Who has the best scale boxcar?

AtlasO are the best detailed, but those details easily break off.  Lionel, MTH, and Weaver are nice models and you can't go wrong finding which ever to purchase.

I model 2 rail O and have converted a number of the "newer" Lionel scale stuff to two rail.  I agree Atlas has the most detailed equipment out there but Lionel definitely rivals them these days.  Now if they would just drop the prices so one does not have to shell out $70 for a single car, ouch!

Since you said "scale" that implies  you want an accurate scale model of the State of Main car if possible.

Atlas O 1937 ARA boxcar was a very common car and the model is a pretty good representation of the prototype.

I don't what MTH uses for their car.    Lionel as far as I know has only their PS-1 (Pullman standard welded side car) in a scale size car.    They also have the old Weaver line which is based on the same prototype.

I personally like Riveted cars such as the Atlas model better than welded side cars.   All the little rivet heads just add something for me.

Lionel Round Roof cars are scale, but were probably never owned by those New England RRs.    the Atlas/MTH woodside cars both outside braced and double sided, are probably too old prototypes to have ever been in that scheme.

so with the little I know, I would lean strongly toward getting the Atlas O 1937 ARA boxcar.

Ron,

   The Lionel PS-1 Boxcars are very nice in my opinion. They did make a State of Maine version in 2011.

   http://www.lionel.com/products...-boxcar-5141-6-27876

Good luck with your search.

JohnB

If we’re talking scale, I really like

Weaver’s 40’ PS-1.

MTH Premier 40’ And especially 50’ High Cubes

Lionel can really be a toss-up depending on the car, same with MTH railking

I saw a beautiful C&O Gondola for a bargain at a local train shop so I bought it- turns out It was Atlas, and it is an amazing looking piece of rolling stock. Intricately detailed, very well made- Atlas is known for this. If it carries over to their box cars- then go for an Atlas.

Unfortunately this is a very broad question.

Boxcars come in all different sizes from small civil war types to humongous Lionel 86' autoparts boxcars.

40' ps1welded boxcars, Lionel & MTH. The Weaver Ultraline cars seem to easily brake their corner steps.

50' MTH. Again, the Weaver Ultraline cars susceptible to breakage on the corner steps and brakewheel.

60' Atlas O Master for the details and paint.

86' lionel. Only game in town for RTR on that model. You can purchase o scale Lykens Valley wood kits.

If you specifically want a State of Maine car, the atlas 50’ PS-1s are the ones to get. They’ve been done several times in both plug and regular door versions.

I would agree with the Atlas cars, I did not see anyone mentioning Pecos brand. Not sure if they did a State of Maine car but their cars are nice.

@Ron045 posted:

My Son asked for a scale "State of Maine" red, white and blue boxcar for Christmas.

It seems like a car most every manufacturer made.  But which made the best scale looking version?

Online I found MTH Premier, Atlas, Lionel and Williams, but it's hard to tell online who has the best looking car.

Thanks for your input.

Ron

Atlas 40' Trainman is the closest IMHO.  

Atlas 50' Master is a close 2nd.

Truth be told BAR had a number of boxcars done with the "State of Maine" paint but no RTR ones are really accurate in any scale since BAR was known for oddball cars  such as strange hybrid 1937 dimension 1932 ARA boxcars or "Dartnaught" end post-war AAR boxcars.

For this rivet counter the trainman is the nicest and best and closest even though the ends on the real one were an oddball type. The rest of the car is spot on.

BTW My Dad, May he rest in peace, gave this little boy the greatest Christmas gift ever.  An Atlas "State of Maine" boxcar in N scale that took him months to track down (they were set only items).   He hid it in the glovebox of the car until Christmas. 

There certainly is a lot of variety in available State of Maine boxcars...

40' - LIONEL PS.

50' - MTH PS, and they don't break!

Thank you so very much for those who recommended the Atlas Car.  It arrived today and my Son loves it.

Have Fun!

Ron

I'm very surprised.  Out of the hundreds of boxcars being sold, there are only 4 or 5 recommendations here?   I guess that I thought that there would be more.  (Being in Virginia, having a box car with the State of Maine painted on it seems out of place for me.)

Mannyrock

BAR's State of Maine cars went everywhere in the USA during the 1950's, (even down South through Virginia!) especially when moving the potato crop to market. The signature BAR State of Maine red white and blue car was a 40' insulated, ventilated, heated plug-door box car.  This one was made from a 1970's Atlas unpainted kit, to which I added a Preco charcoal heater and the often missed side vent panels. My references were from the 1953 edition of Car Builders' Cyclopedia.

S. Islander

The MTH Premier BANGOR AND AROOSTOOK  STATE OF MAINE  PS-1 50' box car is a great model.

It might be hard to find now.

Andrew

As much as I like the State of Maine Products B&A boxcars I thought the thread was posing a question.  Who has the best scale boxcar?
is this inquiry about which manufacturer you like?
I have both O scale two rail and three rail boxcars.

to answer the question directly, in scale, two rail, 40 ft,  I prefer the Intermountain brand. IMHO,  their boxcars are scale size for their type, lots of details, impeccably painted and decorated with crisp  graphics. They are a bit light in weight, I add weight. The Derlin wheels are free rolling, fragility of details doesn’t annoy me. As they are kits, they are not complicated to build.  
     I also like Everything about most 40 and 50 ft ft Atlas boxcars in scale two rail. Just pricey!

hey Hiram O!  Hands down you win with the group photo of State of Maine Products rolling stock! Lol. Perhaps that photo should go in the Maine Train thread that Melgar started! Great.

The term "boxcar" is very generic.    There were many different builders and some RRs built some in their own shops.    There were also many different sizes from 36 ft woodside to the humongous 80 ft high cube auto cars.

So to be very scale accurate, the person has to decide what RR and then research what that particular RR did to get the specific size boxcar in question.    

A nice paint job is the last part of the evaluation of a given model.    The first should be does it represent the correct prototype, ACF or Pullman Standard or whoever, and size.      Then the details should be considered based on era.   Does it have roof walks, and if so are they wood planks or steel mesh?    Does it have the right kind of doors of correct width (6 - 8 - 10 ft)     Does it have the right ends, lots of differences here.    then does it have the right roof panels?       the trucks should also be considered but they can be changed.     Another issue is the level of fine details such as grabs and stirrups and brake rigging.    Now here, more is obviously closer to scale, but depending on use cast on may make more sense to avoid breakage.    Personally I have been moving away from cast on details.    In O scale individual grabs and rigging are obvious to my eye very plastic slabs.   

But the most important things to consider are the fidelity to scale size and proportions of the body.  

I like the older Athearn kits. Fun to build, and stout; parts don't break off.

Mark in Oregon

I herd Varney models from Mexico

@Bob Harris posted:

I herd Varney models from Mexico

???

Mark in Oregon