Lowell Smith models

Does anyone own any of the American Freedom Train models by Lowell Smith? If so, do you like them? Are they worth the money?

Thanks for your opinion.

 

It depends on how much of a rivet counter you are.

They are a close approximation of the real cars, depending on the car. But they leave a bit to be desired as per prototype. Decals exist out there to make your own so...

Then again, you do not HAVE to paint & decal them. They are ready to roll & look very nice with the Kato locomotive.

So, it's your call.

 

I thought I'd bring this thread back to life because I was looking at some of the special run cars offered by Lowell Smith a couple of weeks ago. Although I'm not going to get any of the American Freedom Train models he is/has offered... there are some very nice Executive/Business cars that were recently announced. I ordered the Western Pacific 'Feather River' and the SP&S #99 about a week ago.


I don't buy too often from individual hobby sellers (excluding eBay & hobby etailers)... and this is the first time I've ordered from Lowell Smith. I did not get any reply as to an order confirmation or when these cars would be available. Even eBay confirms sales and advises when orders are shipped.

Before I contact them about this I was wondering if anyone can tell me what Lowell Smiths typical way of advising buyers their order has been received and whether they advise when the order has shipped

 

I ordered the Feather River last fall, and no there was no confirmation that the car was shipped before I got it in the mail about 10 days ago...FWIW I'll include a post that I made to the WP N Scale group on Yahoo, You can see pics of the WP car on the where's your wobbly thread:


" My Lowell Smith Executive Series, Feather River car arrived today...

I can't remember how long it has been since I had been this excited to open a
box and check out the model.

First off I'll say it is much better than the Feather River car I had before
today...Which was NONE. And better then the custom paint job I was planning for
a Kato Business car that I once paid $14 for.

At first opening I was initially pleased, then little things started to catch
my eye (and I am not a devout rivet counter.)

The roof detail is less than I expected, but I can live with that and not a
big a deal...also, the rear roof line is arched on the model, straight on the
prototype.

Then I noticed the orange and green awning on the back is just a paper sticker
and the green doesn't even closely match the color on the car, which it should.
I would have expected pad printed plastic.

The window arrangement didn't look right, and sure enough based on the photos
and books I own, it isn't a remotely correct layout for the windows, not to
mention the window glass on one side has a noticeable scratch.

The Trucks are a bit different and some of the components under the car do not
match photos.

Then I noticed the stairs on the prototype are silver on the model they're
black.

Lastly the orange lines sandwiching the script "Feather River" are about half
the thickness they should be.

All in all I am a little torn, like I said, it is a better model than what I
could have kitbashed or painted on my own, but at the same time, for $65 some of
these things should have been addressed. I am not entirely pleased and may
return it if I can..."




(Nick Laruso photo)

 

I got the entire Freedom Train so far, the flats are gonna be MTs, so not 100% accurate. The cars in set 1 and 2, also are not accurate, but they stand in better than most other cars on the market.

 

A guy in my club is buying the whole train it looks good ( what he has so far) running behind 4449. As for the business car you can see in my pic posted by charger, it's not perfect but since overland canceled there run years ago it's the best us WP fans have for now. I'm keeping my car.

 

Well... Charger... your candid description of the model is a good warning about the prototype accuracy we can expect.

Unfortunately... when we get these 'special' cars from most sources the bottom line is that they are adaptations of currently available models and will only be a resemblance of the prototypically correct car. Just as you mentioned... it is very likely a better rendition than I would have done... but.. knowing that it is not perfect is always going to be a bit of a disappointment.

The thing that really bugs me... is that some day... in the not too distant future... a manufacturer may actually make a perfect replica of the car. BUT... rather than wait til that unforseen day... this will be a very nice stand in.

 

Interesting, I didn't realize that the Lowell Smith WP and SP&S cars were going to be the same model. Back when the pictures on the Lowell Smith website only showed the prototype cars, I assumed the models were going to be different (since the prototypes were different).

I wonder what prototype the model is actually based on? It appears to be wrong for both the SP&S and WP cars that Lowell Smith is selling.

-Mark

 

I just wish you could get some decent N scale SP&S passenger decals!

 

What is very strange to me is... that it doesn't look like the currently available observation cars from Kato or Micro-trains... which would have been my guess as the existing tooling to come up with these. I'll have to look at some other possible cars... otherwise it might be a totally new body style we've not seen before.

 

It's all new tooling from Micro Trains.

Joe has said they may use it in the future for some of their own products, but currently its only being used for Lowell's cars.

http://www.micro-trains.com/lowell.php

For some of the other cars they are doing

 

LOL.... I must have sub-consciously been thinking about the text in the Lowell Smith website when I stated 'new body style we've not seen before'. Since I was so happy to see the Western Pacific 'Feather River' car photo and the SP&S 99 car model when I ordered them... I didn't pay close attention to the rest of the text.

Still... I would have liked to see a more prototypically correct car... being that the tooling is new and these are the first two cars in the series. Normally... one would expect the manufacturer will try to 'stretch the utility' of the tooling AFTER they do the prototypially correct models that the tooling would 'replicate'.

 

He is also doing a pair of NP cars. On the web site it is stated "similar in appearance" I guess so they can do multiple roads. I'm just happy I can finally have my WP Executive Special now.

 

Hmmm.... I've been looking throughout the Lowell Smith website looking for those NP Executive Line Obs... and can't find them.

Where did that announcement originate... cause I'd be interested in some NP business cars too?

 

Just as was mentioned by Charger... a small box arrived from Lowell Smith unannounced... and without fanfare. Inside I found both cars ordered... and I was very please with them.
Sure... there could have been some more details added; and of course, a 100% correct body would have been expected. FWIW... I'd rather have these than none at all.

Included in the box was an announcement for the 3rd (and 4th?) car in the 'Executive Line' Series.
The announcement serves as a reservation to be sent in with $$$ for the Northern Pacific business cars Gallatin River and Green River.
Each car will cost $62.00... shipping in the continental US is $7.00 ($12.00 abroad)... and states that the price may increase after release.
SO... I will definately be sending in some $$$ to Lowell Smith for these two little beauties.
They 'appear to be' in the Lowey two-toned green scheme... but it's hard to tell on the announcement because its an ink-jet print on plain paper.
The information on the announcement INDICATES... "Colors will be matched exactly to the NPRHS!"
This could be a very expensive collection for me... but... I feel they cars are worth it.

 

I got the announcement with my WP car.

 

He has done a reasonably good job with some of the SP&S cars. However by the time I find out about a new release they are already sold out. And the ones in the broadstripe scheme they can keep. Not my favorite paint scheme and since there are no available decals for SP&S passenger not worth my getting and repainting.

 

I've been checking the usual on-line sources for photos of EITHER of the two Northern Pacific business cars (Gallatin River or Green River) and have turned up nothing.

I would imagine that Lowell Smith has some reference photos of those cars somewhere... unless they are total guesswork... which is possible.

Again... if they are total work of fiction... that would probably discourage some from getting them.

 

There are a number of photos of Green River here - http://passcarphotos.info/Indices/BC10.htm#NP

-Mark