CZ… sorry, had to start a new post , as I had accidentally deleted your reply… Thanks for that picture! I found one similar to that and thought it might be a earlier car or a different builder. I can see where you are coming from with the marker placement - but this is obviously not the same car that is being modeled.(lights, skirting, etc.) It looks like there were different phases - if not modifications -to the observation cars over the years, after all.
Send me that picture again if you can scan it easily - I want to study that against the photos I’ve found and see if I can find out more about it. I’m not concerned about the model…just got an interest in learning more about the different cars SP had.
I have the same feeling that it is fun to seek out the differences and model them when possible. In those days, a railroad could order almost any detail and option if they paid the fare for it. That might not be the case so much today. In my Union Pacific stable. I have all three of the three stack FEF-3’s with the late modifications to each engine that the UP made over the years. It is fun to see someone look at those and then ask a question about them if they don’t know the series. If you look closely, it is rare to find two steam locomotives with the same exact detail and they have been in the back shop a few times.
The car that both companies are bringing out now has the markers forward near the third window and is slightly different. I never realized there were minor differences in some of the cars. The one in the picture from the book is a post war train and might be a one of a kind. Maybe some Daylight expert out there would know more about this. I have always majored so to speak on the locomotives and not the complete train.
Before the previous post on the Daylight cars got locked down, I had a question that I was going to post. I’m not sure, but I think it was you that had mentioned the adjustable coupler spacing on the MTH Daylight cars that allowed vestibule adjustment between radii.
What I’m curious about, is how many adjustments can be made as far as radii? I believe it was mentioned that the tightest adjustment was 46" and the longest at 22". Do you know if there are ‘in-between’ adjustments that can be made so that the vestibules would be closer at say about 34-36"? The more I look at the MTH cars, the better I like them. It’s just the vestibule spacing that’s got me a little concerned.
CZ… NOW, you have my attention for sure…(not that you didn’t have it before). If you’re riggt about this car being done by BLI, I may buy one just to have a variety.
Thanks much for that picture again… I was cursing in swahieli this morning for deleting a bunch of stuff including that picture and post - in my email browser.
I hope that BLI’s cars are as nice as the Zephyr sets I have…especially if they do that car… Did you say its a special car ? What’s the catch?? (tell me you don’t have to buy the other cars to get it…)
Keep me posted if you learn anything. Even if the paint wasn’t an exact match, I would get that car.
I just can’t imagine BLI cars not being of the same caliber as the Zephyrs.
I just got to your email and wanterd to reply…You know, I read that booklet that comes with the cars and here is what it says:
“SET UP”…“These cars come assembled and ready to run on 22"radius curves. The cars can be configured so that they can be close-coupled to allow the diaphrams to touch for a more realistic appearance. However, the cars will need to run on a 46” or larger radius curves".
Basically, there is a second screw hole located behind where the standared location is.
The only thing you have to do is remove the Steam Heat Connection Pipe…then re-installit when you’re finished.
It’s the same thing on the articulated cars only the center truck has alignment holes for the corresponding car mounting pins.
I’m not going to worry about it as the 46" radii is a ‘suggested’ minimum and they may work fine on a tighter curve… i’ll know in about a week or so, cause I just got a notice that my cars have been shipped and my credit card was billed as of today.
I’ll keep you posted as I have more time to run them when the set arrives.
This is really nothing new… we’ve been having the same issue with passenger cars for decades…you just have to find a compromise that works.
CZ… now I remember their(BLI) ads on this promotion… well, that leaves me cold… I’m not budgeting another Broadway engine, allthought it looks like it’ll be a terrific model.
The cars? Again, that picture of the special car - the details are just not crisp and fine - it really bothers me if BLI is doing this to cut costs. This is why I’ve expressed concern and hope that the production cars are better detailed -those grabs and sturrups look like their molded-on from something 20 years ago.
I hope I’m wrong and maybe I’ll change my mind once I see them in person.
It just doesn’t make sense, considering the Zephyrs. (old conversation) I can see somewhat the thicker details in the BLI vs. MTH, but ti doesn’t bother me. For my personal opinion, largely, it’ll come to costs, and thicker details or not, MTH can’t beat what I’m gonna pay for an SP Observation. [:D]
From the pictures I have looked at of the observations, both companies are producing the car with the markers above the third window. It will be interesting to do a comparison of the two products when they get here and I am sure each will have some plus and minus features when they are compared closely.