Perhaps we need warning labels?! Exploring my previous post: "Good for you" => "Good for you to eat" => "Good to eat" This reminds me of a common mathematical "proof" that 2=1: a=b a^2 = ab a^2 + a^2 = a^2 + ab 2a^2 = a^2 + ab 2a^2 - 2 ab = a^2 + ab - 2ab 2a^2 - 2ab = a^2 - ab 2(a^2 - ab) = 1(a^2 - ab) 2=1 "Figures don't lie, but liars figure." Figuratively speaking...
The "Trade Topics" column in the January 1964 issue of Model Railroader, which reviewed selected Arnold Rapido equipment, mentions Merzbach as the importer. BTW, some of what was said in the review... "The locomotives and rolling stock are quite accurately scaled and have a surprising amount of detail considering the small size." "The couplers are quite large." "We are not prepared to comment fully on the scale and gauge... but plan at least one or two features in the near future." (That would actually happen in the very next issue.) "The motive power is smooth-running." "Despite the awkwardnesses that are occurring... the practical design of 1/160 scale equipment, and its small size, are likely to make this a fairly popular scale..."
In the November,1964 issue of MR, International Models was advertising Lone Star Treble-O-Lectric which, technically, was not N scale at 152/1 scale but the track was 9mm gauge. Later, they would start putting stickers on the boxes which stated "N Scale" in an effort to increase sales: I still have the boxes from them which contained some items I ordered, a B&M boxcar, a CN "reefer", some other Treble-O-Lectric accessories, and four switches which IM acquired from Montgomery Ward when Wards stopped selling Treble-O. They have the Wards stock number on the boxes. Doug
By 1965, some of the lesser-known dealers were starting to advertise N scale in the model railroading magazines. Here's one from Nathan R. Preston of Des Plaines IL, although he was a pretty well-known distributor, just not an AHC, AHM, Atlas, etc. This is the first mention of N scale I have from him: And, here's a real obscure one from the back pages of MR: Doug
I believe I have all of those cars, or at least did at one time or another... I suppose if I were to do the "UMTRR Treatment" on them (check against protoype, etc.) I might be a bit disappointed... ...so I won't
I have a few cars from the A2G period but I'd have to look to see which ones. I think I have that Tropicana car and maybe the Rio Grande. These were almost identical to the A1G 40' plug door cars but there is a minor difference. On the original cars, as shown on George's site, there is a smaller placard under the larger one to the left of the door. Doug
From the December 1978 MR, Atlas' 50 FT Reefers. I have the E-L and RDG in this release. With three body colors, these are really nice looking cars.
A few months later in the March 1979 MR, Atlas announced more 50 FT Reefers. Atlas must have had a number of runs of 50 FT Reefers. I have at least one in the 2300-series (A1G) and in the 3200-series. Note how the price went up by $0.25 between the two ads in those highly inflationary times.
Interesting how Atlas made the photos of the cars look like postage stamps. I erred in naming which of the 40 footers I have. I have the Rio Grande, Milwaukee Road, and Chessie. I have more of the 50 foot mechanicals than I thought: Libby's Swift Milwaukee Road Tropicana Safeway Atlas I also have CP 50' mechanical which is the same car with a 3200 series number. I particularly wanted the Libby's car because in about 1969, I was in the hobby shop and just couldn't think of what to buy so I started looking at some of the Athearn HO cars and saw the Libby's car and it caught my eye so I bought it. The Atlas N scale car is almost identical to the HO car. Doug
That's the 3242 and I have one too. It's a beautiful car isn't it? All in sliver with Canadian Pacific spelled out in red script. From Trovestar:
Then there were Atlas' F-9s as seen here in the December 1973 MR, as made by Roco. I'd received several Arnold C&NW Bi-Levels for Christmas, but had nothing to pull (or push!) them with, so bought one of these. Mine was a piece of junk and I was so disappointed. I tried everything to get it to run better, but it was hopeless. I ended up painting a Trix F. Despite no C&NW decals being available, at least it ran well. I think I still have the carcass of this thing around here somewhere ......
Ah, yes. Once you put something out there in the public domain, it is likely to come back and bite you. One of my early photoshop efforts. I also did this one. Although it is a little more subtle. https://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/mopac-caboose.18883/
From the November 1978 MR, Roco gained much respect in my book when the Atlas FA-1s were introduced during that year. I bought a pair in LV and loved them, can motor, flywheels and all. In fact, I still run them and have another pair in RDG, and yet another pair that I painted in L&NE. The only problem with the design was a long coupling distance when they were coupled back-to-back. This was solved by removing one of the couplers, nipping the end off the end of the other coupler to form a T and inserting it into the coupler pocket of the unit that the coupler was removed from. Atlas later offered a traction kit with weights and traction tires too, but it was hardly needed on my little road. Spookshow gives it only a 'C', yet MR wrote that "it is one of the best-running N scale engines we have tested. Overall, this is an excellent locomotive." I'd definitely side with MR on the Atlas FA-1. Hey, and how about those beercan tank cars!
Yeah, but the railings, ladder, etc. are of scale 4" diameter pipe! Isn't there a firm that makes etched brass replacement accessories for tank cars?
