Ye Olde Huff n Puff kits...

Which kit?  I may have a set of instructions i can pull from a kit, scan, and send to you.

 

Fun stuff to build and can be upgraded with additional detail parts to make some rather nice cars that are otherwise unavailable.

I'm sure I have instructions for the express reefer that I could copy and post, not sure about other models. As mwb posted, tell us exactly what you have and I'll see if I have the relevant instruction sheet. 

I built the Moxie reefer years ago.  Good kits but no trucks or couplers, you have to get them yourself.  I will see if I still have the instructions. 

Found them, just one side of one page. Nothing too complex.

 

 

A Moxie car is obviously interesting and unusual....with all the oddball old brands you

can find for sale in a Cracker Barrel, is Moxie still available?  What other interesting

and different cars were offered by Huff and Puff?  Is that brand, Huff and Puff,  still available?

http://www.yeoldehuffnpuff.com

 

the line is still marketed.   Since the "old" days they picked up the "Mainline Models" line also.   I built a few of the Mainline kits and only one Huff & PUff kit that I remember.    I thought the mainline kits were better thought out than the huff and puff original kits and the parts worked out better.  

 

the silk screen side printing was very nice on both brands.   

 

these are "craftsman" kits from wood and require some time spent to assemble.   They are not that difficult if you take your time and be carefull.    Not a 1 or 2 hour project.   It seemed to me more like 4-5 hours per car.  

 

Quality Craft, Gloorcraft, and Ambroid wood kits are in the same category.   they make up into very nice cars.

 

"in the day" no kits came with trucks or couplers, they were left to the choice of the builder.

 

Ye Old Huff and Puff is still in business but catering to a very tiny market. I scratch build all of my structures and because of that obsession, who has time to start constructing box cars? Lionel, MTH, Atlas and Weaver already make fine box cars and I am happy with them. I will concede that there are a small amount of O scale purists that want realism down to the smallest detail, but on a big layout, is anyone really going to notice them?

"I scratch build all of my structures and because of that obsession, who has time to start constructing box cars? Lionel, MTH, Atlas and Weaver already make fine box cars and I am happy with them.'

 

  I think where the old school wooden kits make sense is for early era layouts where the real wood sides with metal hardware give a feel that molded plastic can't. If some one is building a smaller layout they can put more time into each car so these type of kits become more attractive. I've had lots of various styles of old classic models over the years and some were quite nice with a real authentic vibe since they were built in the era they were representing. ....DaveB 

It's a 673 O Scale Reefer 40 foot, Nuckolls. A little more modern than the one pictured above, which I thank Pennsydave for posting. Thanks to all that are trying to assist me!

 

I was building craftsman structures for my small layout, but I'm out of real estate now. I found out during the process that I really enjoy building kits, so I started building rolling stock kits. So far I've done a La Belle boxcar and RPO. Currently working on one of 2 La Belle coaches. Since I'm modelling the early 20th. century, these kits are working out very well for me.

 

 

Probably a lot higher number in reality than you are willing to accept, and anybody that cannot see the difference has probably got their eyes closed.

brr -- if you are building La Belle passenger car kits, you probably are at the point where your need for instructions are approaching superfluous,  

One obstacle to building these cars, and I have built some, including a LaBelle

combine kitbashed to a combine coach caboose, Walthers cars, etc., is the drying up of sources for trucks for these.

Ye Old Huff and Puff was started by Dick and Shirley Koontz in the early 70s.  They lived in Pa. Furnace just outside of State College, PA.  Dick had a full time job working at Penn State.  Shirley was a driving force in the business. Dick did the silk screening and making of the pewter parts and put the kits together. I think Shirley did most of the administrative work.  Shirley died suddenly in the late 90s and it hit Dick hard. He was very bitter for years but did keep the company going until he sold it to his son.  It then passed to another gentleman in Lewistown who I believe still runs it.  Dick passed away two years ago in November I believe.  He also had a small hobby shop and that is where I first got to know him sometime in the early 90s.

 

Ye Old Huff n Puff did lots of HO cars and some buildings besides the O scale cars.  I think Dick purchased Silver Streak models and a few other companies. 

 

I agree, the old wood models are neat and fun to build especially if you are modeling an late 19th c. or early 20th c. theme.

 

Hope this helps to fill in the blanks.  His whole shop was only about 20x20, hobby shop and kit building part.   

Interesting.  Wonder if he did any O scale building kits, and of what?

Last I checked....still a lot of the line is still made.

Usually can find trucks at swap meets, shows like the March Chicago show, and on eBay w/o too much effort.   

You should also be able to find most of the trucks you need from Wiseman Model Services, too. 

 

Precision Scale still sells trucks in both kit and assembled forms.

 

If you want better trucks (and more expensive! ) yet, there are trucks from Rich Yoder and Bill Davis. 

 

When I was at the last meet in Indianapolis, there was no shortage of trucks in the sales room,

I've got a stash of Athearn arch bar trucks just for this purpose. When I run out, I'll switch to Wiseman. Since I'm using Kadee couplers on the kits, I'm going to build one transition car using Lionel arch bar trucks.

 

I've been purchasing MTH trucks used on their 64 foot passenger cars for the Labelle passenger cars. The 2-rail version is available for $20.00/pr. It appears that all I need to do to convert them to lighted 3 rail is find the 3 rail rollers for them. The 2 rail wheels work fine on my layout. If anyone has a source for the rollers I'd be very interested in purchasing them.

 

I'm lucky these wooden kits are still available. Most of them match my prototype information exactly, and are fun to build, though time consuming.

 

Thanks again for all the information that has been provided.

"I've got a stash of Athearn arch bar trucks just for this purpose. When I run out, I'll switch to Wiseman."

 

   I like the Athearn's and San Juan Car co. also makes some nice archbar trucks. Here's a set with P 48 wheels......DaveB

I've got a 1/2 filing cabinet parts bin of them - put the Intermountain wheelsets in them and roll forever....

I have only the highest degree of respect for those that have the talent and time to scratch build their own rolling stock. I am a scratch builder of scenery and structures so I appreciate what I consider a lost art. If I elected to start building rolling stock too, I'd look like Rip Van Winkle before the layout was completed. I also am still of the opinion that a layout is viewed in the context of thee whole and highly detailed custom rolling stock buys you little but obviously some disagree.

I, for one, disagree with your position.  The guy is having fun building kits.  And they look pretty sweet too.  What value does questioning his interests add to the discussion?  Nice job brr.  Keep up the good work.

I agree with Dennis, actually. If I had a large layout that I was scratchbuilding all the structures for, I wouldn't bother with old-fashion wood rolling stock kits. I built a smaller layout (4 x 12) for that very reason. Between work, family time, pets, and day to day housework, I don't have time to build a huge layout. I wanted a quality, scenicked layout that took me to a certain time and place. Building the wood kits has added to that. It's not for everyone.

 

Simply put, I'm not expecting one of the major manufacturer's/importer's to market a prototypically ready-to-run item for my roadname and era. It wouldn't be practical for them. La Belle and Ye Olde Huff N Puff do, and Clover House makes the lettering, so why not build what I want using their products?

Recently, I discovered that MicroMark sells wooden pre-milled roofs for passenger cars and cabooses, along with other cars. I ordered the caboose roof and some scribed siding, and am going to scratch-build a caboose. If no one makes it, which they don't, I can. That's a good feeling, and again, adds to my enjoyment of the hobby.

 

What works best for one person doesn't work for another. We're lucky that whatever our favorite part of the O-gauge hobby is, be it purchasing, running a train under the Christmas tree, scratchbuilding structures, building realistic scenery, using a certain control system, wiring, or whatever, the options are available.

I have only the highest degree of respect for those that have the talent andtime to scratch build their own rolling stock. 

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Likewise. I have spent a lot of time on small scratch projects over the years, and with work, moves and family priorities, having any kind of project continuity is a difficult thing. I've done a few Huff n Puff, Quality Craft type projects, and some Brit O scale too. By nature the models are more delicate, and over the years they do start to resemble auction site "classics".

It may be something to re-visit in retirement, but for now, I'm allowing my 3-rail and tinplate dark side to reign.