There was an artical in MR in the late 80’s or early 90’s on how to build a Zepher Streamliner. Does anyone know what issue it was. I would like to make a Mopac motorailer (Eaglette) and I think that artical would help.
On a related note, there was an artical in our St.Louis Post Dispatch a few months ago about one of the BN Zephers in a scrap yard near St.Louis. They are hoping to find somene to buy it and restore it. They said it would cost several million dollars, I forgot exactly how much, to restore it. Anyone got this kind of money that would like a neat winter project?
Lets hope that the Mark Twain can be restored; all it takes is a lot of $$$$$$$$!! and a group to coordinate the work
The similar B&M Flying Yankee has been under restoration in New Hampshire since 1997 and is nearing completion to running condition. They have faced many challenges including upgrades to meet current Federal safety regulations without changing the looks of the train, designing many parts and having them custom cast and/or machined to look like the originals, and replacing the original Winton prime mover which was too far gone to restore with a modern power plant. This is a link to the Flying Yankee Restoration site: http://www.flyingyankee.com/
Have you driven up to Chicago and seen the Zephyr at the Museum Of Science And Industry? Last time I was there, a man and a woman were photographing and measuring everything (the museum staff seemed very helpful). They said they were going to build an O scale version.
I think the article you refer to was a two part article in 1982 Model Railroader, the February and March issues. Al Turner showed how to come really very close to an accurate Pioneer Zephyr – essentially, kit bashed from Athearn streamlined passenger cars (and selected bits from an F7 shell) which were plentiful and cheap at the time, and still frequently seen at swap meets.
Of the two articles it is the Feb. 1982 issue that has a template or pattern for the shovel nose (which Turner fabricated out of styrene) – and that would appear to be the primary value for kitbashing a Mopac Eaglette although the roofline, windows, and profile are different. But the pattern for the curve might be useful even if the slope of the Zephyr looks sharper.