? for ESM RE Burlington XML14

[sirenwerks]

I know I could email direct;y to Bryan but I figured others may want to know the same thing.  I picked up both of the recently released XML14s and they're georgeous models.  Thanks Bryan!

What I am confused about is the cars are no roofwalk/low ladder & brakewheel and the packaging, on the backside, is for the 2220 series and marked - with roofwalk/high ladder & brakewheel.

Am I missing something?

[bbussey]

Oops! 

The scheme originally was erroneously scheduled to have a roofwalk, with the placards and Hydraulic Cushioning lettering one panel too far left.  The error was caught after the first pilot models were made but prior to production.  The inserts already were printed to reflect the original configuration.  To be honest, I forgot all about it, otherwise they would have been reprinted prior to assembly.



Only three of these exist.  There were four, but one was kitbashed into a modern version for pre-release advertisement purposes.  Maybe these will be auctioned off for a good cause someday such as the American Cancer Society or the Tomorrows Children's Fund, along with the other oddball pre-production models accumulated over the years.

[CBQ Fan]

The cars are so good looking I didn't even get to the packaging!!!

[Ike the BN Freak]

Maybe these will be auctioned off for a good cause someday such as the American Cancer Society or the Tomorrows Children's Fund, along with the other oddball pre-production models accumulated over the years.

My vote is for Wounded Warriors or some other veteran's organization.  There are quite a few vets on here, myself included.

[nkalanaga]

Like Brian, I haven't looked at the packaging.  I know what the car is supposed to be, and that it's suitable for my era, so there's no need to read the data.  I do appreciate it, though, for all of those cars that DON'T belong to my line!

In a somewhat related note, here's a picture I originally planned to post in the Weekend Update.  Two models of (apparently) an X58 in CB&Q paint, 40-some years apart.  N scale has come a ways, hasn't it?


That old MRC tooling was considered above average for its day, and still doesn't look bad, until it's compared to an accurate model.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Man what a neat photo. I wanted to properly kit bash an X58 years ago with Con-Cor sides and Red caboose or Intermountain ends and roof. Before this got off the ground Bryan came up with his model so I focused on the X72 and the FGE 5145/5237.

It would be great if we did a workshop on various box car kit bashes using available parts. Maybe we could cover some much onloved NYC/PC/CR classes.

[bbussey]

Once the X65 is released, it opens up a ton of kitbashing possibilities — basically every 50' boxcar that DSI ever built.  They were consistent with the roofs and ends.  It's probably not much more difficult to shorten the roof and model all the 40' boxcars as well.  That covers most of NYC's boxcar fleet in its final two decades.

The X58 has the Stanray diagonal roof, but that prototype is available as a separate part in both 40' and 50' lengths by a number of manufacturers.  And the various stamped Dreadnaught ends also are easily obtainable.  It's the DSI parts that are needed.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Bryan, what were the spotting features of DSI (that's their Dispatch shops, correct?)

[bbussey]

Yes, Despatch Shops Inc.  They had distinct stamped roof and end patterns that were unique to them.  Very prominent on NYC obviously, but they also built cars for other roads.  Not the X65 (other than LV and P&LE), but the roof and ends can be harvested for other models.

Branchline Trains (now Atlas) did a number of schemes on what they called they 40' and 50' "Postwar" boxcar kits, which are based on both AAR and DSI prototypes (two roofs, two sets of ends included).  They did some foobs, and I don't know offhand how many of the roads are legitimate, but I know these are:

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/Branchline/50DD/bra_1105.jpg
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/Branchline/50DD/bra_1116.jpg
http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOFreightCars/Branchline/50DD/bra_1115.jpg

[Frank Amato]

(thread drift warning) The February 1999 issue of Railmodel Journal has proto information about the NYC Despatch-built 50-foot cars, including roster details and photos of NYC, PC, and Conrail goodness.

  Frank