Everything old is new again. Walthers is returning to model railroading’s roots with a newly tooled line of HO scale passenger cars that, while accurate models of Budd Co. prototypes, are generic enough to act as stand-ins for modelers who want quality, basic cars.
These are well-designed models that leave room for more fastidious modelers to trick them out to their satisfaction using Walthers’ light-emitting diode interior lighting kit and accessory detail kit.
The prototypes. For the first release, Walthers is offering three New York Central prototypes – a large-window coach; 10-roomette, 6-double-bedroom sleeper; and a diner – and a Wabash-prototype baggage-lounge car. All of the cars were built by the Budd Co. between 1947 and 1949. Many of the cars, including the Wabash baggage-lounge, ended their careers with Amtrak. More cars are planned for early 2016.
The models. The passenger cars have a one-piece body and floor casting and a separate roof that includes blue-tinted window glazing. The interiors are molded in tan styrene. Metal couplers are truck-mounted at the correct height. The plastic trucks have free-rolling turned scale 36″ metal wheels on plastic axles.
Most of the dimensions matched New York Central drawings on the Canada Southern website (canadasouthern.com). Because the cars share a common floor casting, the truck-to-truck centers vary a little from the prototypes. For example, the coach’s trucks are about 8″ too far apart, but the dining car’s trucks are about 3″ too close together, according to drawings on the website.
Window and door locations and sizes matched drawings and photos I found online. Roof vents and name and number boards on the baggage-lounge car differed from a photo of the car in Wabash livery.
Modelers who want more features can opt for Walthers’ accessory kits. The interior lighting kit includes everything from a light bar with LEDs, to metal trucks, and body-mount coupler pockets. The detail parts accessory kit includes pre-formed stainless steel wire railings and hand grabs, as well as body-mount coupler pockets. The drawbar assembly for each accessory kit is different. The detail kit includes a standard length drawbar. The lighting kit has an extended drawbar for use on tight curves. The extended drawbar is also available in a 10-pack. Installation of both kits was straightforward.
The cars were all a bit light for their length, according to National Model Railroad Association recommended practice 20.1, weighing between 5.3 and 5.8 ounces. The 85-foot cars should weigh 7 ounces. With the accessory lighting and detail kits installed, the diner weighed 6.7 ounces.
Paint was smoothly applied and the lettering was crisp and opaque. The models include decal sheets with car numbers and names as appropriate.
On the layout. I took the cars to Model Railroader’s club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, for testing. The cars had no trouble negotiating the various curves on the layout, which get as tight as about 24″ radius.
To further test the models, I took them to an old project layout with 18″ radius curves. The three unmodified cars with truck-mounted couplers had no trouble negotiating the layout, though they certainly looked better on the larger radius curves. The couplers reliably coupled on the curves, as well.
For modelers who want passenger cars they can reliably operate on compact layouts, this equipment squarely hits the target. For modelers who want something more, these cars with the accessory kits could be just the ticket.
Price: Large window coach, diner, 10-6 sleeper, baggage-lounge, $34.98; passenger car exterior detailing kit, $9.98; passenger car LED interior lighting kit, $29.98
Manufacturer
Wm. K. Walthers Inc.
5601 W. Florist Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53218
www.walthers.com
Era: late 1940s to late 1970s, depending on paint scheme
Road names: Amtrak; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry.; Canadian Pacific; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; New York Central; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Pacific; Union Pacific; VIA Rail Canada; undecorated, painted silver
Features
▪▪Operates on 18″ radius curves
▪▪Correct scale 85-foot length
▪▪Tinted window glazing
▪▪Proto-Max metal couplers at correct height
