I am planning to take the last week of December and the month of January off so I am finishing my last batch of cabooses for the year. They are almost done. There are 2 Canadian Pacific and a Central of Georgia that are about a week behind these. The next batch beginning in February is up to 17. The IC sidedoors still lack the "Chicago-New Orleans" and the TA&G still needs periods.
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BL,
Great Cabooses! Well Done.
PCRR/Dave
Unless I missed it, I guess you never finished the N&W CF caboose.
ironman1 posted:Unless I missed it, I guess you never finished the N&W CF caboose.
Nope, I sold it unfinished. Most all the feedback I received was negative. The N&W modelers have a lot of brass power and they prefer brass cabs too. I understand that feeling myself.
Malcom, sorry to hear you gave up on the N&W CF. From the last mods you made your CF was right on! As for the brass CFs, I looked at one a local fellow O-gauger bought. You could NOT tell it had wood like body unless you held it in just the right light. It is just very hard to stamp brass with pronounced wood boards and wood grain.
If you reconsider I WILL buy one knowing that all the work to make an CF would cost more than I paid for my Southern wooden cab.
SAD and Disappointed that you gave up!
Ron
The Southern also had one of the N&W CF caboose relettered in southern.
Stephen
Malcolm,
Would you consider building an FEC side door caboose? The FEC sold several to some other railroads, so they were seen on other roads, too. There was a set of drawings in MR a few years back, but I believe they had the height of the sides wrong (too low). There were some HO brass models made, probably from those drawings, because they looked too long & low. A local museum has one (in terrible condition) that I might be able to get some measurements from.
Bill in FtL
Hi Malcolm,
I'm disappointed you never finished the caboose. I gave you the 2 decal sets under the assumption you would complete it. I find it hard to believe, with your obvious skill and capabilities, you let a few opinionated individuals discourage you. You were so close. You also had quite a bit of positive feedback, that I guess you overlooked. It's also a shame you didn't consider, at least contacting me, when you decided to sell. I did showed quite a bit of interest, along with encouragement. I hope you included the sets of decals with your transaction.
Joe
ironman1 posted:Hi Malcolm,
I'm disappointed you never finished the caboose. I gave you the 2 decal sets under the assumption you would complete it. I find it hard to believe, with your obvious skill and capabilities, you let a few opinionated individuals discourage you. You were so close. You also had quite a bit of positive feedback, that I guess you overlooked. It's also a shame you didn't consider, at least contacting me, when you decided to sell. I did showed quite a bit of interest, along with encouragement. I hope you included the sets of decals with your transaction.
Joe
Joe,
It has been so long since I started the CF I forgot about the decals. I just located them and I will send them back to you on Monday. The CF had become to labor intensive and I could not spare the time from my other cabs to finish it. As much labor as it was requiring it would have made the caboose unmarketable.
Thanks for the offer of the decals.
Malcolm
Malcolm,
I know what you're saying, but you seem like you enjoy the challenge. I guess the rub is, once your effort starts to exceed the price of the same model offered in brass, it's hard to justify the selling price. You shouldn't overlook the fact that most of the members here admire your work, and like a piece of fine art would cherish a handmade item from a craftsman like yourself.
A $1200.00 or more locomotive should have the proper caboose behind it. I gave up trying to coax you into finishing that caboose. I would have considered paying $300.00 and more for that hand made masterpiece. I've been wanting to build one of my own, and started, but working 12 hour days, its not happening any time soon. I finally broke down and paid over $300.00 for a division point brass caboose to run behind my Legacy Y6B, and couldn't be happier!
The point is, don't sell yourself short. How many unhappy customers do you have? If your looking to make money building these models, you'll never get rich, but you enjoy what your doing. Or, am I mistaken and you hate doing this? I doubt it. Time is money, but the cost of materials is relatively inexpensive. It's just extra money in your pocket when your done, that offers relaxing, quality time. You probably should charge more...
Enjoy the holidays, and keep on building,
Joe
Very cool! Enjoy your sabbatical!
Malcolm Your the 'Genie' of cabooses, what wonderfull work, enjoy the holidays! cTr...(Choose the Right)
Malcolm,
Love the Ex. IC cabooses in the CN Paint! 
All of them are gorgeous, as always!
Ironman, I just sent you an email regarding the decals. Malcom, I was out of the loop with anyone being critical of your efforts with the CF Caboose. It is absolutely gorgeous!
Hello Malcolm,
Just received the 2 sets of decals back today. Still sorry you never finished the caboose!
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Joe
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