I've decided to try to make some progress on my BN Business car set this winter, however my biggest hurdle is the lack of passenger core kits. I've got a decent stock of Kato coaches/sleepers I could also use, however I don't have any way of milling the sides down to allow the attachment of brass or styrene car sides. Same issue I'll have with my full dome and its replacement car side. Does anyone know of anyone who offers milling services? Or a source for core kits?
Shapeways has a knock-off of the core kits: https://www.shapeways.com/product/YGQWHE4AX/n-scale-replica-american-core-car-kit . I have not used them, so can't attest to their adequacy for what you want to do. If you buy one and try it, please post a review and your results, here.
We draw up the replica car core https://www.shapeways.com/product/YGQWHE4AX/n-scale-replica-american-core-car-kit for some UK based contacts, as I was told that the core kits were hard, if not impossible to obtain. I am not sure if the San Juan Car Company has stocks now, but a number of folks have used them, but not had any feedback. I would be interested to hear any comments, and if it works OK - or needs amendment. We can do other versions - and I am looking at doing SP versions for myself as I have already made a couple of the 3-car articulated diners but am short of some 3/4 length dome cars! Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
The issue I see with Peter's core kits is the lack of the detail parts sprue, so my cars would have barren underbodies, which really doesn't fly for me.
I've been harassing Lowell Smith to do a BN business car for a while now. He's done all the predecessors and BNSF. It's OUR turn, Ike !!!
I messaged him yesterday on FB about it, the heavyweight body style is only close for 3 of the cars. Red River, Kootenai River and Meramec River
which is understandable, as the underbody sprues are difficult to get hold of. We are working on this - and let folks know if there is a source fort he parts. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com