I was in my LHS today and spotted a discontinued Prototype Models Industries resin kit of Dofasco sideframes like I used on my CNR MLW C630 units shown here: Since this is now a very rare kit, I thought I'd let everyone know at least one of them is still available. It's at Peter Macdonald's Hobby Supplies in Kingston, ON, Canada and the price on the box is Cdn$16.75. You can call him at 613-548-8427. (I hope this message doesn't contravene any rules on this forum!)
Thanks for the info. I would gladly take them but I don't have a CN C630 to match it up to, unless you know one for sale
Firstly, if you find a PMI Dofasco sideframe, and it looks good, go ahead and buy it. But buy it from a store! The guy behind PMI is infamous. He's operated under a number of names, and has a long history of broken promises. He is widely known to swallow payments while never delivering the goods. His name is Shaun Tierele, from Penhold (Red Deer) Alberta. I've seen some of his kits, and I'd agree waith Dave L that they resemble soap carvings more that models. Stay away. And if you read this, and choose to business with him anyway, don't you dare whine about losing your money! Run away, run away! As for the MLW 630s, and Syl you know about this, there are plans in the works to have them brought out through a major resin manufacturer. The C630M, the M630, M630(W) and the M636 are planned. There are many bridges to cross, but if all goes well these will be released as runners, DCC-ready, with a Stewart drive, resin shell, photo-etched parts, either pre-formed wire or Delrin grabs and handrails, and the correct DOFASCO sideframes and trucks. Release date? Hopefully in 2006, if all goes well. There's a ton of stuff to work out to bring these to market, and they might take more than twelve months, but they are going to happen. Cheers Scott Fraser Calgary, Alberta [ December 30, 2005, 04:02 AM: Message edited by: Scott Fraser ]
Hope there are not too many vendors like this around. It's discouraging. I am in N scale, but I thought these truck types were very hard to find. I'm surprised no one else is claiming them. Welcome to TB, Scott. Hope your posts will have happier tidings.
Hi spacif: The DOFASCO sideframes are a bit of a non-issue, because Miniatures By Eric has some decent brass castings, as does Tiger Valley. This guy Tierele flogs N-scale stuff, too, most notably an N-scale M420 which shows up on eBay from time to time. It's another soap carving. In HO scale, he's used the names Mainline Prototype Industries (most recently) and Prototype Model Industries. In TT scale, he's offering stuff under the name NaftaTrains. It's only a matter of time, once people are on to him, that he will reinvent himself with other names. Beware if the address is Penhold or a P.O.Box in Red Deer, Alberta. I hate it! I live in Alberta, and am involved with legitimate producers of resin kits and other aftermarket accessories. We all get tarred with the same brush, because of one shyster. It's not right, it's not fair, and there's nothing anyone can do about him. The RCMP are too busy looking for murderers and rapists to bother with a mail-order con artist, so they don't. It sucks. So caveat emptor. Believe it or not, there's a Yahoo Group devoted to him and a couple of other scammers full of tales of woe. All we can do is spread the word, and hope our message reaches people before they get fleeced. Cheers Scott Fraser Calgary, Alberta (which is not Penhold!)
Thanks for the "heads-up" on this guy Scott! Unfortunately there are a few scam artists and con-men that crop up every few years or so in all walks of life.
Just as a note of clarification, the sideframes produced by Miniatures by Eric do not have the correct axle spacing. They were produced specifically to fit a cheaper (AHM or Model Power or some such brand) C630. I bought two sets and found out too late that they were not prototypical. When I complained about it, Eric explained why they were shorter, but said no one else had complained. Don't waste your money on Eric's sideframes!
