Nice Rob ! My box is already full of fully weathered UPs. Maybe I can get 2 more in there, not 4. Maybe I can set aside 2 of the others . . . yeah, that will work. OK, I can get a box of 4. .
Looks like I can go ahead and start building that National Orange Packing House now that I will have some stuff to park in front of it. Joe MTl
Hans--what is the prototype for the wood side reefer? I can't find any of the PFE cars that match your model. It sort of looks like a R-40-18 but not quite because the corners are to square and the placard is in the wrong location. It can't be a -19 because the roofwalk is wood and not steel mesh. Thanks. --Steve from the other Phoenix
"I can't find any of the PFE cars that match your model." It looks like an R-40-24, or a rebuilt R-40-23. They had so many variations, especially during and after WWII. Lajos :0)
Lajos--R-40-23 and -24 were steel side cars, had steel running boards, notched side sills, and a fan shaft and control box. Otherwise it's a match! (-: --Steve from the other Phoenix
"Lajos--R-40-23 and -24 were steel side cars" Except this one. Possibly a few hundred more just like this, and some rebuilts too. Lajos :0)
40' reefer The upcoming 40' wooden reefer is in a way generic and will represent several railroads and companies. It is however very close to specific PFE reefers.
Lajos--you da man (-: Only the -23 had the equipment I listed. But Han's answer as to what the prototype was used begs a new question. Why would a company that makes a Cab Forward (SP equipment) and a Challenger (UP equipment) do new tooling for a wood side reefer and not use a PFE (SP/UP owned) car as the prototype. The worst part of this is that the reefer isn't even a Santa Fe prototype. It's based on no prototype, it's just something someone made up. --Steve from the other Phoenix
Steve, Isn't this an easy answer? The difference is between brass and injection. Every manufacturer makes compromises on injection models in order to find middle ground that allows them to offer the most versions in a fashion that closely matches the prototype. MTL did that with the passenger cars. Full Throttle did that with their cylindricals. Don't even get us started on cabooses. Now if AZL did go the length and create just an ATSF prototype, you tell me that there wouldn't be complaints that it was not accurate when a SP/UP version was released? If you want AZL to offer a line of brass reefers with accurate details, it can be done. But it will have a price point to match. But I am a big fan of brass cars. FR was actually working on a brass wood sided reefer at one time. I do applaud AZL since they really try to match prototype details on their injection molded locos such as the GP7s and SD70s. But freight cars are a real challenge. There are just too many different versions and variants. I truly can't find fault in any manufacturer taking this approach. It is good business sense. Rob
Rob--your missing the point. AZL could have done a PFE reefer in plastic just as easy as making up a generic car. They could have then decorated it for many other roads. But PFE was the largest, by far, of all the reefer companies, and AZL is doing an engine that pulled large blocks of PFE cars. As you state, every MTL car is based on a prototype. The AZL car matches no know wood side reefer. By the way I was not saying they should do a ATSF reefer and decorate it for PFE. That would be pure heresy (-: --Steve from the other Phoenix
Steve, No I am not missing the point. True, AZL could have done a steel sided PFE reefer, but Pennzee already has these cars. I know AZL did not want to reinvent the wheel on this one. AZL did contract with Pennzee to offer PFE reefers when they released their GS3 and GS4 freight sets in 2004. Recent attempts to contact Pennzee have fallen on deaf ears. AZL has taken another approach with the wood side reefers. They are giving the Z community a new car style based a wood side reefer. Frankly looking at the AZL car compared to the photo Lajos posted, I see only two main differences. First is the two rungs on the left of the car and the small board to the left of the doors. I am not a reefer expert, but if these two items are the only differences, than I say we are good to go. Rob
If they change the trucks, add a steel underframe,and make the roofwalk steel mesh it's close. I just expect better things out of a company that prides itself on accuracy. However, you really must learn to read. I never mentioned anything about AZL making steel side reefers. --Steve
