Metal Couplers with Gearboxes - Medium (9/32") Centerset Shank, #700 Twin Rail Spiker - Gen 3.0 - Code 83, #500 HO Scale Bettendorf 50-ton Trucks with 33" Smooth Back Wheels - Metal Fully Sprung, #148-25 HO Scale Bulk Pack - 25 pair #148 Whisker Metal Couplers - Medium (9/32") Centerset Shank. I truly like Branchline Yardmaster and the Blueprint boxcar kits and have a substantial fleet of them. It is a direct replacement for the #5 , but with a built in spring, rather than the seperate one. Extended-Vision Caboose - Ready to Run - Master(R)
For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In the way of best operating freightcars for your buck, I'd suggest Athearn "Blue Box" models/kits picked up at train shows. All Rights Reserved. So, I have started doing research first, particularly trying to find a photo before I buy the model. Added some weight and then back to the layout and magically derailments are gone. All of the above can still be had at flea markets and eBay for great prices. Walthers, Athearn, and Bowser make good middle line stuff. Copyright 1991-present Tony's Train Exchange. I have heard that the shank is a little thicker, thus works better in a few places or needs a little filing down in others. Awesome services! Sufficiently rugged to withstand normal handling. i think this difference of opinion is because layouts have different environments and states of track cleanliness.
The real issue for me has become making sure what I'm buying is actually a model of a prototype. The Atlas Master ACF 70-Ton 52' Gondola is based on prototypes built by ACF in the 1940s and early 1950s. A Atlas20004564 70-Ton Hart Ballast Car - Soo - Soo Line #60103. These babies make the (Brand XYZs) look crude. ), Tichy is amazing for the price, and I tend to build their cars with no real changes needed, except that I swaped in Kadee trucks. TimeIt marches onwithout ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step. When I look at the end of the car I can picture myself riding the point protecting a shove. I have to say that this is probably the most stunning HO Scale tank to have ever been produced. Suggestions on these too? The best HO Scale rolling stock is what ever fits your budget. The detail, the paint work and lettering are superb and for its size it is perfectly weighted and rolls well. I recently purchased a couple of BLMA Trinity Reefers and the quality and details are great. "Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!". I also have a lot of Walthers/Athearn RTR & Genesis/Atlas/Branchline & Proto RTR & kits as well. Whenever I build or buy a piece of rolling stock, the first thing I do is to replace the coupler to Kadee #58s and the wheel sets to Proto 2000 33". But I see I need toget out. All Rights Reserved. I like them because I don't have to worry if my son or one of his buddies handles them. I am quite fussy about the types of models that I buy and your new hoppers are definitely some of the best I have seen. The biggest problem with Athearn Cars and Locos, they include McJunky Couplers. Get Subscribed now! (Brand XYZ) has long been my favorite for covered hoppers, but this beats those out hands down and is worth every penny of the extra cost. OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!! Picture may show a different road number. Remember the old Eel River beer car kits? If you had a login on the old forum, here's how to login here the first time, https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/38537, https://www.shapeways.com/shops/sean-p-murphy-designs.