I for one am thrilled to see the return of C&BT. As already mentioned they
are the only source for many freight cars. But more than that they are a
return to KITS! I have more freight cars than I can possibly run at an op
session, and no storage space for more. As a result the only cars I buy are
interesting kits of either rare models of common prototypes or challenging
to build. The modern trend among many model RRers to not buy anything that
won't roll out of the box onto the tracks on its own, has pushed me away
from the hobby, I know all to many model RRers who believe that having to
replace couplers is scratch building and an unnecessary imposition on their
TV time.



I know that C&BT kits were of good, but not great quality, but they
represent a great starting point for building the kind of models I like.
While new companies like Tangent and Exactrail et. al. produce far better
looking cars that roll out of the box onto the tracks on their own, they
represent fillers in my trains and a liability in my storage space. The
pride of any train I run are the cars I built and/or detailed myself. I
still believe that the "model" in model railroading is a verb!



Welcome back C&BT.





Andy Miller



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...] On Behalf Of
North Model Railroad Supplies
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 1:13 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: C&BT Car Shops -- Re: [STMFC] History of Prototype Freight Car
M





Dick still owns and runs the business.

There are a number of items in the line that are out of stock, and based on
discussions we have had, I doubt that will change.

As Ben mentioned, in some cases his cars are still the only game in town.

The bodies, doors etc are OK, as long as you don't mind the cast on ladders
etc.

The walks are usually terrible, but Plano has etched ones available, and
A-line make nice stirrups.

Kit wheels are also worthy of replacement.

That said they can be build into a reasonable car and with some moderate
upgrading, can hold their own with Accurail and Atlas Trainman.

I have a few that I use on our portable club layout.

They certainly are not on a par with the highly detailed Tangent, Exactrail
etc etc offerings available today - and neither is their price.

Cheers

Dave North

Hey Andy!

 

I've used C&BT Shops shells then detail them with Archer rivets, Kadee, Branchline, Plano and other detail parts and Microscale decals.  I have even laser printed some decals to fill in special needs (OK as long as you don't need white lettering).  In the end, you can end up with a good looking car that no one manufactures RTR.  By the way, some C&BT Shops cars were made without cast-on ladders, so you can add your own.  The only serious shortcoming is the cast-on ends,  Makes it difficult (but not impossible) to select a different end pattern.

 

I believe all of the C&BT tooling was modified to include cast on ladders
and grabs. Between that and the poor quality of the details and oversized
rivets, and the availability of Branchline and Red Caboose and Accurail
10'6" 40 foot box car kits, what's the attraction? I still have a fair
number of the original C&BT kits and have sold a few to people who have
been looking for particular versions.

The tooling on the Santa Fe reefer sides is good, but the rest of the kit
is execrable, esp if you place it next to an Intermountain SFRD ice reefer.

Tim O'Connor

Tim,



Where do find an I/M plug door SFRD reefer? ;-)



Andy

From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...] On Behalf Of Tim
O'Connor
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2013 11:31 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: [STMFC] RE: RE: C&BT Car Shops






I believe all of the C&BT tooling was modified to include cast on ladders
and grabs. Between that and the poor quality of the details and oversized
rivets, and the availability of Branchline and Red Caboose and Accurail
10'6" 40 foot box car kits, what's the attraction? I still have a fair
number of the original C&BT kits and have sold a few to people who have
been looking for particular versions.

The tooling on the Santa Fe reefer sides is good, but the rest of the kit
is execrable, esp if you place it next to an Intermountain SFRD ice reefer.

Tim O'Connor



.

Image removed by sender.

Where do find an I/M plug door SFRD reefer? ;-)

> Andy

You can't, as you know Andy, since I sold you a couple of the
C&BT kits. But a C&BT reefer still looks like @#$#$ in my opinion.

It's a shame, because as I said, the C&BT reefer sides are quite nice.
Come to think on it, the ends are well done too.

I had a conversation with Dick at the Valley Forge NMRA convention in
what, 1993 (?), and he had a pretty low opinion of us rivet counters.
I think this was mainly due to all the complaints about the crummy
details (ladders, brakes, underframes, trucks) in his kits. And also
because most of his customers thought Athearn blue box kits are too
hard to build. :-) It was very soon after that he decided to make the
switch to cast-on box car details.

Tim O'

It's a pity, because while the C&BT ladder, grabs, and other add-on parts
were indeed pretty poor, at least it left the builder with the option to
replace them with better item. The cast-on items were rather well done, but
left you little choice.



BTW Did I ever tell you I built an Athearn Blue Box box car while driving
home from TMRC one night. I guess that ranks with the teenagers texting,
but it took less time.



Andy



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...] On Behalf Of Tim
O'Connor
Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2013 12:08 AM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: RE: [STMFC] RE: RE: C&BT Car Shops

Where do find an I/M plug door SFRD reefer? ;-)
Andy

You can't, as you know Andy, since I sold you a couple of the
C&BT kits. But a C&BT reefer still looks like @#$#$ in my opinion.

It's a shame, because as I said, the C&BT reefer sides are quite nice.
Come to think on it, the ends are well done too.

I had a conversation with Dick at the Valley Forge NMRA convention in
what, 1993 (?), and he had a pretty low opinion of us rivet counters.
I think this was mainly due to all the complaints about the crummy
details (ladders, brakes, underframes, trucks) in his kits. And also
because most of his customers thought Athearn blue box kits are too
hard to build. :-) It was very soon after that he decided to make the
switch to cast-on box car details.

Tim O'

Tim O'Connor wrote:
"I had a conversation with Dick at the Valley Forge NMRA convention in
what, 1993 (?), and he had a pretty low opinion of us rivet counters.
I think this was mainly due to all the complaints about the crummy
details (ladders, brakes, underframes, trucks) in his kits. And also
because most of his customers thought Athearn blue box kits are too
hard to build. :-) It was very soon after that he decided to make the
switch to cast-on box car details."
 
Sad to say, C&BT were the Star Trek: Voyager of freight car kits - outstanding premise, poor execution.
 
 
Ben Hom

Star Trek Voyager??!?!! I think the year 2370 is a little past the era of this list. And so is 1995, when it first aired.

Regards,

-Jeff

Dave

Yes, the 12 panel car kits are keepers. :-) Not a huge number of prototypes,
but Santa Fe for sure for the 6' doors. I don't know about the 7' and 8' doors
off the top of my head.

Tim O'

Tim O'Connor wrote:
"Yes, the 12 panel car kits are keepers. :-) Not a huge number of prototypes,
but Santa Fe for sure for the 6' doors. I don't know about the 7' and 8' doors
off the top of my head."

PRR Class X43A for the 7 ft door models:
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=X43
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/freightphotos.html?photo=http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/prr/prr602961l.jpg&fr=clX43


Ben Hom