Checked them out last night while at the local hobby shop. They are nice looking. All of the ones on display had the sag too. I'd say a Z scale coupler will fix that in a jiffy. Steve, I always thought the Atlas Extended Vision caboose was off a ATSF prototype. Am I wrong?
IDK, I heard somewhere that it wasn't a true prototypical model, I can't remember why. Well, nothing is a "true prototypical model" in N scale huh? lol.
I'd say probably because of the large side windows. The ATSF didnt have these, but thats an easy fix.
Jerry, Those newer style cabooses look nice on your layout. I'm in for a pair of those. I prefer the black roofs as well. Now what wide windows are we talking about here? It sounds like we are talking about the latest cabooses or the last ones Santa Fe ordered. If memory serves me correctly the models of the wide vision, the cupola extended over the side. Then the Bachmann and ConCor versions would indeed be incorrect due to the wrong size of windows. Close enough for most toy train enthusiast but if you are wanting an exact replica...not so. Jerry, as always your work looks good.
I ment the Atlas extended vision cabooses. The ATSF version had smaller side windows with round edges. (The safety glass version.) The Atlas has a more larger window. With some added detailing, I would even let the windows go....but rivot counters would not approve.
From BLMA's web site, a ATSF wide vision caboose by Joe Cox. Using BLMA detail parts, Joe made the caboose look more like an ATSF caboose, and you don't even notice the larger outside windows. http://www.blmamodels.com/images/store/Cox01.jpg
At that size, a few inches of size difference on a window isn't even noticable. I'd say the "close enough" rule fits here.
This corresponds to my rule. If the train is running, can I see the details that clearly? In my book, close enough is fine, because, the furor over the missing sightglass on the Walthers GP-38's is not some thing I would notice as the train was rolling down the tracks!
Well, the ballasting work on the club layout took all the extra time I had these last few days, so no new work on the ATSF Line.
That's OK Jerry, In your honor, for such a good model of layout development, I will be running at a show in Pleasanton Sunday, I will run a train for you. It will be an ATSF 4-8-4 pulling a string of 85 steel refers finished up by a caboose with the semaphores on the cupla. I will try to get a shot of it and post it. It is the best I can do since my benchwork is still a pile of lumber waiting to be sawed.
From the show Hi Jerry, As promised, I ran this train for you. I am still cleaning up a few other photos, so I may be adding them soon.
