O-Scale Westside/KTM Big Boy...how to date it ?

I am not a specialist but to my knowledge, none of the Westside Bigboy came painted or with any of the features you are describing. It was probably custom painted by a skilled amateur or professional and enhanced with various lights and a sound card.

You have in your possession a very nice model and probably the most detailed Bigboy with the Sunset Anniversary edition that can be bought for no more than $2K. I would definitely hold on to it.

Yves

PS: I know I did not answer your question.

I may have a Westside catalog at home but it would be all HO. Westside dates from 1968 or 1969. They made trains through the early to mid '70s but can't tell when exactly the stopped. Not sure they made it into the '80s. The PFM sound system would undoubtably been added at a later date. All my Westside brass is very solid though none that I have have can motors. Maybe O scale had Pittmans but I was all HO at the time.

Pete

West side took over the KTM [Japan] manufacture of O scale models after US Hobbies, they have a red box and all models were much more detailed than the older US Hobbies [KTM built for both, US Hobbies went out with the passing of Levon Kemalyan ] to my knowledge none were factory painted although in later years some were custom painted here for Westside [SD-40 diesels I know were] I believe there was only one run of the Westside Bigboys, I am sure there are more knowledgeable people on this topic out there.

I wouldn't mind sleeping with it, but either the wife or the two cats would have to go. Oh well.

A real expert could narrow it down to just a few years by measuring the gauge and tread of the wheels.  Check it with an NMRA gauge, then report back.

locopilot750 posted:

I wouldn't mind sleeping with it, but either the wife or the two cats would have to go. Oh well.

Now there's a conundrum; choosing between the wife or the 2 cats......

locopilot750 posted:

Not a modeler, but in a weak moment, I bought an O-scale Westside/KTM UPRR 4-8-8-4, and have some questions about it. It appears to have been factory painted, or maybe custom painted, and it's flawless. It has a working head light, back up light, and marker lamps front and rear, and a quite detailed backhead. All drivers, trailing truck, and all tender axles are sprung, (maybe they're all that way). If you look down into the smoke box with a flashlight, you can see the end of a lead weight in the boiler, which makes the model very heavy. You can also see a sound card in there too.  The card, is marked "PFM-03 (sound)", and has a small light bulb on it. On the bottom of the front engine frame, it has a printed paper sticker with just a date, that reads 3-25-94. I was wondering if anyone knew how to date these models by the number on the box, and stamping on the bottom of the frame, #3366 ? Any ideas ?

Have a look here: http://www.brasstrains.com/Bra...-4-8-8-4/2.1d1459d18

Regards

Fred

mwb posted:

How to date it?  Try sending it flowers and jewelry....

Good one !

Interested in what you find out about this model.

I should've bought a West BB a yr ago- it was heavily reworked and beautiful model. Custom paint and now I'm kicking myself. 

Keep us posted on what you find out, please.

sncf231e posted:

locopilot750 posted:

Not a modeler, but in a weak moment, I bought an O-scale Westside/KTM UPRR 4-8-8-4, and have some questions about it. It appears to have been factory painted, or maybe custom painted, and it's flawless. It has a working head light, back up light, and marker lamps front and rear, and a quite detailed backhead. All drivers, trailing truck, and all tender axles are sprung, (maybe they're all that way). If you look down into the smoke box with a flashlight, you can see the end of a lead weight in the boiler, which makes the model very heavy. You can also see a sound card in there too.  The card, is marked "PFM-03 (sound)", and has a small light bulb on it. On the bottom of the front engine frame, it has a printed paper sticker with just a date, that reads 3-25-94. I was wondering if anyone knew how to date these models by the number on the box, and stamping on the bottom of the frame, #3366 ? Any ideas ?

Just curious i am not a registered member for Brass trains but what value did they put on the Westside KTM bigboy and I believe the Precision version a later more detailed model was built in Korea as are all Precision products today.

Have a look here: http://www.brasstrains.com/Bra...-4-8-8-4/2.1d1459d18

 

Regards

Fred

I bought mine for $1995.00, and after looking around, I think it was well worth it. I was watching and bidding one one for a while on Ebay, but it quickly spiraled out of control, and I dropped out. It was a factory painted KTM, a later version than mine I think, by Precision  Scale Models. It had a few different features than mine, but I think mine has as good, or better paint & details. I watched it close, just for the fun if it, and it brought $4550.00 plus $56 bucks for shipping. Take a look at the auction if the link works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Precis..._cvip=true&rt=nc

The PSC (Precision Scale Models) Bigboys are exquisite and most of them become shelf queens unfortunately. I have never seen one running and I am not sure they are that good on layouts. I missed one 10 years ago for a little bit more than $2300. One guy outbid me at the last second.

The Westside is a nice compromise in details and traction power. It does not have all the fine details that can be found on the PSC or SUNSET Anniversary version, but is probably better than anything else when it comes to pulling long trains. If you can replace the original electric motor with a Can motor such as Pittman, you will end up with a monster of pulling power. I reworked an old USH Cab Forward long time ago and this engine is amazing of smoothness and strength.

Yves