CB&Q 57195

CB&Q 57195CB&Q 57195: Many years ago, Challenger imported these brass versions of the CB&Q class SM-18 stock cars. These are outstanding renditions although they suffer from some common brass car problems. Richard Hendrickson proposed adding a styrene view block behind the truck springs to avoid the "see through look". Once the springs are painted body color the trucks look good. Brass cars tend to electrically short out and that was solved with Reboxx double insulated code 88 wheels. Reweigh and chalk mark decals plus a little airbrush weathering and the car was ready for service. The weathering could have been a little heavier and shown some more paint wear, but these cars were steam cleaned before use and used beds of sand keeping them from being as distressed as some modelers make them.