Simon - The nose of the Atwater/AN F units comes to a rather flat radius where the two half's of the die cast body meet. I was happy with my AN F units until I saw better representations from Atlas/Roco, and much later P&D, AtlasO, Key, and Sunset 3rd Rail, Lionel, and MTH. Like any model - the acid test comes when you compare it with prototype photos taken from several angles. Back in the era they were produced modelers didn't have access to the prototype drawings and wealth of photos we have today. For their day they were excellent models.
As far as heavyweight passenger cars kits go, IMO the highest standard was set by Ralph Brown's American Standard Car Company. His side rivet detail, belt rail, window sash representations were orders of magnitude better than the stamped steel sides by Walthers or JC. As best as I can tell from my incomplete collection of old ASC catalogs, Ralph designed and produced kits for at least 56 different prototypes. He also produced a wide selection of streamline car kits in O scale under the American Lightweight Car Company brand. Due to health issues the ASC line was sold to an individual in Knoxville TN who intended to continue production under the Pullman Scale Car Manufacturing Co. brand. PSCMC Catalog 1 dated 1995 listed 59 kits including 3 one piece resin body kits. While I've seen hundreds of ASC kits and built up models at O scale show, I've not seen a PSCMC kit. Attempts by friend to order catalogs, kits and parts from the PSCMC's Knoxville P.O. box address were unsuccessful.
