Walthers O Scale 2- or 3-Rail PRR MP54 MU Commuter Combine Kit Complete

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Here's everything you need to build an accurate O scale model of a Pennsylvania RR MU (multiple unit) commuter car -- trucks, pantograph, everything, but no motor. It's a Walthers kit, no. 4608, for an MP54 combine that hasn't been available since the 1970s, when Walthers quit carrying it and the full coach in its catalog.The MP54s -- regular riders called them "Growlers" after the noise they made accelerating -- could be found all over the PRR's electrified territory -- Penn Station; North Jersey; Trenton; Philadelphia, of course; Wilmington; Baltimore; Washington Union Station; Harrisburg; even North Carolina. That's true. The Piedmont and Northern purchased a few from the PRR.Kit is typical Walthers -- shaped wood roof, wood floor, die cast ends and stamped tin sides. The roof has the low clerestory correct for an MU car. The ends have the distinctive PRR round porthole windows. This kit has not been started. Detail parts are still sealed in their plastic envelope.Included are a pair of Walthers 2-rail scale PRR MU trucks with die cast side frames and plastic wheels on metal axles. Also included is a Walthers brass pantograph, U124, for mounting on the roof. Both are difficult to find, and easily worth $25 each. Not shown are doors for the baggage compartment, but a brand new pair of 6-foot wide doors with four windows in each door, no. 946-148, is included.No one should have any difficulty assembling this car, even someone with little or no experience building kits. Assembly is straightforward. A two-sided page of instructions is included to guide you through the process. No special skills or tools are necessary. Glue, screws and nails are the main means of attaching everything together. With a little patience and care, a very accurate model of a PRR MU car can be made from this kit, one that will stand up to close inspection, and one you will be proud to say "I built this."Motorizing this model should be no problem. The easiest way would be with a pair of North West Short Line Magic Carpet units that snap right on to the truck axles, just like the prototype.No interior details are provided, but seats are available and often sold here at eBay or at swap meets. Two rows of seats with passengers in some of them and a conductor taking tickets, maybe a candy butcher with his cart in the aisle would add greatly to the model's appearance and extend the modeling pleasure. Don't forget a motorman in the cab.Built in the 1920s for the PRR electrification, the cars were upgraded over the years to extend their lives but their basic appearance never changed. They lasted through the Penn Central merger, and even into the Conrail era, but they were never painted Conrail blue or even Conrail brown. Some were painted in the PC green, but the cars are best remembered in their Tuscan red paint and gold lettering.The Walthers gray stripe box is in good-to-poor condition with a rip in the side of the cover which has been patched on the inside with plastic tape. I'm not collector of boxes, so I could care less about the box or its condition. I'm more interested in what's in the box and it's condition. But I mention it in the interest of full disclosure.A comment now on another topic. BORROWING MY AUCTION DESCRIPTION. DON'T DO IT! I've discovered a number of instances lately where my auction descriptions have been used in whole or in part by other sellers for their auctions. Don't do it. I'm flattered that someone thinks my descriptions are good enough to sell their items, but I do not want bidders and buyers to think they're buying from me, or that those items are mine. EBay doesn't allow using someone else's auction description, and neither do I. When I catch someone doing it, I immediately report it to eBay. EBay then may take an action against that seller, which could be to ban that seller from eBay! It's not worth it. Compose your own description. 'Nuff said.A word or two about PAYMENT. EBay requires you use PayPal, but other methods of payment may be accepted b... read more

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