I'm sure anyone looking at E-bay this past week under USAT has seen these listings on Pre-production models? If not here is a link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120368396930&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting If you click on sellers others for sale you will see other such models Anyhow it states and shows the pre-production model and also the production model colors being different from roof trim,or side color. Just inquiring has anyone ever seen this done,in any scale,or other models that have been produced,is this a common practice for manufactures to do a test and than alter colors for final runs? I could see maybe altering a shade,but total different color combinations? 1st photo pre-production model 2nd photo finished model sold to public
I have noticed these ebay auctions for USA Trains also in my search of my rare USA flat car with 55 chevies in Rio Grande. I'm not 100% sure myself, but you would have to think how would these people get these one off pieces. It's like when Dodge, Ford or Chevy comes out with concept cars, what happens to those? You don't see Joe Shmoe driving one around that was auctioned off or something. On the other hand I was a big 1/18 diecast collector before the "big fall" in prices happened years ago. I remember that Ertl would make around 500 pieces called pre production in a all gold color. They would pack just one of these cars in each case of cars ordered by the hobby shops across America. These went for big money back in the day. Another question you would have to ask, who would go thru all of this trouble to make a fraud to get big bids, so you might think it would be a valid one off unit or did they make a limited number for each case like Ertl did. I' still in deep research with USA Trains, it is not easy since there was no archive records kept of what was made and how many or even what special and custom runs were made. For now I guess we all have to learn together and document as we go along. Another point is that originally all USA Trains and Charles Ro R1600 series reefer cars were originally made in the USA. They were later shipped to China like the Ultimate series to be made there. That could explain another reason for a design or color change. Aristocraft did the same thing like with part #ART46002 Rio Grande box car for example, when it was originally made in Korea it was orange and silver. When Aristocraft moved to China, it became Yellow and silver..
R16055 Northern Pacific The Northern Pacific R16055 was also done in burgundy, The original is black.
R16066 Virginia & Truckee The Virginia & Truckee R16066 was also done in light orange. The original is blueish.
R16204e Alaska Railroad The Alaska Railroad R16204e was also done in cream, grey and off-white. The original is lime green.
Solase, welcome back. You are definately a great help to the G scale section with your USA Trains information
Thanks, I've got a dozen or so one-offs coming in from ana.kramer in a couple of weeks. R16287 Quinn's Irish Ale R16308 Screaming Lobster (3) R16338 Skookum Apples R16341 October Fest R16342 Moosehead Export R16343 Seacoast Apples R16344 Cotton Belt R16346 Howell's Root Beer R16347 Lafrance-Brockway R16350 Swift Borax R16352 Oyster Crackers
I haven't been intrigued enough to bid on any of the one-offs maybe none have grabed me the thing I do like is the fact the cars are not unattainable to the average G scaler as of this time since the winning bids are inline with buying any USAT rolling stock of today. Of course in time that may change as these may become a collectors rare item to own.I don't want that to become the reason I would buy them anything I buy I want to run.I do enjoy the history and learning what was produced so keep the info coming!!!!! Solase, what are the colors on the one-off of R16342 Moosehead Export????
The Moosehead Export according to Albert Kramer is light yellow with a silver roof and the original is ice white with a red roof. I'll be posting pics of these when they come in in a couple of weeks. Well I'm a USA Trains American Series Woodside Refrigerator Car collector and these one-off's are highly desirable to me. Recently Albert Kramer had 11 up for auction on eBay and I got them all. I did chat with him over the couple of days that the auction were running and I found out that these pre-production models he had were a Christmas present from Charles Ro. So I'm thinking there might be a few more floating around out there.
Solase Congratulations on the purchase of your special one off USA Train reefer cars. They will definately hold thier own someday. Thanks for all of the great ino you have colected over the years. Also just a note, Train board has a new "no vendor name" policy, so I had to edit out the vendor name you have posted. You will notice I also deleted my own. You can list manufacturer names like USA Trains, Aristocraft, etc, but vendor names are not permited unless they are a advertiser of Train Board.
R16287 Quinn's Irish Ale The Quinn's Irish Ale R16287 was done in dark green. The original is yellow.
R16308 Screaming Lobster The Screaming Lobster R16308 was done in cream and also in blue. The original is hued from blue to cream.
R16341 October Fest The October Fest R16341 was done in light blue, The original was done in dark blue.
