I've been on a passenger car kick of late; don't ask me why; my little 3'x5' "for the 4 year old' layout replacement for my flood destroyed garage layout isn't really made for wonderfully long consists of passenger cars but nevertheless, that's been the "order of the day" at the workbench.
I've decided, and in an obvious "drug induced haze" (Tylonol cold will do that) for a died in the wool Canadian Pacific fanatic, to model a mid 1950's to mid 1960's Canadian National (go outside and spit; turn around three times and chant) green and gold consist. I've done my research; decided on my cars that make sense for western Canada and have the Kato F3's and the Intermountain F7's (would love to figure out how to kitbash a 4-8-2 Mountain into a semi streamlined "Bullet Nosed Betty", but that's a topic for another day) but am getting minor league frustrated at the lack of heavyweight and, for that matter lightweight cars available.
Now; don't get me wrong; I'm not above kitbashing; in fact I like it; but the simple fact of the matter is that the Riversosi/Arnold 12-1 sleeper is a pain in the caboose as a sole starting place for a HW sleeper; and the rest of the line of HW's are "vanilla" (read Santa Fe prototypes) and are so limited without major surgery. I am waiting with bated breath the Micro Train offering but it will be but one, tentative car which may not be followed up; or will be followed up with cars that are just as "vanilla".... what's a modeler to do ?
That said; I'm "soldiering on" and have two cars done; not world beaters but qualifiers for the 3 foot rule.
Even something as simple as clostery roofs are an issue - what about air conditioning ? It takes you hours of sanding and work to make a putty filled roof; if you have 8 cars to do it's an eternity....
I've done the core kit and brass side thing; great; you can spend $ 50.00 per car and these are not for the novice or intermediate modeler..... there has to be a better way !
I just wish that there was a bigger selection of RTR plastic models to start with. After all; we have 2 offerings of one locomotive ( the FT; F3 and 2-8-2 Mikado in the last few years) 29 Intermountain versions of UP Cabeese and hoppers coming out of our ying-yang; what about the other half of railroading ? Let's move some 1:160 people as well as 1:160 freight !
Can we please have some HW passenger cars.... please......?
