One for the model railroaders

[stavanzer]

Oh, I had an '84 GMC 3/4 Ton with the Big Saddle tanks. I liked them where they were.

All of the trucks were not as safe back then. Just the way it was.

[Ace-Garageguy]

10 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

Oh, I had an '84 GMC 3/4 Ton with the Big Saddle tanks. I liked them where they were.

All of the trucks were not as safe back then. Just the way it was.

Had to love the pickups that had the tank behind the seat, inside the interior...or the Model-A fords that had the tank in the cowl, under the windshield.

Kindof a wonder anybody survived, if you take all the hand-wringing of the safety-mavens seriously.

"Oooo honey...LOOK!!!...must be a Pinto!!!!!!!!!!"    

Edited August 10, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy

[Brian Austin]

What were we discussing?  Oh, yeah...railcars.

[Ace-Garageguy]

While we're at it, it's not real "safe" to carry dynamite in your semi-trailer  

or leaking cans of propane in your SUV.     

[Ace-Garageguy]

4 minutes ago, Brian Austin said:

What were we discussing?  Oh, yeah...railcars.

[Brian Austin]

An enclosed rack car.

Edited August 10, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

Automobile box cars.  A loading diorama could be built in 1:32 scale (or around 1:29 scale utilizing box-scaled diecast cars), but an automobile railcar in 1:24 or 1:25 would have to be entirely scratch built.

Edited August 10, 2024 by Brian Austin

[stavanzer]

I thought I remembered seeing the Vega Railcars in HO Scale. Did I imagine it? It was over 35 years ago, when I saw it in a magazine.

[Tabbysdaddy]

40 minutes ago, Brian Austin said:

An enclosed rack car.

Nice rack.

[Brian Austin]

Model Railroader magazine published an article with drawings on the Vert-A-Pac cars.

Someone later built an O Scale model, but since there were no Vega models in that scale, IIRC cars from AMT's 1:43 kit line were substituted. 

HO model Vert-A-Pac cars appear to be available today, made by Exact Rail, and it appears Overland made some in brass some time ago.  Does anyone offer Chevy Vegas in 1:87 scale?

Edited August 10, 2024 by Brian Austin

[peteski]

29 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I thought I remembered seeing the Vega Railcars in HO Scale. Did I imagine it? It was over 35 years ago, when I saw it in a magazine.

I think you are correct. I believe it was by Exactrail Co.  Few years ago there was also talk of a N scale version, but (not surprisingly) it never materialized.

[stavanzer]

9 minutes ago, peteski said:

I think you are correct. I believe it was by Exactrail Co.  Few years ago there was also talk of a N scale version, but (not surprisingly) it never materialized.

At least I'm not totally crazy....

I wanted it for the HO Scale Vegas.

 

[peteski]

4 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

At least I'm not totally crazy....

I wanted it for the HO Scale Vegas.

Here it is: https://exactrail.com/products/x-vert-a-pac-autorack-drgw

Unfortunately I don't believe it actually had Vegas inside. It was just empty shell.

[stavanzer]

6 minutes ago, peteski said:

Here it is: https://exactrail.com/products/x-vert-a-pac-autorack-drgw

Unfortunately I don't believe it actually had Vegas inside. It was just empty shell.

Thanks!

[Brian Austin]

From Traveling publicity campaigns; educational tours of railroad trains and motor vehicles, by Mary Swain Routzahn (1920).

Edited August 10, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Earl Marischal]

7 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Are the doors closed? ?

steve

[peteski]

5 hours ago, Earl Marischal said:

Are the doors closed? ?

steve

You probably meant: are the door plugs properly fastened?

[Brian Austin]

This article explains some of the loading procedures, and that balloon tires could cause complications.  Note the photo showing three cars stuffed in one box car end (bottom two on their sides!).

Edited August 10, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

The image, lightened up some.