 Page Updated: Jan 31, 2002 Rolling Stock: Boxcars Hoppers Cov Hoppers Gondolas Coil Cars: GR42: Photos Walthers HO Red Cab N References G52 Other Classes References Flatcars Autoracks Intermodal Maintenance Scenic Gallery Modeling Ref Shelf CRCyc Home What's New Help Out Site Map Contributors About Myself |
While you can use the N scale Walthers coil steel car, it's not the best model on the market any more. The tooling lacks detail, as do most of Walthers' N scale models. Plus the Walthers model comes with curved hoods. While the GR42A originally came with angled hood, you could rationalize the curved models by claiming that the steel plants put them on instead because they were available. While prototypical, I feel this would be cheating a bit too much if you acquired more than two of them. But we do have a bette choice.Sometime in the second half of 2001 Red Caboose will be releasing their Evans 100-ton Type 4 coil car, which is a replica of the Reading Company and Conrail G42A coil car. While I have only been able to see photos of the model on Red Cabooses' website, which is www.red-caboose.com, all I can say is that I am impressed. They do an excellent job of presenting detail photos of the model. The detail on this model, in my opinion, rivals that of many HO models. It makes the Walthers model look like the toy that it is. The Red Caboose model comes complete with prototypical angled hoods and Micro-Trains trucks and couplers. It appears that the coil steel loads, which come in three appropriate sizes, will be sold separately, thought the website seems vague on this. You can purchase the model in one of two basic versions. You can also purchase three-packs with unique road numbers. The ready-to-run version, series RN-17600, comes with its hoods permanently attached and has an MSRP of $18.95. The kit version, series RN-17700, has the hoods as separate items that the modeler can use either on or off the car, and has an MSRP of $17.95. The latter will probably be the route for most of us to take. While this price might seem significant, remember that it already comes with Micro-Trains trucks and couplers included, which we normally must purchase at an additional cost. Red Caboose currently has the Reading Company scheme planned for their first batch of releases. Though heavily weathered and abused by 1976, many survived in Reading paint and numbers well into the Conrail era. Plus you could use the predecorated models as the base for Conrail stenciled cars as well. By the sound of their website, Red Caboose will probably release the Conrail version in the future. I will update this page as more information become available.  Photos for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image. Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited. |
