Back in the 80s, to get well-detailed diesels I either had to buy brass, or super-detail and kitbash a plastic diesel to within an inch of its life. Obviously, I couldn't afford brass (two babies to raise), so I had to learn now to superdetail and modify plastic shells. I was further turned off of brass after dealing with a modeler in Kansas who bragged about his brass models in such a way that it would have embarrassed Donald Trump. Nowadays, with the increased quality of detail on new models plus the wide array of detail parts available (not to mention the cost of new locomotives headed into brass territory), one is better off buying plastic models. My opinion, anyway......... Although I wouldn't mind scoring some Overland Frisco cabooses should they ever come up on certain auction sites or train shows..................
I've been watching some N scale brass models go for crazy prices lately on the auction sites. The Pennsy duplex models go for high sums these days. A T-1 went for nearly 2500 a few months ago and a Q2 went for 1300 this last week. There is clearly a demand for these models. An MT-4 in 1/2 daylight sold for nearly 1k. I bought mine for nearly 1/3 that price....maybe ought to sell it. I had a chance to buy an N scale T-1 for under 400....should have bought it......
