Mystery CN steam generator resin kit

[CNR5529]

Over the weekend at a local train show, I came into possession of a resin CN steam generator car kit. This kit is a model of the welded GMD style SGU (the same one Rapido did in HO).



Does anyone know who made these, when they were made, and if they made kits of other types of rolling stock? Just curious. The original owner of this kit said he picked it up in a hobby shop in Ottawa.

[Philip H]

I want to say Briggs Models, but I'm sure our resident Cannuck's will tell me why I'm wrong.

If it is they have a fairly full line of stuff. 

[BCR 570]

Not a Briggs or Kaslo kit as far as I am aware; good find!

Tim

[CNR5529]

I also suspect it is not a Briggs kit, but not 100% sure of that either. The resin seems like the same stuff GHQ used in the 8 hatch reefers, however that doesn't mean anything.

Bottom line is who knows what other wonderful gems are out there!

[peteski]

Bottom line is who knows what other wonderful gems are out there!

That is true. For a while I was making LED-illuminated RR crossing signals and selling them at a local hobby shop under Precison Model Works name. I sold probably couple dozen sets. I had no idea who was buying them until years later when I saw one of the signals in a cover photo of the N-Scale Magazine. One of the buyers was no other than our own @daniel_leavitt2000 .  It is a small world . . .

The moral of this is that yes, there might be many model-gems out there made in small numbers and sold to local modelers. Sometimes those gems do get discovered by others by accident.

[Paradise275]

Fredrick, are you going to get Shapeways to make a copy of it so we can get some for our own passenger trains?

Rick

[CNR5529]

I was planning on drawing it (or the NSC version) up at some point to be printed, but now that I have a kit in hand that project has dropped on my priority list. That said, I am not opposed to do it if enough people are interested. Just don't tell @craigolio1, he will be mad that I am diverting resources from the RH project...   

[thomasjmdavis]

Easiest way to find out who made it is to make a mold, cast them in resin, sell some, and see who sues you.

CDS makes dry transfers for the car in N- maybe they know
https://www.tmrdistributing.com/presta/index.php?id_product=6900&controller=product

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That is true. For a while I was making LED-illuminated RR crossing signals and selling them at a local hobby shop under Precison Model Works name. I sold probably couple dozen sets. I had no idea who was buying them until years later when I saw one of the signals in a cover photo of the N-Scale Magazine. One of the buyers was no other than our own @daniel_leavitt2000 .  It is a small world . . .

The moral of this is that yes, there might be many model-gems out there made in small numbers and sold to local modelers. Sometimes those gems do get discovered by others by accident.

Fun fact: I own at least half a dozen sets. I bought out Ken's supply the moment I saw them.

I really  my miss that place.

As for the kit... My guess is that it was cast from a scratch built master. I see slight irregularities with duplicate details such as the little vents along the roof line. I would also bet my life on the door being lifted off a production F model. The large vent along the bottom right looks like evergreen corrugated siding

BUT some of the irregularities could be from smoothing out FUD striation. I don't think the casting is up to Briggs, Kaslo or GHQs exacting standards. That under frame looks warped.

[RRRover]

It's an older kit. I have one but long ago lost the instructions and header card. I picked it up at either the Toronto Christmas Train Show or a Toronto hobby shop (George's perhaps?) sometime in the late 1990s or early 2000s. At the time also picked up a resin kit for a VIA LRC coach. Wish I had more info than that.

[JMaurer1]

I once ran across a post about someone who was asking about a cast N scale Borden's 'butter dish' car (not the Ken Ray car). They picked it up in an auction and didn't know who made it or where it came from either. Never did find out where it came from (and I'm still looking for one). Just another nice car that was made and vanished...

[Roger Holmes]

Scratchbuilt --styrene wrapper over acrylic body

[chrismears]

I doubt this will be helpful but here goes anyway. Given the era and where you purchased the kit, perhaps it's from one of the iterations of Associated Model Makers?

That said, when I first saw it and the colour of the resin I remembered a kit I bought in the 1990's from a manufacturer in Quebec. It was a one-piece casting like you'd get from an open-face mould and could have built up into a really neat CN plow. Based on how it was cast, there was a lot of work to mill out the base to provide some sort of underframe...

The SGU is quite nice looking from your photos.


Chris

[JMaurer1]

Roger:

Hate you. What did you use for decals?

[CNR5529]

@Roger Holmes Those look great!

@chrismears I know exactly what kits you are talking about. I picked up the plow from Hobby Jonction Express in Dorval a number of years ago. It was a whole lot of fun getting enough clearance for the front truck to swivel! I've always wanted to pick up the Jordan Spreader as well, but haven't seen it in a while.

As for the SGU, I have decided to remove most of the cast on details such as grab irons and such, as they are on the large/crude side. Then it will get the super-detailing treatment. I'll post pics here as it moves along...