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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 1, 2023 18:31:26 GMT -8
"Relive the golden era of model railroading with our simple to build Kit Classics™ Steel Cupola Caboose. All that’s needed for assembly is a Phillips screwdriver, glue, and a few minutes for assembly. Kit Classics freight cars are perfect for sharing this timeless tradition with the next generation of model railroaders."
Unfortunately this is a very generic van and not accurate for the CP 4340x series. Then again it retails for less than $26us. This is probably the first NEW painted plastic caboose kit produced in a very long time.
Anyone know the prototype for this one?
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Feb 1, 2023 19:59:28 GMT -8
It's a Santa Fe prototype, I think these were called 1500 class based on the road number. It's before the CE series of later cabooses. I think some of these were rebuilt into the CE-1 class, but I've seen a few photos online of cars that don't look rebuilt, but still carry CE-1 road numbers and stencils.
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Post by cemr5396 on Feb 1, 2023 20:13:12 GMT -8
it looks to me like pretty much an exact copy of the old Athearn Roundhouse 'cupola caboose'. I have no idea why they would copy it instead of doing something else, unless just to stick it to their old company. It wouldn't shock me, I suppose.  |
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Post by theengineshed on Feb 1, 2023 20:13:20 GMT -8
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Post by edwardsutorik on Feb 1, 2023 20:31:50 GMT -8
it looks to me like pretty much an exact copy of the old Athearn Roundhouse 'cupola caboose'. There's no reason to apply the word "Roundhouse". The model goes back at least to the late '50's, when I bought mine. An Athearn. Mine has rubber truck springs that you had to install yourself. So. To the OP: It's a Santa Fe caboose. It's a 60 year old model. It is not Canadian. It is an adequate caboose for beginners. Ed |
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Post by cemr5396 on Feb 1, 2023 20:35:33 GMT -8
To the OP: It's a Santa Fe caboose. It's a 60 year old model. It is not Canadian. It is an adequate caboose for beginners. Ed correction.... it's a COPY of a 60 year old model...that is no better than said 60 year old model. |
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Post by trainguy99 on Feb 1, 2023 22:15:06 GMT -8
Looks a lot like like the MTH HO caboose to me.
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 1, 2023 22:55:40 GMT -8
Athearn released their caboose about 1957. It was also sold as a Lionel HO piece for several years.
There is a version that is a direct clone imported by AHM. This may or may not have become a Roco item. The early ones were sold plastic bubble on a card and have a globe with an OK logo on them.
I agree, this appears to be a re-issue of the MTH car. At $26 versus $10 or less for an Athearn if you look a little, I don't see it selling super great. Even the rare and collectible Athearn cars aren't bringing huge money right now unless they're perfect mint in the box cars.
ScaleTrains has released items very similar to other companies several times now. The first Kit Classics car duplicates the Atlas double plug door boxcar, as well as the Details West car Athearn ended up with. It took me about five years to get rid of the last of those. I think I made a whole dollar on it.
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Post by ambluco on Feb 1, 2023 23:36:23 GMT -8
This is an MTH model.
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Post by talltim on Feb 2, 2023 4:45:56 GMT -8
it looks to me like pretty much an exact copy of the old Athearn Roundhouse 'cupola caboose'. I have no idea why they would copy it instead of doing something else, unless just to stick it to their old company. It wouldn't shock me, I suppose. I’m no caboose expert, but there are loads of differences to the Athearn model. Different width cupola, different window pattern, no ‘lumps’ along the bottom edge of the sills. just to start with |
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 2, 2023 5:18:55 GMT -8
it looks to me like pretty much an exact copy of the old Athearn Roundhouse 'cupola caboose'. I have no idea why they would copy it instead of doing something else, unless just to stick it to their old company. It wouldn't shock me, I suppose. I’m no caboose expert, but there are loads of differences to the Athearn model. Different width cupola, different window pattern, no ‘lumps’ along the bottom edge of the sills. just to start with I think they're still there, just painted and they now blend into the black underframe details and trucks. But yeah, the windows are definitely different.
I wonder if they're still using a simulated wooded running board on the roof? That used to always bug me whenever I tried to modernize and Athearn caboose.
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Post by talltim on Feb 2, 2023 5:21:17 GMT -8
I’m no caboose expert, but there are loads of differences to the Athearn model. Different width cupola, different window pattern, no ‘lumps’ along the bottom edge of the sills. just to start with I think they're still there, just painted and they now blend into the black underframe details and trucks. But yeah, the windows are definitely different.
I wonder if they're still using a simulated wooded running board on the roof? That used to always bug me whenever I tried to modernize and Athearn caboose.
Oh, yeah, when I look on a computer screen rather than my phone I can see them |
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 2, 2023 5:22:10 GMT -8
Oh, hey, there's a Rio Grande! Where is Jim?
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Post by sd40dash2 on Feb 2, 2023 6:05:14 GMT -8
Looks a lot like like the MTH HO caboose to me. trainguy99 for the win!
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thmy
Full Member
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Post by thmy on Feb 2, 2023 6:14:47 GMT -8
Its MTH mold. Might as well get a few bucks for a stupid purchase based on short man syndrome and ego.
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Post by 12bridge on Feb 2, 2023 6:17:13 GMT -8
I bet they will sell just fine. How many 20$ cabooses do you see in hobby shops? Last I saw, I don't think any. Yes, we all know we can find cheap bluebox ones all over, but that's not the point.
Seems like an easy win to me to use new to them tooling to make a cheap car.
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Post by riogrande on Feb 2, 2023 6:20:42 GMT -8
Oh, hey, there's a Rio Grande! Where is Jim? Hah hah. Good one! It looks like ScaleTrains just wants to expand there line of models that are analogous to the Athearn Blue box line; probably not a thing for most folks here. |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Feb 2, 2023 6:33:18 GMT -8
it looks to me like pretty much an exact copy of the old Athearn Roundhouse 'cupola caboose'. I have no idea why they would copy it instead of doing something else, unless just to stick it to their old company. It wouldn't shock me, I suppose. I’m no caboose expert, but there are loads of differences to the Athearn model. Different width cupola, different window pattern, no ‘lumps’ along the bottom edge of the sills. just to start with Here's the Athearn caboose:  It looks the same to me, except for the tool box. Which is a separate piece. Ed |
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Post by onequiknova on Feb 2, 2023 6:38:18 GMT -8
But yeah, the windows are definitely different. They both have five windows in the same location. Athearn appears to be using an insert to block off some windows on the newer runs, but the Blue Box caboose had all five windows intact. |
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 2, 2023 6:53:52 GMT -8
But yeah, the windows are definitely different. They both have five windows in the same location. Athearn appears to be using an insert to block off some windows on the newer runs, but the Blue Box caboose had all five windows intact. I'm just referring to the little tooling differences.... The placement of latches (or whatever they are) or lack thereof. Small stuff. |
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Post by gevohogger on Feb 2, 2023 6:55:12 GMT -8
I’m no caboose expert, but there are loads of differences to the Athearn model. Different width cupola, different window pattern, no ‘lumps’ along the bottom edge of the sills. just to start with Here's the Athearn caboose: It looks the same to me, except for the tool box. Which is a separate piece. Ed I think that yellow CP is also an Athearn... |
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bn7023
Junior Member
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Post by bn7023 on Feb 2, 2023 8:01:23 GMT -8
I don't think it makes sense in terms of cost to replace the trucks with ones made by Tahoe Model Works (Includes user list). 1935-1950s (Barber-Bettendorf swing motion caboose truck)  1924-early 1930s (Bettendorf swing motion caboose truck)  |
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Post by grahamline on Feb 2, 2023 10:50:31 GMT -8
Trouble is, the Athearn blue box Santa Fe caboose is (generally) so close, and has been around for so long, that it takes a while to adjust to the new one. Like when people complained P2K Geep hoods must be too thin.
Scaletrains caboose is something plucked out of the MTH line, isn't it?
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Post by lvrr325 on Feb 2, 2023 11:02:42 GMT -8
I bet they will sell just fine. How many 20$ cabooses do you see in hobby shops? Last I saw, I don't think any. Yes, we all know we can find cheap bluebox ones all over, but that's not the point. Seems like an easy win to me to use new to them tooling to make a cheap car. That kind of is the point. Most modelers are cheap. Also, you won't see the Scaletrains in hobby shops; save a few friends, they don't sell wholesale. You have to mail order it. So I have to order the thing, or I can buy the nearly identical blue box one right now for less than half the price. Most guys are going to buy the blue box. They don't care about the little differences. |
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Feb 2, 2023 11:17:23 GMT -8
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thmy
Full Member
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Post by thmy on Feb 2, 2023 11:30:46 GMT -8
I bet they will sell just fine. How many 20$ cabooses do you see in hobby shops? Last I saw, I don't think any. Yes, we all know we can find cheap bluebox ones all over, but that's not the point. Seems like an easy win to me to use new to them tooling to make a cheap car. That kind of is the point. Most modelers are cheap. Also, you won't see the Scaletrains in hobby shops; save a few friends, they don't sell wholesale. You have to mail order it. So I have to order the thing, or I can buy the nearly identical blue box one right now for less than half the price. Most guys are going to buy the blue box. They don't care about the little differences. Agreed, Scaletrains abandoned most of the little dealer network they had in pursuit of more greed. They've got to pay for overstaffing and the MTH/FVM aquisition somehow. Maybe it will sell but going online to buy a $20 caboose and then spend nearly as much in shipping is not a likely move for most modelers I know. |
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Post by wjstix on Feb 2, 2023 14:35:48 GMT -8
Athearn moved a fair number of their old "bluebox" models, including their ATSF five-window caboose, into their Roundhouse line a few years ago (which already contained the original MDC Roundhouse models). So calling the current version an "Athearn - Roundhouse" model seems correct to me.
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Feb 2, 2023 15:36:25 GMT -8
I think the Scaletrains/MTH caboose does a few things better than the Athearn, but a few things worse as well. The ladders look better and mount in a more prototypical manner. The Athearn ladders are one piece and don't attach to the roof. On the actual car, the ladder mounts to the roof and the taller railings are a separate piece like the Scaletrains model. The car sides also look thinner. The Athearn model has noticeably recessed windows, while the Scaletrains tooling has the window frame more flush with the car sides.
I think the one big flaw with the Scaletrains caboose is the lack of window glass. The model shown at the beginning of the thread just has open windows, and I don't see mention of glass on the product features tab on their website. Adding it isn't that difficult, but I think a molded clear window piece would look a bit better than a clear acetate sheet installed behind the window.
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Post by hudsonyard on Feb 2, 2023 16:09:11 GMT -8
I was kinda hoping there was gonna be a semi-foob clinchfield scheme in the announcement.
Guys will buy these, dudes at the club need matching hacks to run behind their expensive RTR steam at speedstep 25 around the layout.
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Post by cp6027 on Feb 2, 2023 16:14:49 GMT -8
The color of the CP caboose from Scale Trains is... odd?
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