any new product caboose rumors?

[bbussey]

The two Atlas International cabooses are rerun on a regular basis.  A new batch of wide-vision cupola models is due in the spring, and there remain a handful in stock directly from the last release (Autumn 2012):
http://shop.atlasrr.com/c-752-n84.aspx

The NE6 caboose also is released regularly.

[sirenwerks]

Isn't Jason working on an NE5 through Shapeways?

[sundowner]

IM's Centralia Car Shops just announce a bunch of UP cabooses.

[Albert in N]

Randgust, those are the best looking cabooses that I have ever seen.  I also run DC, so probably Richmond Control lighting would be more to my taste around 5 to 6 volts track power (normal speed).  I do recall the battery change problem when I was in HO using home made diode lighting in the 1980s.  Thanks for your input!

[randgust]

Thanks.   

One other tip I'll add for interior lighting - the level of detail on 'new' models and trying to figure out how to get in there without breaking something is a challenge.  The IM cabooses in particular shed parts like a sheepdog sheds hair.

While the model is assembled, I cut across the underframe and floor with an abrasive disk right behind the end wall, so that I can drop the floor, trucks and bolsters out wihout disturbing the steps, ladders, etc.  I have to add new styrene cleats in the body to hold the floor at the right level, but I can then pull the floor and trucks out without further damage.

You can take a pretty crappy stock caboose and dress it up with parts that are available.   This started life as a Trix shell; added etched ladders and roofwalks from GMM (the covered hopper set has a lot of good material to cut up) put on all wire grabs, a smokejack from a scrapped-out Kato, and leftover trucks from one of the Intermountain conversions to Kato frames.   It's a yard queen so it's not lit, purely around to have some contrast against all the bright red rebuilt Ce-1's and Ce-2's on the caboose track.    http://www.randgust.com/Caboose%202087.jpg

I think the thing that really stands out on a 'good model' with what's available today are the sizes of the roofwalks and the ladders/grabs, just saying that if you find a body you can work with, upgrading cabooses is rather rewarding with the additional parts out there.

[bbussey]

It doesn't take much effort to upgrade those older cabooses.  The issue is that they are based on an ATSF prototype, so only the ATSF modelers benefit.  If you're fortunate enough to see an available caboose model based on a prototype of your road, that's the biggest hurdle.  And if your road is one of the few that is represented with multiple models (I think SP has the most with five), you're in great shape.

[randgust]

Mark has done an excellent job documenting the various cabooses over the years, some of which are no longer made, kits, rare, etc. but overall, there's a lot more out there than most people are aware of; i.e. a lot of possibilities for upgrading.

http://www.spookshow.net/freight/freight.php?caboose=11&rtr=16&kit=17&plastic=18&brass=19&resin=20&metal=21&wood=22&sort1=3&sort2=2&sort3=4&compress=1&Submit=Submit

And frankly, except for the Intermountain Ce-1's (Centralia) none of the legacy cabooses are very good for ATSF, either, as they come right out of the box.   My favorite 'whaaaa?' was always the original Atlas car in the 70's with the trucks moved toward the ends so they didn't have to do a different truck just for the caboose.  Made for a very awkward looking caboose.   http://www.spookshow.net/freight/atlasstandard8.html   
The side-sill 'drops' are where the bolster SHOULD be; at least Trix got that much right:  http://www.spookshow.net/freight/rocostandard8.html

The other 'huh??' in N has always been the Bachmann bobber with the window under the center of the cupola; I understand there may have actually been one DRGW prototype with the three windows per side but it always reminded me of the screen doors in the submarine joke.   Two-window designs were just so ubiquitous.   http://www.spookshow.net/freight/bachbob.html

Right now I have one of the Life-Like northeastern's center cupola on my workbench to redo it as one of the LEF&C cabooses, same approach as my ATSF ones.    Pretty much a clunky POS out of the box, with some love and etched brass it should be OK.  Custom-printing the decals.

The new stuff that's out now, well, it's just wonderful.   I was disappointed I never got a brass Traincat N9e transfer caboose as those were the standard caboose in my hometown and I rode around with the crew in one.

[bbussey]

There isn't much N product out there that is 100% accurate right out of the box.

I'd still rather have an Atlas now-Trainman model that is 80% of the final desired model than have to start from scratch.  Far less costly from both a time and money perspective.  The Atlas caboose can be corrected and have the details upgraded in one evening.

Life Like's Northeastern caboose isn't bad either, another 80% starting point and hardly a POS.  Replace the end rails and brakewheels, enhance the underbody detail, add a little more weight, add decent trucks and body-mounted couplers, repaint and deco.  The arrival of the Bachmann version negates having to upgrade the Life Like model, but it still can be brought up to current standards with little effort.

Again, if you model ATSF or SP or PRR, the N caboose options are really good.  For New Haven, I'm lucky in that Atlas tooled the #2 caboose for the railroad.  But if I want the #1 caboose (NE5), or any of the others, then hours must be spent to get them.

[SkipGear]

You could spend lots of time building what you need.....


Then a resin kit comes out so you build a bunch of them.....


Then finally a RTR version comes out....


The same progression is happening on the N&W CF that I scratch built....


There is now a laser cut kit available, an RTR can't be that far behind.

[VonRyan]

I need a Boston & Maine caboose that is suitable for a mid-1920s reefer-drag, but Google hates me and hasn't been helpful.

[bbussey]

I need a Boston & Maine caboose that is suitable for a mid-1920s reefer-drag, but Google hates me and hasn't been helpful.

Hunt down one of the Robert Ray kits.

[peteski]

Or Neal's N-gauging Trains photoetched brass version of that narrow monitor buggy.

[Albert in N]

While admiring my two Atlas Rock Island GE U25Bs, I recalled seeing prototype Rock Island bay window cabooses prior to The Rock's close of operations in 1980.  I surely could use one in N scale.  Then, I saw an ad for Caboose Hobbies in Model Railroader.  I recall visiting their fine facility while in Denver many years ago (1973).  Thus, I went there on line and searched by their detailed drop down menu.  My Athearn Rock Island bay window was in stock and now enroute.  Why not think Caboose for a caboose?  Not to take away from other on line stores or my local hobby shop, but I have never seen a factory painted N scale Rock Island caboose. 

[Bobster]

Albert,

At the risk of bringing up an old topic here, there are several other factory painted (ready to run) RI cabooses out there.   

1) Atlas 35971, a Steel Cupola Caboose 17858. Not quite prototypical accuracy, looks very Santa Fe to me.
2) Life Like 7984, an ex Lehigh Valley NE Type, Rock Island 17604.  Operated out of Inver Grove, Minnesota with sisters 17603 & 17605.   It survives, I think, in Iowa.  A few Microscale decals would help but it is prototypical.
3) Bachmann Extended Vision.  I've seen it in bankruptcy blue but no Extended Vision cabeese were painted  blue that I know of.  I'm repainting one red.
4) Atlas Extended Vision.  I didn't know this existed in Rock Island colors before I started the repaint above.
5) I don't know if Microtrains painted their steel caboose with the close spaced cupola windows in RI or not but it looks very closed to the wood caboose class that the RI re-sheathed in steel.

Just wanted  to let you know there's more out there.
I have only seen pictures of the Athearn N scale bay window RI caboose, looks nice!

Best regards,
Bob

[Albert in N]

That Athearn bay window Rock Island caboose is nice, plus it matches my Atlas GE U25B.  My Athearn Southern Pacific bay window is great, but the Rock Island seems to brighten things up.  Point is not to delay buying if you see one that you really like since Caboose Hobbies shows no more of these in stock.  I can make up a decent train using only Rock Island freight cars from Atlas and Micro-Trains, but kept this one very short in order to show the caboose.