Life-Like Northeast Cabin
Life-Like
Northeast Caboose...
Life-Like makes two types of Northeast style caboose.
The expensive one is the Proto 2000 version that now has been released
in 1991 and 2000. It comes in a nearly perfect paint job and in at
least 3 road numbers. It runs for about $20 each. Well, if
that is too much $$ for you, try the old Life-Like Northeast style caboose.
The old Life-Like caboose can be picked up at train shows
for $1 or $2 each. I got 3 for $5. Please don't buy the ones
you see on eBay for $10. They aren't worth $10 each. You can
easily find some of these at any train show or in a discount used car box
at your local hobby shop.
The Chessie paint job that comes on this caboose is absolutely
horrible, so repainting is a must. The good news is that the Life-Like
paint comes off very easily with Polly S Easy Lift-Off (ELO). I try
to buy kits with as little paint on them as possible, if I am going to
strip them. The Union Pacific ones come mostly unpainted with just
red painted lettering. I recommend buying the UP ones if you find
them.
These kits are about 80% accurate right out of the box.
The best thing they have going for them is not their accuracy but the fact
that they are so inexpensive. I bought two in Union Pacific paint
and one in Chessie paint. Each got repainted like you see below.
The handrails are a bit too bulky, and they have a really
thick ladder, but other than that they area right on. The rivet detail
is amazing for a $2 kit. I would suggest buying some of these as
good kits to get your feet wet with. Practice painting and decaling
on these $2 kits and you won't feel bad if you mess them up. I would
consider this kit a hidden gem since most established modelers won't buy
the cheaper Life-Like kit with the Proto 2000 version available.
You can fix some up with a good paint job and they are pretty darn respectable.
