--- In STMFC@..., Tony Thompson <tony@...> wrote:

>
> Benjamin Hom wrote:
> > "Recognizing the problem with cast on ladders and grab irons, what improvements can be made at reasonable cost and effort?"
> >
> > If you choose to avoid doing the end ladders:
> > - Replace oversized running board, brakewheel, and sill steps with finer parts.
> > - Remove door tracks, fill in void left by upper door track, and replace door tracks with strip styrene. Replace door with full height door (Intermountain).
> > - Remove and replace grab irons.
> > - Rework underframe to correct incorrect brake arrangement.
> >
>
> Good list. The first one is most important, as all these aspects are VERY visible. I might add that the brake step can be widened with a piece of 2 x 4 styrene to look better. I would say the fifth step can be skipped if you wish, as the underbody is pretty invisible. On step two, I would say removing door "claws" is most important, followed by removing the huge ledge making up the bottom door track. If you take off that ledge, you can add a full height door, which looks far better.
> But with all the FAR better models out there today, why do this work? "Saving" a $3 car seems kind of wasted effort to me.
>
> Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
> 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
> (510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, tony@...
> Publishers of books on railroad history

For the most paart I agree with what you have stated, Tony, but lets view things from the other side as well. I have just returned home for the night from the first day of Howard Zane's scale show at the Maryland State Fairground in Timonium, MD (just north of the Baltimore Beltway). When compared to this same show last year there are far, far fewer vendors and it seems like a few less attendees as well. Some of those attending have sited a fear of buying owing to the economic situation and one fellow wasn't sure when he would see his next pay check due to the mess "our" government, if one can call it that, is in. So when one looks at the cost of an Athearn Blue Box car today perhaps it makes sense to invest a little more in effort for low cost parts with which to may Blue Box cars that are already owned a bit more acceptable than replacing them in total with cars costing $25 and up. It can be viewed as a few hours of pleasurable,
I hope, modeling for a low investment of funds.

Just another view of the situation, Don Valentine