Doug Arnold, formally of Mitchell´s in Deleware, where he managed the train department, has opened his own hobby shop since the Mitchell family shut down their business. He currently has several Frisco HO scale brass steam locomotives, books and employee timetables on his product lists at this time. A visit at www.trainstoysandhobbies.com might help you locate an item you are seeking. I deal with Doug on a regular basis and can confirm that he always offers great service! Joe Toth
Just looked at the Brass. He has two 2-6-2's just like the one I just bought. I wonder what the differences are. I will call and ask him. Thanks for the lead. Manny
Like many dealers, Doug takes on consignments from customers and has no say regarding the prices that they demand. Currently, Caboose Hobbies has some real junker brass models that, as a business known internationally, should have rejected. The prices that the consigners are asking is an outright disgrace. On the other hand, there are some real nice models at a nice price for collector and operator alike. Doug is an honest dealer and I would rather pay a little more for an item I really want before I get a ripped off by some fly by night hobby shop or dishonest online "model railroader". I think most of us are this way. He might even have authority to lower the price if asked. He is only a phone call or E-Mail away! You may even tell him that that crazy Texan in Germany told you to get in touch with him! Joe Toth
No, no! Caboose Hobbies IS a great train store. Manager Dave Etchells IS First Class! I meant that some of the inferior quality brass models they take in on consignment should be rejected since they ARE a great internationally known business. I mentioned this to Dave regarding some brass models that really are "junkers" and do not belong on their consignment listings but perhaps these are modelers who do a lot of business with them and it would be impolite to turn them away. I can understand this too. I apologise if my wording is misleading. It was not intended to read that way! Time to Tar & Feather me again! Joe Toth
I disagree. If you monitor ebay like I do looking for basket cases and junkers, they always get lots of attention. If Iwere a dealer, especially one like Caboose, I would welcome these and make sure the owner doesn't demand extreme prices for them. They won't last long, trust me. It surprises me what some people will pay for some of these dogs on ebay.
Caboose Hobbies is one of the greatest train shops going...worldwide! They have an extensive collection of pre-owned brass models being offered by modelers on consignment. Regretfully, my statement regarding Caboose Hobbies was misleading thanks to my big Texas mouth. Compare it to the rear exit of a bull just under his tail! I did apologise! Some of the "fix it yourself" models in their current inventory carry rather high prices for what the item is by the modelers desiring to sell same. Perry´s Hobbies in Morgan, Minn. lists such brass models just like that...fix it yourself and no returns! Perry has updated his site with lots of bargans in HO, N, some O, brass (new and consignment), books, etc. A visit to www.perryshobbies.com is worth a look. An artical a few seasons ago in RMC involved an older Alco Models brass HO RSD-15 that the guy repowered with a new Kato drive if memory serves me well. Of course, NorthWest Short Line has gears, wheel sets, and probably just about everything else to rebuild almost every brass locomotive ever produced. There are lots of brass bargans if one really wants to build up a roster of Frisco locomotives using brass. "Heavy Metal" diecast models are also to be found for modelers desiring "real" metal instead of plastic. You can still super detail them with brass castings from Precision Scale and Cal-Scale (Bowser) and with a custom paint job look right at home on any Frisco pike. www.hoseeker.net has a wealth of information on vintage HO as does Terry Cook´s Tyco Trains Collectors Resource site that continues to expand with other HO manufacturers from Athearn to Walthers. Anybody know what the first plastic Frisco locomotive was? My guess would be the old AMT or KMT Frisco FA in O gauge in the 50s. How about HO scale? Joe Toth
