What alternatives exist for passenger core kits?

[thomasjmdavis]

I don't know if they still have them available, but a couple months ago, Union Station Products had a stock of the basic kits (floor, roof, ends. 

Otherwise, send an email to Leadville Shops (they bought San Juan, which a few years ago, bought ALM) which now owns the ALM tooling.  They indicated to me (a couple months ago in response to an email) that they intended to keep manufacturing the ALM N scale products, but it was a polite, generic response, so I have no idea of their production schedules or condition of tooling or which specific products.

Underbody details have become more available via shapeways- so there are some options there for various AC set ups, etc.

On the Kato trucks, I was wondering the same thing.  I have all the parts, so let me see if I can get a set attached to a half-finished car sometime later today.  Caveat there would be that some of the recent Kato trucks "clip" in place, and those are gonna take some modification.  The older Kato trucks from early smoothside and Budd runs should be easier.

The other option you might want to consider would be to pick up some used Kato cars, and use the cars for cores- which gets you the trucks and interior parts as well.

[EspeeGoldenState]

I made an order for 20 back a few years.  I don't know why you can't still order them.  A quick email to the company should tell you what you want to know.

I forgot about the sale of the company.  I would still email Leadville Shops and see what they say.  It is a bit disconcerting that the San Juan site only lists O and On30 products.

I had sent the San Juan site and email, didn’t realize all the hand changes for sure. I’ve sent an email to Leadville and currently waiting on a response.

Chris

[Ike the BN Freak]

Has anyone heard from Leadville about them doing core kits?

[Maletrain]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-passenger-core-kit/284163676446?hash=item422979991e:g:GtAAAOSwoB1fb8MP

This guy apparently prints them.

Seems like a perfect project for somebody here on TRW to make and sell.

[nickelplate759]

What's needed is not just a core but also  detail parts sets - both underbody and roof details.  The old American Limited set included a sprue of those and I'm hording what I have left.

[sd45elect2000]

I have a couple gallon bags of parts from Bob Fingerle if any one wants some. I didn't pay much if I remember right. I'll NEVER use the whole parts lot..

Randy

[thomasjmdavis]

Sounds like @sd45elect2000 may have a temporary solution to the detail sprue problem.  Get your orders in now.  I have enough (I think) to get me through the sides I currently have, so I will give the rest of you a little time to wheel and deal before I try to corner the market.

It may seem a little pricey at 26.95, but I think the best readily available alternative if you need the whole core kit (roof, floor, ends, details) may be to order a passenger car kit from Des Plaines Hobbies.  These kits include a full core kit (ie- include the details sprue) plus a pair of sides, plus window materials and in some cases some additional details (like end doors with circular windows for some SP cars).  I don't know if Des Plaines bought cores from ALM or ALM bought the core tooling from DPH, but the parts are identical and interchangeable. 

http://www.desplaineshobbies.com/store/category/21/105/N-Passenger-Car/page2.html  (the page number may change with inventory, look for item #s starting with "DPN"

You may be able to sell/trade unwanted sides (no guarantees).  Also, the plastic sides (most or maybe all of the lower priced kits, the higher priced kits have M&R metal sides included) do lend themselves to modifications or kitbashing.  Des Plaines also runs sales a couple times a year (worth it to sign up for their emails) where most items are 20-25% off, which can make the cost of the full kit competitive with the ALM MSRP of 6 or 7 years ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-passenger-core-kit/284163676446?hash=item422979991e:g:GtAAAOSwoB1fb8MP

This guy apparently prints them.

Seems like a perfect project for somebody here on TRW to make and sell.

I purchased one to see what it is like.  From my point of view, it has some upsides- one of the floors offered has posts for clip on trucks (I assume Kato) so those are an option.  The roof also has seams, which is more accurate for most PS cars.  The biggest downside I see is that the resin is "soft" and particularly on the floor is likely to need some reinforcement to stiffen it. The floors I received have a "rib" down the middle, which I assume was an addition to help with the stiffening, but this is going to get in the way if you intend to add an interior, and whatever is used for weight will need to fit around it (or it will need to be removed if using a conventional 1/2x.030 metal weight ala the ALM kit. The inset on the roof where the sides fit is not as large as the one on an ALM roof, but this could be an advantage if using metal sides.


Sounds like @sd45elect2000 may have a temporary solution. 

[Lemosteam]

What's needed is not just a core but also  detail parts sets - both underbody and roof details.  The old American Limited set included a sprue of those and I'm hording what I have left.

You know that I offer Pullman underfloor details and roof vents, right?

I know the underbody details come with a MT replacement underbody piece, but I can separate the details from it.

[Ike the BN Freak]

While I was looking last night, I did see Peter Harris @ NSK makes a details kit on shapeways.

I've looked at the Des Plaines Kits, but I just don't want a ton of sides that if I sell, someone else has no core kit for.

I took a Kato car apart last night also just to see, and it seems the window inserts lock the body to the floor and keep it from sinking, so there is that also one would need to fab. I have enough Kato "cores" to do what I want, just rather not use them for that if I don't have too.

[jugtown modeler]

Wondering if anyone has seen this Ebay seller that offers a 3D printed core kit:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-passenger-core-kit/284163676446?hash=item422979991e:g:GtAAAOSwoB1fb8MP

I can't personally vouch for the quality but it looks like it will serve the purpose and he has good feedback. For $10, probably can't go too wrong.

Also has some 3D printed locomotive shells that look interesting.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I've spoken to the designer of the ebay core kit, he states the floor he can do clip on trucks or screwed ones. Also he has different types of roofs available, and can print the cores shorter for other sides, such as baggage cars and such.

And I figured between John's and Peter Harris @ NSK's under body parts, I think got a decent core kit for the time being.

[OldEastRR]

The other option you might want to consider would be to pick up some used Kato cars, and use the cars for cores- which gets you the trucks and interior parts as well.

But be aware that not all KATO passenger cars are the same length. Like their prototypes, some railroads have cars of similar design but different length. I found this out when I decided to use a KATO car as the "core kit" for the ESM sides I bought. Turns out the UP cars are a foot or so longer than the PRR cars, and the latter were exactly the length needed to match the ESM sides. There's also a problem that some car sides were designed to to be used on the old ConCor passenger cars and thus are shorter than the KATO cars. Those were the old brass car sides, I think. So keep that in mind when looking for a stock passenger car to refit. if the car sides are bit too short, you can leave the KATO doors in place when you remove the stock sides. Then cut off only part of the replacement side's door, leaving a bit of as filler (you can sand off the detail) to fill in the gap.

The ESM instructions also came with underbody details, and if you're up to it you can remove the cast-on ones on a stock KATO and rearrange them. I used a PRR 10-6 as the basis for a the ESM NH 14-4 sleeper, and reworked the KATO 10-6 interior into the 14-4 one. A bit tricky as I had to move the light fixture from one end of the car to the other and rebuild some interior walls. Still haven't figured out how to install the raised frame Kato windows to the ESM sides yet.

[reinhardtjh]

Wondering if anyone has seen this Ebay seller that offers a 3D printed core kit:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/N-scale-passenger-core-kit/284163676446?hash=item422979991e:g:GtAAAOSwoB1fb8MP

I can't personally vouch for the quality but it looks like it will serve the purpose and he has good feedback. For $10, probably can't go too wrong.

Also has some 3D printed locomotive shells that look interesting.

That's Robert Nune (or something like that). The guy that does the ATSF Blue Goose shell, PRR S1, PRR Q2, etc.  He's pretty a pretty capable CAD designer so I'd imagine if you gave him some good ideas, he could come up with something.

[Lemosteam]

That's Robert Nune (or something like that). The guy that does the ATSF Blue Goose shell, PRR S1, PRR Q2, etc.  He's pretty a pretty capable CAD designer so I'd imagine if you gave him some good ideas, he could come up with something.

What am I, chopped liver?  LOL! 

Actually it would be quite simple to design a sliding core and roof cut to length to accommodate various car lengths.  A slot inside for a brass strip stock weight covered by seats.

[peteski]

What am I, chopped liver?  LOL! 

Actually it would be quite simple to design a sliding core and roof cut to length to accommodate various car lengths.  A slot inside for a brass strip stock weight covered by seats.

John, we all thought that you want to step away from your computer for a while, and do some hands-on modeling, like creating a swamp!