How Does Older Tooling Stack Up? - Unboxing and Product Review of InterMountain's HO PS-1 Boxcar!

How Does Older Tooling Stack Up? - Unboxing and Product Review of InterMountain's HO PS-1 Boxcar!
In the 1960s demand from the auto industry led to the production of new 60’ boxcars intended to haul auto parts. Cars like this could be found throughout North America. Later in their careers many of these boxcars were used for other types of loads including appliances and paper goods.
Many railroads used these 60' PS-1 boxcars. This model is decorated for Grand Trunk Western.
As usual, Dan evaluates the model train's packaging, prototype accuracy, paint & detail, and how well it operates and conforms to applicable standards.
If you're a fan of HO scale model trains be sure to check out this video!
#train #modeltrains #scalemodels #hoscale

[@herbertw.jr.carrier6122]

Great save & review. You definitely helped the car but you're right! You shouldn't have to do that much work.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the review. I would definitely like to not have to do so much work on brand new "ready to run" models, but this isn't the only one I've reviewed recently with issues. Thanks for watching!

[@205004gs]

It seems like Intermountain dropped the ball on this one for sure. Thanks for sharing and great job.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I think this one could maybe benefit from a retooling. I'd like to see better coupler boxes for sure. Thanks for watching!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Wow that one was pretty rough. At least the whole thing didn't fall apart like that flat car you reviewed a little while back. I have found Intermountain to be somewhat hit or miss as well but overall like their stuff in N scale. On the upside this did give an opportunity for us to enjoy some of your excellent custom scratch building or detail parts. Albeit very basic for this one.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have a few InterMountain cars in N as well, and I like them. I think overall they're pretty good still, but some of the older tooling doesn't really hold up to more modern offerings. I'm glad you enjoyed the air hose fix. Thanks for watching!

[@LuisUrbieta]

Hi Dan, I do love this video on this box car though if every model was perfect then, oh my goodness, it would make a difference.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I'm glad you liked the video. It would be cool if they were all perfect models. Thanks for watching!

[@LuisUrbieta]

@@DanielCortopassi You are welcome

[@markhayes6407]

Atlas has this same coupler box. I wish NMRA would change this and require screw mount.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I have seen some funky draft gear box arrangements on some Atlas cars. I agree that it would be great if there were a standard for that. Thanks for watching!

[@Beux3751]

Dan, I know this one is an older car, I would start taking points off new cars that come with the old number 5 Kade couplers. Case in point I just bought some new cars recently production runs that have the old number 5 couplers. They make these beautiful cars and mount these huge couplers. I mentioned this to a the culprits at the train show in Denver this weekend.

[@DanielCortopassi]

My preference is for the Kadee scale couplers. The regular Kadees look huge to me too now. I'm glad that some manufacturers, like Tangent, use the Kadee scale couplers on their cars. Maybe others will start to follow suit. Thanks for watching!

[@NicksCollectableCreations]

For me, I cut off the coupler hoses. I always randomly have issues with them being low and hitting the track especially at the switches causing a derail. So I just cut them off regardless. I'm not running decouplers so it doesn't matter.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I've heard of some people doing that. I think it's definitely a more realistic look. I'm still keeping mine, at least for now. I'm not sure if sometime I might want to use uncoupling magnets in certain situations. Thanks for watching!

[@YourLocalRailfan]

Got a new loco you might like: A southern Pacific dash8

[@DanielCortopassi]

Cool, I like those. I have a couple of the Atlas SP Dash 8 models I need to work on. Thanks for watching!

[@YourLocalRailfan]

@@DanielCortopassi I got a vintage Walthers, not much to look at but can pull upwards of 5 lbs

[@SPSteve]

Great video, Dan. I've got a few pieces of Intermountain rolling stock; I don't think I'll be buying any more. A couple months ago I was running a train on my layout of all Intermountain cars and the draft gear box broke off of one of the 40' box cars. Ugh.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It seems like InterMountain has more or less kept the same tooling on their models for a long time. At one time their cars had the best detail, but they don't really compare to more modern offerings, especially since the prices are more in line with high-end models. That's bad if the whole draft gear box fell off. I've had that happen a couple times. Thanks for watching!

[@SPSteve]

@@DanielCortopassi Dan, I'm on a search for good models and I'm trying to learn what not to buy. I have Moloco, Rapido and Athearn Genesis box cars coming. Hopefully they're good, I guess I'll find out. Great video, nice recovery with the model to make it serviceable.

[@IsaacAmadeo]

Hi Dan. I noticed in the stensil segment it showed the car as being rebuilt in 1986. Would it not be very possible for it to receive new trucks in the mid-late 80s? Especially since you found pictures of it with the newer style truck.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I would imagine that the trucks would have been swapped out at some point. I'd have to research dates to know when non-roller bearing trucks were banned from interchange service, but I'd guess most rolling stock would have been converted before that. It could have been in the 80s or maybe even earlier. Thanks for watching!

[@Steamer96]

There's also a similar problem with Kadee's boxcars, both the 40 ft and the 50 ft PS-1s. This is problematic for me because I intend to use Sergent couplers.

[@DanielCortopassi]

I tried the Sergent couplers a few years ago as an experiment and decided that they weren't for me. I can see that they might be difficult to fit in the special draft gear boxes Kadee uses on some of their cars. Thanks for watching!

[@ShawnCalay]

Im raising you 10 points😂😂😂

[@DanielCortopassi]

LOL. Thanks for watching!

[@ShawnCalay]

@@DanielCortopassi great looking car, but as a foreign modeler of SA roads I have no need for these....however if I did I most likely would start undecorated and then redetail, then paint and decals....the road I model I have to paint everything plus kitbash locomotives, one of the reasons I choose it.

[@riogrande5761]

As always, if prototype accuracy is important to check the model against prototype photos before deciding to buy. There are plenty of good correct models out there.

[@DanielCortopassi]

My usual preference these days is for accurate models, but I do have a few like this one that are close but not exact. I agree that checking the model out before buying is necessary for people who want 100% accuracy. Thanks for watching!

[@riogrande5761]

@@DanielCortopassi Sometimes we have to accept stand-in's if there is no correct model. One example I did that with was one of the last bunches of ExactRail cars included an MRS boxcar which looked similar to the real thing but was not accurate. These were fairly common at the head end of D&RGW freights in the 80s.

[@desertrailfan7118]

Dan, do you know if model manufacturers pay royalties to the railroads for using their names or prototypes?

[@DanielCortopassi]

I remember maybe 10 or more years ago Union Pacific tried to do something along those lines for models of UP trains as well as railroads that UP acquired through mergers. I'm not 100% sure but I think in the end the model companies just had to put a label saying it was a UP trademark or something like that. I'm not sure if that's still in effect. Some of my models have labels like that. Thanks for watching!

[@lucgagnon5241]

Hey Dan. That car looks like a pain in the a... I've noticed that steps are bended. Thin plastic ! A "sealed" and impossible to open gearbox ??? Another pain in th a... You said " car wabbles a bit". Well, not from my point of view. It wabbles A LOT ! Nope. At the end of the day, there is not much to like on that car. But I liked the review. Professional...as usual. Thanks for putting it all together for us.

[@DanielCortopassi]

You're right about the stirrups. They're very thin plastic. I think I may eventually replace them with metal ones. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the review if not the model. Thanks for watching!

[@lucgagnon5241]

@@DanielCortopassi Hey Dan. Like all your reviews. I learn a lot watching them. Even if that car has no meaning to me, it's getting more and more interesting on how you manage coupler's height !!! You got me with this one. I was really wondering HOW you will lowered them. But mostly how you managed those sealed gearboxes. I'm doing my best to avoid models on witch I can't do minor easy modifications like couplers, uncoupling lift bars or air hoses. And finally, I'm putting real interest on brake lines details. Even if there a bit harder to see, they're adding a lot of realism to models. Keep on your good work !

[@rwctoyman]

Manufacturers need to pay attention what model is want we want scale head couplers not plastic couplers But Metal couplers with the price they charge they need to do this upgrade

[@DanielCortopassi]

I agree. I dislike plastic couplers. I use Kadee scale couplers on just about everything. Thanks for watching!

[@Lehighrailfanproduction]

I like the GTW boxcars but I think I’m gonna pass on this one

[@DanielCortopassi]

I can understand. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelstrains4014]

First and currently only InterMountain product is a UP CA-4 caboose I bought from a local hobby store. Had broken windows and glue marks. Should not have bought it, one guy there suckered me into thinking it would be an easy fix. It was not. Fixed it but man was the glue annoying. Should’ve returned it before I got too deep. Worst $60 car I have, especially considering I snagged two Marklin CA-3s for $50 and they are much better detailed. Modern cars that are glued together is just not it.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It sounds like you got a particularly bad car. InterMountain's tooling is definitely aging, but I haven't had one anywhere near that bad. I have a few of the Centralia Shops cabooses, which I think InterMountain owns, and they've all been okay. Sorry to hear you had so much trouble with your model. Thanks for watching!

[@inderbuenrostro9511]

Why is the coupler sticking out so far out like that? I’ve never seen a real boxcar like that.

[@DanielCortopassi]

It likely has a cushion underframe. Boxcars with cushion underframes often have coupler pockets that stick out a little from the end of the car. The couplers can move a little when the cars are shoved together, so I would guess it's to provide some clearance so that other cars don't bang into it when coupled hard. Thanks for watching!

[@stephenhottle6783]

I'm thinking that this one deserves a flashing red signal (restricting) at the end.🤷🏼‍♂️

[@DanielCortopassi]

Hmm... I'd have to do an animation for something like that. Thanks for watching!