I really would like to build a transfer caboose to run around the West Bottoms behind a transfer run. However, I've looked high and low (and high, again) for a Moloco Transfer Caboose kit and they're nowhere to be found. Walthers, eBay, Nick Molo himself, swap meets, ... everywhere. Nick at Moloco says he has lots of the sprues of the doghouse and windows, but none of the stanchions and handbrake stands, and fuel tank. Any one have an idea where a full kit can be found? Or do you have a kit gathering dust that won't get built that you'd part with? Thanks everyone.
I didn't state it, but I would of course compensate you handsomely for your [dusty] kit if you have one to sell.
Jim, you might be right. I've built one kit and it was certainly not the easiest kit I've ever built. Scratchbuilding the doghouse would be easy. The fuel tank would be a little more difficult. However, the stanchions (all 18 of 'em) would be the toughest part of the project. At least the Moloco stanchions had locating pins that made vertical alignment somewhat do-able. Thanks for your "vote"
If you can buy as many parts as possible from Nick and scratchbuild the rest you should be in good shape. In 40+ years of model building that was probably the most frustrating kit I ever built. It is very brittle, the instructions vague at best. Plastic cement instantly turns each part to Vaseline. The ends steps are multi part pieces that are tough to square up. It looks very good in the end but it is a tough build without a doubt. Some of the SLSF transfers had barrels for fuel instead of the square tank. Might be easier that way? That little box would not be tough though. Maybe some brass steps? Plastruct or Evergreen angle for the stanchions. If you have built one of these kits you could scratchbuild any parts he doesn't not have for sure.
I got one I can spare, I bought a couple extra Nick found when he cleaned out his basement a couple of years ago. Can't remember how much they cost but should be $20-$25. If that's agreeable to you send an email to RogerRT477 at sbcglobal.net on where you want it mailed to, I won't be able to mail it till next week sometime. Roger BTW-I used spare Athearn blue box metal stanchions for the railing on a Red Caboose 40' flat car.