Updated June 16,
2008
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About our Products (Revised March 2, 2008)
Established in 1978, BRASS CAR SIDES produces an extensive line of high
quality photoetched brass HO and N-scale passenger car sides, craftsman
kits and parts, as well as classic railfan videos (to be replaced by new DVD
editions). Our accurate and easy-to-use
side sets and kits permit the modeler to build streamlined cars at great
savings over all-brass imports. HO sides are etched from .010" hardened
brass sheets and have etched surface features, with windows, grabiron holes
and other openings etched through, N-scale sides are .008" brass, with
similar details. Most HO baggage-mail-express car sides have separate
etched door inserts, while the N-scale sides have integral doors etched as
outlines.
Only ordinary modeling skills are required for either of the three common construction techniques: (1) using either our HO Basic Body Kit #101 or Deluxe Body Kit #102; (2) applying the brass sides as exact-length overlays to designated HO or N plastic cars; or (3) using designated core kits We have set up a letter code in our listings for the plastic cars and core kits that best match the length of our sides. The manufacturers and codes are: Rivarossi (R) [not IHC], Con-Cor (C), Bachmann (B) or Kato (K), Train Station Products (T, HO), Eastern Car Works (E), or American Limited Models (A). Given the many different lengths of commercially available plastic cars, core kits, and side sets, the modeler should use these letter codes and other available information sources to confirm length matches. All of our non-dome N-scale side sets may be used with the ALM #8010 through #8040 core kits. The roof and floor sections must be shortened to accommodate the shorter head-end cars.
The Basic HO Body Kit No. 101 includes cast pewter ends, scale-width (10-foot) milled basswood streamlined roof, wood floor, and centersill for one car. The Deluxe HO Body Kit No. 102 comes with lost-wax brass ends, heavy copper-clad fiberglass (pc board) floor, and basswood roof. In the overlay method, the plastic surface features, window piers, and some skirting are trimmed and the brass sides applied over the super-structure using adhesive. The windows are then reglazed immediately behind the openings in the brass. The overlay method is preferred for our dome prototypes in both scales. HO construction articles have appeared in the 7/90 and 11/87 NMRA Bulletin, and 10/90 and 5/95 Mainline Modeler, as well as other publications in English and German (i.e. Loki). General instructions for both methods and suggested detail parts, trucks, decals, paints and references are included with the sides. The HO C&NW, RI, and SP bi-level commuter car boxed kits include brass sides, doors, brass end castings, vents, grilles, wood roof, pc board floor, glazing, parts for cab end (if needed), and detailed instructions. The SP gallery car kits also include trucks & bolsters, and stainless steel side doors. These three craftsman kits have been discontinued, although Walthers Trains still has some on hand. Some parts such as the stainless steel loading doors, side air intakes and roof vent etchings, and cab car end brass castings have been added to our line of detail parts and will be available as long as stock permits. See announcement below. Please refer to our catalog and new releases section for a complete list and suggested retail prices of all of our products.
Obtaining our Products (Revised
June 16, 2008)
Our products are available from participating hobby dealers, Walthers Trains, and
direct from BRASS CAR SIDES. We are happy to fill direct orders and maintain
reservations for individuals
who are not being served by a hobby dealer. The shipping charge for any
number of sides or our body kits is $4.50 on orders to U.S. and Canada.
Orders that include the ALM core kits require an additional $0.50 per kit for
shipping. Shipping insurance on USPS orders is available at an additional
charge. Contact us by
e-mail for
airmail charges for international orders. Remit by check, money order, or
Paypal. If using Paypal, send order by
e-mail to Dennis Henry to confirm
availability, the total amount to be remitted, and the account name. Sorry, no COD or credit card orders
can be accepted. Minnesota residents please add 6.5%
sales tax to order total (including shipping.) Send SSAE with $0.59 in
applied stamps for illustrated catalog (see below for downloads),
current bulletin, reservation form, and order blank to BRASS CAR SIDES,
715 S. 7th St., St. Peter, MN 56082-1435. Phone: 507-931-2784.
E-mail contact.
Illustrated Downloadable Catalog Sheets in pdf format:
(Revised May 22, 2008)
Sheet 1: Milwaukee Road Olympian and Twin
Cities Hiawathas
Sheet 2: SP, UP, C&NW, ATSF, NYC, PRR, B&O, IC,
MP, T&P, CRIP, KCS, Erie, NKP, CP, CN Pullman Sleepers
Sheet 3: Great Northern, SP&S, CB&Q
Sheet 4: Northern Pacific, SP&S, CB&Q
Sheet 5: Coaches for PRR, IC, C&O, D&RGW,
NKP, D&H, SP, C&NW, SAL, CN, VIA, Pullman Sleepers for CN & VIA IC,
C&NW
Sheet 6: Union Pacific Domes
and Coaches, Milwaukee Road "Grove" and 60' Postal, other cars for C&NW, GTW, C&EI, L&N, NCSt.L, Baggage-Mail Door sets
Links to Manufacturers of Supporting
Parts:
American
Limited Models
Great Western Passenger Car
Details
Brian Rumler's N-Scale
Milwaukee Road Decals
Jim Stillman's N-Scale Milwaukee Road
Hiawatha Parlor and "Creek" Skytop Shells
Links to the Models of our Customers:
Fred Klein's N-scale
Empire Builder
American Limited Models Core Kits in N-Scale
(Revised June 16, 2008)
We carry the
#8010 and #8015 N-scale American Limited Models as stock items. See below
for descriptions of all five.
8010 Core kit - outside swing hanger trucks and accessories, gray
$12.95. One on hand, more expected in two weeks.
8015 Core kit - Commonwealth trucks and accessories, gray $12.95.
We had four in stock as of June 16.
8020 Core kit - outside swing hanger trucks and accessories, black $12.95.
Not stocked. Available by special order.
8025 Core kit - Commonwealth trucks and accessories, black $12.95.
Not stocked. Available by special order.
8030 Core kit without trucks in gray $10.95. Available by
special order.
8040 Core kit without trucks in black $10.95. Available by
special order.
We can also supply other ALM items by special order, subject to
manufacturer availability, with a
minimum order of six each of those model numbers we do not regularly carry in
stock. Our quantity discount schedule applies to all of these kits. Please note the
$0.50 per kit add-on to our basic $4.50 shipping charge.
New and Recently Arrived Sets: (Revised June 16, 2008)
N Budd Vista-dome coach for GN Empire Builder and NP North Coast Ltd. designed to overlay the Con-Cor Budd dome coach of California Zephyr
prototype. (173-520, $21.75) These sides are in production and we expect
to start filling orders from reserved
customers in early July. (A second version of
this side set, sized for the Kato Budd dome coach of Burlington's Twin Cities Zephyr
prototype is available by special order.)
HO PS smoothside dome overlay sides for Wabash dome parlor (later COG & SR), MP/T&P/IGN
dome coach (later IC 2210-2212), and B&O "Strata-dome" coach (later Amtrak)
(173-64, $31.75). This set is now in production and is expected in
mid-July for reserved customers. It is designed to be used with the Con-Cor
"Pleasure Dome" lounge of Santa Fe heritage.
N PS smoothside dome overlay sides for Wabash dome parlor (later COG & SR), MP/T&P/IGN
dome coach
(later IC 2210-2212), and B&O "Strata-dome" coach (later Amtrak).
Arrived May 20 and all reserved orders have been filled. Designed to overlay the
recent Con-Cor PS dome
lounge of ATSF prototype. May be adapted to use Röwa
shell for B&O prototype.
N
GN/CB&Q 1181-88 "Glacier" 16-4 PS sleeper sides (173-525)
Reserved orders filled. Items available from stock.
N GN ACF 48-seat coach in GN 1215-18, 1227-32 series (173-512)
Reserved orders filled. In stock.
N NP/CB&Q 588-99 PS, SP&S 300 leg-rest coach sides
for North Coast Ltd. (173-504, $20.75) In stock.
N NP 350-63/CB&Q 480-82/SP&S 366 PS 8-6-3-1 PS sleeper sides
for North Coast Ltd.(173-505, $20.75) In stock.
We have filled all reserved orders for the five sets listed below and
have some left from the first production run .
HO GN 1198-99 "Club" 8-2 buffet lounge sleeper sides for
Winnipeg Limited (173-62, $31.75) In stock
N GN 1198-99 "Club" 8-2 buffet lounge sleeper sides for
Winnipeg Limited (173-562, $20.75) In stock.
HO GN 1100-04 mail-baggage sides for 1947 Empire Builder, Western Star,
and other trains (173-63, $36.75) In stock
N GN 1100-04 mail-baggage sides for 1947 Empire Builder, Western Star,
and other trains (173-563, $20.75) In stock
N SP/NP 10-6 Plan 4140C sleeper sides for Cascade and NCL
with all-new tooling (173-551, $20.75) In stock
Planned for Future Release - Reservations Encouraged: (Revised
May 22, 2008)
N PS 14-4 Pullman Plan 4153 sides for B&O, KCS, MP, and T&P if more reservations
arrive. Would be our #173-528.
HO & N GN 1160-67, CB&Q 1168-69, SP&S 700 PS 8-4-4 "Pass" sleeper for 1947 Empire Builder and
1950-71 Western Star.
Reservations needed to make this set a reality.
HO & N NP 487-493 "Holiday Lounge" parlor for Mainstreeter and
Pool Trains Nos.
407-408. Reservations needed.
HO & N UP/C&NW "Western" and Wabash "Blue" 12-4 sleeper sides for Cities
Streamliners and
other trains. Reserve.
HO & N Milwaukee Road 1935
Hiawatha coach/parlor sides if there is
sufficient interest. Other cars to make the rest of that train will follow
if so. See Jan. 1984 Model Railroader
for plans. Chicago Great Western coaches 200-201 also. We need
another 8 reservations each for HO and N to put these sets into production.
Design of N-scale Northern Pacific 455-459 Budd Dining Car Sides (173-529) is
suspended, pending anticipated Budd core kit from American Ltd. Models.
Detail Parts to Upgrade Three Brothers Manufacturing and
Holgate & Reynolds HO Commuter Cars: (Revised April 13, 2008)
173-350 Stainless-steel center
loading door (pair) $7.50 [Sold out here on April 12. Walthers has
stock.]
173-351 Brass air intake side vent for C&NW
intercity bi-level cars $3.75
173-352 Brass air intake side vent for P-S
commuter bi-level cars $3.75
173-353 Brass air roof vents for P-S commuter
and intercity bi-level cars $3.75
Other
Recent and Retooled Items Available from Stock: (Revised September 26, 2007)
HO Northern Pacific PS Diner 450-455 (#173-61, $31.75)
N Northern Pacific PS Diner 450-455 (#173-561, $20.75)
N Northern Pacific PS 56-Seat coaches NP 500-517, SP&S 301-305 (#173-530,
$20.75)
HO Milwaukee Road "Grove" Cafe-Parlor 180-185
(173-60, $31.75)
N Milwaukee Road "Grove" Cafe-Parlor 180-185
(173-560, $20.75)
HO Milwaukee Road 60' Postal Cars 2152-53 (173-59, $36.75)
N Milwaukee Road 60' Postal Cars 2152-53 (173-559, $20.75)
HO C&NW "Northern" series 16-3-1 PS sleeper sides (#173-6, $31.75)
have been retooled for the TSP #807 core kit.
N C&NW "Northern" series 16-3-1 PS sleeper sides (#173-506, $20.75) for ALM core
kits are new to our catalog.
N PS 13 Bedroom Plan 4071 sleeper sides (#173-521, $20.75) have been retooled for the ALM
core kits.
HO Illinois Central PS 56-seat coach 2614-2640 (#173-44, $31.75) have been
retooled for the TSP #807 core kit.
This side set was originally produced to match the Rivarossi "1930" length.
N Illinois Central PS 56-seat coach 2614-2640 (#173-544, $20.75) were released
in July of 2006
and have been designed for the ALM core kits.
We solicit your reservations and orders directly, or through your hobby dealer. We are also maintaining a list of other prototypes that could become side sets.. We need firm reservations for about 20 for any one item for it to move into production. Please print and send in the reservation form, or contact us by e-mail.
Reservations for
Milwaukee Road Feature Cars from Athabasca Scale Models: (Revised 9-1-07)
Starting in 2004 we have acted as special-order dealer for the excellent HO and N-scale car side sets that are produced by
Athabasca Scale Models in Calgary, Alberta. At
that time, Bob Hardcastle at Athabasca announced plans for both HO and N-scale versions of the Milwaukee Road (and later CN)
"Superdome" and "Skytop" cars, and we have been accumulating
reservations ever since. So far no release date has been announced,
but we contact Athabasca every few months to see whether there is something to
report. We can only speculate on the impact that the announced Walthers HO
Twin Cities Hiawatha cars will have on the Athabasca plans.
Milwaukee Road "Skytop" Parlor and "Creek" Resin Shells from Jim Stillman: (Revised
4-1-08)
One of our relatively recent N-scale customers, Jim Stillman, has
developed handsome and easy-to-use resin shells for both of the Milwaukee Road's
"Skytop" observation cars for the
Twin Cities Hiawatha and the Olympian Hiawatha.. These cars complement our Hiawatha
side sets. In fact, Jim used our #173-503 parlor as a pattern for the side windows
of the "Rapids" parlor version. The ALM core kits can be used to supply the floor and trucks. See his website
at www.nscaleskytops.com.
General Announcements (Revised January 12, 2008)
After almost six years of stable costs for our etched parts we have
received two price increases totaling over 20%. The first of these required that we raise most of our prices
for HO and N sides by $1.00 (or a few by $2.00) on April 15, 2006. The
most recent and much larger increase in our etching costs hit March 1 of 2007,
and this required that we increase prices of most items on July 1, 2007. We have
adequate supplies of nearly all items, although very low-demand items which have
been hard-hit by the ready-to-run models, will be rerun only when orders for at
least three sets have accumulated. Modelers and dealers may contact us directly, or check the Walthers web
pages
www.walthers.com
for Brass Car Sides, Manufacturer No. 173 for current availability from these
two sources.
Train Station Products P-S/ACF #807 and Budd #806 HO Core Kits are nicely done and easy to use. The length is close to 82' 4" excluding diaphragms, and matches several of our sets, and can be adapted to others. This length is about 6" shorter than the common post-war length of 82' 10". The car ends need to be notched by 0.010" to accept our sides in their full length. We are updating some of the technical sheets supplied with our sides to include references to these core kits. Future HO side sets are being designed to use this kit, although these sides can still be used with our two body kits.
Our #173-102 Deluxe Body Kits are temporarily out of production pending accumulating sufficient orders for a production run of the floors and obtaining a decent price. They were still available at Walthers as of January 12, 2008.
Custom Etching Services not
Available
We receive requests from time to time to do custom etching,
particularly for heavyweight
HO cars and cabooses. Since we
subcontract all of our etching work, and for a variety of technical and
economic reasons, we are not in a position to offer custom etching services.
However, suggestions for additions to our line from individuals or groups for
particular streamlined HO or N-scale side sets are welcome, and will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. With the explosion of high-quality
plastic RTR passenger cars in recent years, many of our most popular prototypes
have been produced in those forms, although sometimes in limited runs. We
are finding that few car types remain that can attract a minimum number of
reservations for our type of craftsman components.
Quantity Discount Schedule
(Effective August 15, 2006)
We offer the following quantity discounts to direct-mail customers:
5% discount on orders from $85.00 to $165.00, excluding shipping;
10% discount on orders from $165.01
to $330.00, excluding shipping;
15% discount on orders above $300.01, with free shipping.
Copyright © 1997-2008 Brass Car Sides
