Aristo-Craft Western Maryland 1:29 SCALE BOXCAR
Manufacturer: ARISTO-CRAFT TRAINS/Polk's Model Hobbies, Inc. available exclusively from Star Hobby, 1244 Ritchie Highway, Suite 15, Arnold, MD 21012. Price: ART-46095 Western Maryland boxcar $40.00 each.
WE HAVE REVIEWED ARISTO-CRAFT boxcars three times, most recently in our August/September 1993 issue. Instead of repeating the information in those reviews, we will address only the paint and lettering of Star Hobby's special issue, limited run Western Maryland car.
Star's boxcar has paint and decoration only on the car body. The underframe, trucks, couplers, grab irons, letter boards, top door guides, roofwalk, ladders, stirrup steps, and brake gear are unpainted black plastic. The only unpainted part with lettering is the air reservoir. The outer facing side has white lettering reading "RPKD DV" on the left half and "C&EI 12-4-51" on the right.
The color of the carbody is a very realistic appearing dark mineral (reddish) brown. The numbering and lettering is yellow. The "wing" of the Western Maryland logo is bright red with yellow outlining.
All lettering is crisp, opaque, and very legible. While we have no prototype photos to use for comparison, all the markings present a credible, authentic appearance. And virtually every graphic the original car had would seem to be present on Star's model, even down to the notation reading, "WESTERN MARYLAND EQUIPMENT TRUST/SERIES M/THE CHASE NATIONAL BANK OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK/ TRUSTEE, OWNER, LESSOR".
The car number and the words "I-W WROT STL. WHLS." appear on each end. The only non-prototype graphics are the small black semi-circle with the words "Built by ARISTO-CRAFT trains" and the tiny placard on the upper right corner of each side reading "Limited edition 1993 for Star Hobby, Annapolis, Maryland".
The painting and lettering are excellent. It would be difficult and time consuming to equal the work on model yourself. If you enjoy collecting unusual or attractive freight cars or if you model a railroad and era where Western Maryland rolling stock would be at home, you certainly owe yourself a close look at Star Hobby's custom decorated boxcars.-RR
