I have always admired brass trains and have wanted some since my HO days, but never bought any. I changed that last week. I found this KTM #704 Hopper and had to have it. I can't wait to clean it up and paint it. I love it and am so glad I pulled the trigger.
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Andy,
Congratulations! You are doomed!
My first O brass car was an older Alco New Haven NE-5 caboose. Still haven't painted it over 10 years later.
It gets worse from here on out!
Enjoy!
You're done...……...
Nice car!
It's all downhill from here, 
“Once you start down the dark path forever will it dominate your destiny.”
Congrats! My first brass car...
PURDY!
You won't have to worry about that one turning into a sway-backed nag.
Thanks guys...I do think it can get out of hand quickly!
I just finished 16 of those older KTM/US Hobby cars for my own road. Nice cars when you can find them under $50 bucks.
Looks good Dan...I agree! I bought mine for $41 plus shipping. I thought it was a steal!
Not that I need another vice but inquiring minds want to know, I love die cast hoppers but why do we love brass rolling stock? My guesses:
A) looks cool on display?
B) Amazing detail?
C) Fun to paint and decal?
Other? Please help the uneducated.
The devil is in the details, and the good news is they don't break off as easily. it's almost sacrilege to call a brass car a steel, when it's really a steal! Next step? Obviously a brass loco! Cue the maniacal laughter!
Simon
hokie71 posted:Not that I need another vice but inquiring minds want to know, I love die cast hoppers but why do we love brass rolling stock? My guesses:
A) looks cool on display?
B) Amazing detail?
C) Fun to paint and decal?
Other? Please help the uneducated.
Precious metals attract us.
Gold is too soft for modeling; brass is the next best thing.
Paint on brass?
That's kinda like putting ketchup on Kobe.
I discovered brass back in my HO days, in the form of interesting cabooses, and carried that to three rail O, tracking down brass cabooses to install on lobster claw trucks. Unfortunately for me, there are several times more HO brass cabooses than O that have been offered.
Yeah. You're done. Once you buy a brass piece, you're always looking at more. Three-railers aren't immune from this either. There's also something about unpainted brass (maybe the details you see). Maybe that's why my ATSF Drover car (first and only unpainted brass piece) has been unpainted for all these years.
AGHRMatt posted:Yeah. You're done. Once you buy a brass piece, you're always looking at more. Three-railers aren't immune from this either. There's also something about unpainted brass (maybe the details you see). Maybe that's why my ATSF Drover car (first and only unpainted brass piece) has been unpainted for all these years.
Have to say this is a true statement lol and I am a tinplate nut! but for me it started with old doorstop 2 rail that morphed into some brass stuff by default so the road was curvy 
I agree Matt...I have been looking for more already, but I had been looking for a while and finally pulled the trigger.
@hokie71 You forgot option D) all of the above!
railroad-guy posted:I just finished 16 of those older KTM/US Hobby cars for my own road. Nice cars when you can find them under $50 bucks.
Those look great! I have a couple of boxes of KTM and Rail-Craft hoppers I've been accumulating, I hope they look that good when ever I get around to working on them!
Since some of you 3 railers seem to have stumbled into the rarefied air of the 2 rail forum (LOL), what is the rationale behind a brass 3 rail item? It's one of those things I've never understood like putting mag wheels on a Zamboni. Sort of a physical illustration of an oxymoron.
Commence firing,
Simon
railroad-guy posted:I just finished 16 of those older KTM/US Hobby cars for my own road. Nice cars when you can find them under $50 bucks.
Yes, many of the KTM/USH cars can be found for $50 or less. Some might take some work, but still nice for the price.
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