International, Max Gray, US Hobby brass cars

One very helpful and interesting resource is the "Max Gray Spotters Guides I-II-III" published by Model Graphics in 1973, which also includes US Hobbies cars and locomotives. This three-volume set turns up on e-Bay from time to time. There are excellent photographs of each model imported, along with notes on variations. Perhaps there is a similar compendium of information about International models, but I'm not sure.

B Smith, thanks for the tip about the spotter guides.

I have 2 B&O round roof boxcars that I think are International, and they have grabs and brake wheels.   As mentioned, there is minimal if any underbody detail.

I just had to dig out my International B&O wagontop box car. The box has a price of $6.50, and it came with trucks.

One of the unusual Max Gray models illustrated in the Spotters Guide is an A-B set of Fairbanks-Morse "Erie-built" passenger units. They were called "Erie-built" because Fairbanks-Morse did not have the manufacturing capacity to construct the body, which was contracted out to GE's Erie plant. GE also provided the traction motors and electrical equipment. I had an A-B-A set painted for Santa Fe years ago that I had repowered, but I haven't seen very many others, if any. It was a nicely done model, and I always thought the original locomotives were very handsome -- rivals to ALco PA's in fact. I don't think any other importer did these F-M's (maybe OMI?) until Atlas chose to import some O-scale plastic versions. Not many railroads bought the "Erie-builts," and apparently not many modelers did either.

@B Smith posted:

One of the unusual Max Gray models illustrated in the Spotters Guide is an A-B set of Fairbanks-Morse "Erie-built" passenger units. They were called "Erie-built" because Fairbanks-Morse did not have the manufacturing capacity to construct the body, which was contracted out to GE's Erie plant. GE also provided the traction motors and electrical equipment. I had an A-B-A set painted for Santa Fe years ago that I had repowered, but I haven't seen very many others, if any. It was a nicely done model, and I always thought the original locomotives were very handsome -- rivals to ALco PA's in fact. I don't think any other importer did these F-M's (maybe OMI?) until Atlas chose to import some O-scale plastic versions. Not many railroads bought the "Erie-builts," and apparently not many modelers did either.

OMI did indeed do them in: PRR, Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road

ECI

Thanks for this information EastCoastIron. I don't think I have ever seen the OMI models.

I just picked up a nice US Hobbies 2 bay coal hopper painted up for International Harvester.  One of their IHB 0-8-0 locos is on my wish list.  I used to have a Max Gray GP35 diesel, it actually had the MG etched plate on the bottom vs the the KTM plates usually in the later runs from US Hobbies.  Always wished Max or US Hobbies had done a nice brass NW2 or SW switcher.   I also used to have a MG SD7 with all 3 axles driven.  Sadly I may never have the curves that big 6 axle needs to run so it got sold. 

@B Smith posted:

Perhaps there is a similar compendium of information about International models, but I'm not sure.

Not seen one as yet.  Do like the IMP tank cars when I can find them not all boogered up. Good fun adding all the details to these cars and once finished, painted & lettered they look pretty good on a layout.

The beauty of brass models to me , is that 100s of years from now people will still be enjoying them.

@B Smith posted:

Thanks for this information EastCoastIron. I don't think I have ever seen the OMI models.

Here is a link to another thread on THIS forum. There are some images of OMI Eries mixed in it here and there. They were short runs and seldom seen.

https://ogrforum.com/...he-erie-built-diesel

ECI

I would like to know more about International Models, so if you can share some history please do.

I also learned that MTH made some Erie-builts, and that Jan Lorenzen (Locomotive Workshop) made some kits.  I didn't know that.  Of course, the originals used F-M's opposed piston engine, which was not designed for the rigors of use on a railroad locomotive, having been built for submarines with lots of cooling water available and for operation at constant speed to recharge batteries.

Bill Davis (American Scale Models) has a set of the MG Spotter's Guide listed on hi site for $29.95.