Blackstone caboose versions

I have tried to find out how the various versions of cabooses look like that Blackstone issued. Blackstone had done a perfect job showing their K-27 models (though the fine large pictures have since disappeared from their website). But with the cabooses, one always just gets to see that pre-production sample of #0503, and now a lousy picture of the special issue D&S. Though much better pictures of that D&S model can be found on the D&S shop webpage if one clicks on the small pictures: HOn3 Scale Long Caboose | Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train

But, overall, there is a paucity of pictures of the fine models, also confirmed when a google picture search did not find much. One gets UP and other cabooses already on the first page. Some relief comes from people offering models on an auction site, and not merely providing the Blackstone website-picture.

I think the various versions can be a fine source of information for modelers in other scales as well. However, I would prefer to restrict the discussion here to HOn3 models and their prototypes. One specific goal of starting this thread is to have people post pictures of their versions and possibly the alterations they made.

So far, all the models have been issued in either freshly shopped or just slightly faded colors. So I hope, Blackstone is coming up with heavily faded ones in the near future. I assume those ought to have a more reddish or even orange touch as well? Those faded versions must certainly have been a much more common sight originally. Though it's often a bit hard to judge from black-and-white pictures. Again, any insights as to the correct colors would be welcome.

My own collection, so far, consists of three of the models. #0503 in the Moffat Tunnel version with the large end windows on the cupola, #0540 in the Royal Gorge version, and finally #0574 with slight weathering in the flying RIO GRANDE livery. On all of them, I have so far painted the upper ladder attachments in the color of the side of the roof. That seems to be how the prototypes were painted. I'd be interested whether this was so universally. #0503 is supposed to be slightly sun faded, whereas #0540 comes in freshly shopped paint. My two models actually look pretty much the same. The appearance of #0540 to be lighter on the pictures must be an artifact. #0574, however comes with a clearly different shade, in addition to being weathered.

I'll post comments to individual cabooses separately, with the intention that the pictures that go with them will be more easily found by people searching via a search machine. Not sure whether this is the way to go though.

 

#0503

Caboose #0503 had two windows patched up at one time, and Blackstone provides the patches. However, if I'm correct, those patches are only prototypical with the Flying RG livery. Same with the awnings on the body windows. They certainly were not on the original with the Moffat Tunnel livery. #0503 is the only one with separate awnings over the cupola side windows. Blackstone has done this very well as can be seen. Blackstone also provides (non-functioning) models of the marker lights. I have not put those on so far, though I may do so in the future.

 

caboose 0540

This version, unweathered and in Royal Gorge livery should not have its awnings applied to the body windows if I'm correct. Thus, I left them off until convinced that they should be on. Same with the ladder extensions. One thing that I think should or could be added would be that special marker light on the roof of the cupola. Blackstone does not provide that. Another question to still be solved is whether there should be any grab irons added to the roof. Prototype pictures showing the top of the roof are rare. I'd appreciate any clues to this issue. Blackstone actually promised to come up with some information. But so far there is nothing on their website.

 

Blackstone caboose 0574

My version in its flying RIO GRANDE livery clearly needs the awnings over the body windows. I think it can be used with or without the provided ladder extensions. However, I have yet to see a picture of it with the extensions while it was still in use. But Sloan (A Century + Ten of D&RGW Narrow Gauge Freight Cars....) specifically mentions #0574 with those extensions on page 196. Though the extensions should be "round section, all others flat". But that difference would hardly show in this scale.

 

Robert,

I didn't know Europeans were interested in American railroading, I guess you learn something new every day!

Anyway I would like to post pictures of my caboose soon, but unfortunately the black paint on the roof got slightly damaged as a result of carelessness. [Spilled a little Alcohol on it =(...]. I am in the process of repainting the roof and as soon as I finish, I would be glad to post pictures of it. Mines is the 0503 with the Flying Grand herald.


BTW I ordered the "freshly shopped" #1165 high side gondola. It should be here shortly!

 

Looking forward to see your pictures! I had a similar mishap with one of my N-scale IM engines. I spilled a bit of paint thinner on the cab when I tried to clean up some glue. The cab number dissolved instantly, and the cab window "fogged up". After getting the fitting Microscale decals, I was able to correct the numbering problem. However, that matted window is still there.

As for Europeans being interested in American trains, there are quite a few. Though probably not all that many in the NG field. There are even meetings and conventions here. The last one was not even two months ago near Zurich: Convention RR-Fans English
As you can see, there is even an English version of the website. Check some of the YouTube videos, like #8 to give you an idea of what was shown. It's not just the local fans who attend, they come from all over Europe. Thus, those YouTube videos were made by a fellow from Czechia.

And Dan can tell you that he had two Swiss fellows in his engineers class on the C&TSR in October. So there are definitely a number of seriously interested people. I have been a member of the Friends of the C&TSR for many years. And I'm not the only one here in Switzerland.

 

Here at the FREMO we have a group of friends who model H0-USA and another group for americaN.

Wolfgang

 

I'm under the impression that American Railroads are far more popular in Europe than European railroads are here.

One of the greatest errors I've ever made in purchasing trains was when I picked up a H0 German 2-10-2 rather than a H0e 0-6-2t. Someday, I'll rectify that.

Michael

 

It's all a matter of personal preferences. H0e is not popular at all here, so most people would prefer the choice you regret, I'm sure. But I guess we all have models that we regret having spent a lot of money on, money we now wish we'd have spent differently.

 

Thanks, I had not realized that is the same. Wikipedia also makes the connection to the Egger-Bahn which invented the scale. I remember when Egger-Bahn started, but as I said earlier, it never became popular in the sense of being able to get into the mass market such as HO/H0, N or Z scale. The most widespread NG model scale in Europe is HOm/H0m which corresponds to the meter gauge prototype (m stands for meter). But while very fine plastic models are being offered (particularly by Bemo), they are just a bit too expensive. Bemo also produces very fine HOe models. Egger-Bahn, if I remember correctly, was patterned more along the lines of a light industrial railway (peat and gravel transport). Whereas the HOe models by Bemo are very detailed scale models of German NG that is narrower than the meter gauge. Some of the HOe models offered by Liliput (now Bachmann) and Roco (e.g. Roco - Modelleisenbahnen: Lokomotiven) are still a bit closer to the Egger-Bahn ( http://www.egger-bahn.de/english/index.htm), I think.