July 2012 Releases from Briggs Models

[BCR 570]

The following announcement is made on behalf of Briggs Models.  The following items were announced and released for sale at the P.G.E. 100 Centenrary Convention in Squamish, B.C. this past weekend:

N14 CP Minibox with CPR Decals $30.00 CAD
N15 CP Minibox with BCR MoW Decals $30.00 CAD
N16 CP Minibox without decal sheets $30.00 CAD
N17 45' Flatdeck Trailer x 2 $20.00 CAD
N18 40' Flatdeck Trailer x 2 $20.00 CAD
N19 Fairmont Speeder x 2 $12.00 CAD

Further details and photographs will be posted to this thread very soon.

Available now from Central Hobbies in Vancouver - information will be posted to their website this week.


Tim

[ljudice]

I was curious about what a MiniBox car was - and found this announcement for ANOTHER Minibox in N-scale from TLT!    Or is this the same thing???  [EDIT:  I don't think it's the same, as it's a different price  -  kind of amazing both announced the same month???]


http://www.truelinetrains.ca/freight-cars/n---mini-box-car

[cv_acr]

Yep, that's the "mini-box".

TrueLine has had the Mini-Box announced in HO for quite some time, I didn't realize they also had that up for N scale as well now.

So no, the TLT and Briggs Models are of course not the same model, but it is definitely the same prototype.

[cv_acr]

Proto-photo. Check out the height difference to what's visible of the boxcar to the left, and it lines up almost perfectly with the roof of the slab-side hopper to the right.
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp243306&o=cprail

This was CP's first standard steel car.

[eja]

Nice looking car....

       ....wanna bet if they get the door rail thing correct this time ???

[screeh]

Got my order placed (for the Briggs Models kits, not the TLT ones) - thanks for the heads-up, Tim!

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The overall size looks like a very close match to the LL "ARA" box car with opening door. That car always sat high on the frame and was a very short car. Besides the roof overhang and skirt under the door, the cars appear very similar.

[sirenwerks]

Proto-photo. Check out the height difference to what's visible of the boxcar to the left, and it lines up almost perfectly with the roof of the slab-side hopper to the right.
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp243306&o=cprail

This was CP's first standard steel car.

Chris,

Any proto-photos of the trailers and speeder?

[sirenwerks]

With the exchange rate as it is, I like the price of the Briggs model better than the TLT version. 

A couple questions... Will Briggs be getting its own website eventually to buy direct? Also, do the CP decals include script and block lettering options? Lastly, did the Soo end up with any of these? They seem similar to Soo Line cars.

[BCR 570]

Permit me to answer a few questions:

Briggs Models and True-Line Trains are different companies, and while duplication of items in our hobby is often unfortunate, in this case the True-Line Trains model pre-announcement came within a week of the Briggs Models kit release.  The True-Line Trains model will be an injection-moulded ready-to-run model with an MSRP of $44.99 and there does not appear to be a firm date for orders or production as yet, which means it is a long way off at this point in time.  The Briggs model is a cast resin and etched metal kit available now for $30.00. 

For the benefit of American forum members, the Minibox is a name given to the Canadian Pacific's fleet of 7,500 steel boxcars produced in the late 1920s/early 1930s.  The cars were very similar to the 1923 ARA design but with some important structural differences.  I do not know if any were operated by the SOO Line, but as a CPR subsidiary that is entirely plausible.  It is almost certain that CPR Minibox cars would have been interchanged to the SOO Line and seen there.

The CPR decal sheet includes the following schemes:  Spans The World, stepped CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY, and Canadian Pacific script.

Yes, Jeff is working on a website but I do not know if it will be able to receive direct orders.  He lives in a fairly rural area on Vancouver Island and has faced issues in the past with email and Internet reliability.  As a result there has been strong feedback requesting sales through a hobby shop with a regular email availability and web presence, and one which is willing to receive and process international orders.  As many of the customers for these models are here in B.C., it is also advantageous to have a store which one can walk into and purchase directly.

The 40 foot and 45 foot flatdeck trailers are patterned on the Fruehauf and Stewart ones operated by the British Columbia Railway/BC Rail, but are generic enough to be of interest to many modellers in the 1970s-1990s era.  They are intended to help fill a need in the N Scale market for modern flatdeck trailers which are seen everywhere.

The Fairmont M19 speeders had a fibreglass body with plywood doors and were operated by CN and BCR among other railways.

More information and photographs later today.


Tim

[Scottl]

Not in my era, but I'm pleased to see the emergence of another dedicated Canadian prototype.  I have to say, compared to when I started nscale in 2004, the number of Canadian models has really been impressive.

[cv_acr]

The overall size looks like a very close match to the LL "ARA" box car with opening door. That car always sat high on the frame and was a very short car. Besides the roof overhang and skirt under the door, the cars appear very similar.

I think the physical size of the prototypes is similar, but the CP cars have the pretty distinctive sill tabs at the bolsters and radial (curved arch) roof.

Chris,

Any proto-photos of the trailers and speeder?

Not me, sorry. Tim H. might have some more British Columbia prototype shots. Maybe if he shares them with me some time I can flesh out the PGE/BCOL pages on my site a little more.   

Lastly, did the Soo end up with any of these? They seem similar to Soo Line cars.

I don't think any of these ever went to SOO. Some went to Pacific Great Eastern (secondhand, CP was the only original owner), and CP converted a LOT of these old cars into various work service outfit cars (diners, sleepers, office cars, tool cars, generators, etc.)

[SirTainly]

I got the miniboxes on Sunday but didn't realise there were speeders too! I'll need to go to Central at some point.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

<<< awaiting photos 

[BCR 570]

N14 CPR Minibox Kit with CPR decals $30.00 CAD
N15 CPR Minibox Kit with BCR MoW Decals $30.00 CAD
N16 CPR Minibox Kit without decals $30.00 CAD

The Canadian Pacific Railway received 7,500 of the distinctive Minibox cars in 1929-1931.  They served in revenue service until the late 1960s and in work service through the 1980s.  The PGE acquired numerous for work service in 1969 and 1970 which lasted until 2004.  The kit includes a resin body, ends, radial roof, wood running board, tack boards and brake equipment, etched metal parts for sill steps, ladders, grab irons, metal running board and brake equipment.  Also included are metal nuts for weight over the trucks, and truck mounting screws.  The model may be completed with or without the ‘A’ end lumber door, with wood or metal running board, and with ‘K’ or ‘AB’ style brake equipment.  The decal sheets include the CPR “Spans The World”, stepped and script schemes, or the BCOL tool car scheme.  Price is $30.00 CAD.

Kit N15 Whats In The Bag:




Kit N14 completed with wood running board, K brakes and CPR decals:








Kit N15 completed with metal running board, AB brakes and BCOL decals:








N17 45 ft Flatdeck Trailer x 2 $20.00 CAD
N18 40 ft Flatdeck Trailer x 2 $20.00 CAD

These flatdeck trailers are typical of those found on our highways and at our industries.  The 40 ft trailer is a dual axle and the 45 ft trailer is a tridem axle type.  Both have fishbelly side sills with tie down ratchet and hook detail.  The kits comprise a resin body, front end sill, rear end sill with lights, step and mud flaps, suspension, wheel hubs and tyres.  Each kit contains parts for two trailers and the price is $20.00 CAD.

Kit N17 Whats In The Bag:




Kit N17 completed:






Kit N18 Whats In The Bag:




Kit N18 completed:






N19 Fairmont M19 Speeder x 2 $12.00 CAD

These speeders operated by CN, BCR and other railways feature a fibreglass body and plywood doors.  The model is a one piece resin casting with a small fret for the window wipers.  Cost is $12.00 CAD for a pack of two.

Kit N19 Whats In The Bag (penny not included):




Kit N19 completed:






All of these new kits together with the recently released NSC Double Door Boxcar for BCR & NAR are in stock and available from Central Hobbies  www.central-hobbies.com now.


Tim Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
(on behalf of Briggs Models)