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Post by thunderhawk on Oct 3, 2019 18:48:37 GMT -8
Decided to jump in the deep end, in a small way, and will be offering the HO scale MILW Thrall caboose in ready to run form. This is a very limited run of 50 cars detailed and decorated for #992135 as assigned to Tacoma's Pool 2 with WASH ST stencils signifying its retention toilet. Cars come with etched running boards, correct MILW drop center caboose trucks, Miner brake wheels, turned metal 33" wheelsets, Duryea draft gear, and Kadee #153 couplers. This is not a pre-order, rather the cars are built and shipped as the orders come in. Once the 50 are gone this number will be retired. HO MILW Thrall caboose ready to runAnd they are Made in the USA. *Roof grabs will be adjusted. ** If some S scalers should happen to pass through here I have these available as unpainted kits.  |
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Post by riogrande on Oct 3, 2019 21:27:05 GMT -8
Nice looking caboose and the wheel dot puts it at what, 1978 and later.
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Post by thunderhawk on Oct 3, 2019 21:37:35 GMT -8
Nice looking caboose and the wheel dot puts it at what, 1978 and later. Thanks. Yes. The photo I have of it is from '78. The COTS isn't applied on this model yet as it was just a black patch on the sill versus the normal boxes that I have to make the proper decal for. |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Oct 4, 2019 3:00:23 GMT -8
Wow!
What kind of a storage box is included with this? Is the car weighted per NMRA specs?
Thanks for posting.
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Post by thunderhawk on Oct 4, 2019 9:16:57 GMT -8
Wow! What kind of a storage box is included with this? Is the car weighted per NMRA specs? Thanks for posting. To keep costs down, and since this is such a small number, they will not have custom pretty boxes but rather mailer style boxes. (Pretty boxes are not terribly expensive as long as you order several thousand. I'm not ordering several thousand.) Like Sunshine kits came in but with internal packing to hold it firm, and then that is packed inside a larger box with peanuts for additional protection. The smokejacks are packaged separately to be applied by the modeler. They aren't terribly light as is but will have some additional weight added to them to ensure good tracking. I know of at least one kit that was assembled without weight that tracks just fine. |
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Post by thunderhawk on Oct 4, 2019 9:32:38 GMT -8
Here is a video by Bill Sampson with his Thrall kit. Show some of the details and goes from box to track in 45 minutes. (Unpainted of course) He covers a few things in this vid including the Walther Soo International as well.
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Post by sd40dash2 on Oct 4, 2019 10:56:15 GMT -8
Understood. My main concern is how well the details on the caboose (such as the most vulnerable pieces on the sides and ends) will hold up during shipping inside the kit box. Often it is sideways movement within the kit box that dooms the ends of cars during shipping. The design of the fancy boxes is such that fragile details are protected during the high mileage these cars put on before reaching our hands. Hope that makes sense.
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Post by thunderhawk on Oct 4, 2019 11:09:38 GMT -8
Understood. My main concern is how well the details on the caboose (such as the most vulnerable pieces on the sides and ends) will hold up during shipping inside the kit box. Often it is sideways movement within the kit box that dooms the ends of cars during shipping. The design of the fancy boxes is such that fragile details are protected during the high mileage these cars put on before reaching our hands. Hope that makes sense. They'll be packed with foam blocks surrounding the caboose to prevent any movement so things like the grabs and end railings are not damaged. Believe me, I don't want to be replacing or repairing a bunch so some time will be taken in packaging them. |
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cvacr
Full Member
Posts: 123
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Post by cvacr on Oct 9, 2019 7:22:34 GMT -8
Nice looking caboose and the wheel dot puts it at what, 1978 and later. Yep that dot is from 1978. So minimum date for the model as decorated. |
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Post by thunderhawk on Nov 16, 2019 3:11:09 GMT -8
  I recalled someone asked about the packaging. Survives being thrown across the shop. Also, CHECK OUT THAT BOX!  |
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Post by sd40dash2 on Nov 16, 2019 4:36:10 GMT -8
That looks great! But yes, even if they make for a good running gag around here, boxes really are important. They obviously serve a critical role to protect the model during all the shipping until the initial end customer receives it. Afterwards there is shelf storage and later shipping to the next customer when eventually re-sold online. Thank you for putting in the effort to design a strong box and updating us here.  |
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Post by thunderhawk on Nov 16, 2019 6:20:34 GMT -8
If things grow as planned eventually I'll have spiffy boxes. In the meantime these work well for protecting them while shipping which is the main concern at this time.
And yes, the box comments still make me chuckle.
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