Atlas California Zephyr continuing series, a photo album

 

 

California Zephyr and the legendary EMC/EMD E5 a true

Symphony in Stainless Steel

Although not common on the California Zephyr the CB&Q E5 is without doubt the ideal power for the CZ or any stainless steel consist for that matter.

In the very beginning of CZ history; back in 1949 the CB&Q ran a test consist with Silver Clipper doing the honors. Silver Clipper was a Phase II E5 unlike my Phase I model imported by Key Model Imports in 2011/2012.

Photo copyright: (c) my good late friend David Van Droonon

David's father took this in Illinois back in early 1949.

Skirts removed and early modifications the "Black Nose" would have been the era these stainless masterpieces would have escorted the CZ into Denver.

Doesn't get any better than that.

Thanks Howard. Continuing the series of the CZ photo album.

Nice shots Santiago! Can you take a close up of the F3 for the series!?

Erik, I just gotta believe that Richard Steinheimer would be pleased with the dark backgrounds in your photography.

Erik you never cease to amaze me with the quality of your pictures. even tho i model eastern railroads you are starting to break me down. you need to stop this madness or i might be forced to buy this train(i just hope that Erik's finance company will approve my loan!!!!) seriously keep these great photos coming.

       
       


Wow man! Thanks I'm not worthy of all that buddy; but I sure do enjoy it that you like the captures.

As a really amateur photographer I really appreciate the technique that Eric and others use to present these models. 

 

Eric and others, thank you.

 

Dick

 

 

 

Very realistic photos with amazing cars and engines 

Continuing the series we look at the Silver Lady's beautiful Western Pacific orange and silver EMD F units.

 

Many feel this was the prettiest of all the CZ schemes and the look the designers had in mind for the F3's in 1949. 

 

Bob Meyer sent these to me to add to the series.

Thanks Bob!

 

 

EMD dual service F7's

Steam generators in the B units.

Continuing the series of Atlas O's California Zephyr Photo Album I dug out a favorite we all know well.

One of my favorite paint schemes the Rio Grande used was the full nose yellow safety version of the "Bumblebee" as delivered scheme applied on EMD's trustworthy D&RGW dual service F7's. in 1949 through 1953 these fine locomotives could be seen in charge of the CZ often between the Aspen, the 4 stripe schemes.

Bumblebee was seen in four flavors on the CZ

FT, F3, F7, & PA

Very nice!

Pilots for the upcoming releases!

After these two cars all we need is the conductors window DC and we have a compels (iPhone insisted that was "complete") consist!

Well, I think the ATSF warbonnet still wins as the "prettiest" F3s but this comes in close second.  Just too bad the D&RGW didn't stick with their second CZ scheme a bit longer rather than the bumblebee scheme for their CZ F3s: IMO. 

Question for all you experts, did the Zephyr ever have an RPO car or REX?  Thanks,  

 

Dick

No.

Does anybody have any pictures of Atlas's York both with the 12 car set running we can add to this thread?

Please take some guys post them!

From hudsonj1e

Erik, do you believe the Atlas CZ cars capture the stainless steel finish of the prototype?  I ask because they don't IMO.  I don't have a photo of the prototype CZ, but here's a photo of the Texas Special and the stainless steel sparkles, unlike the Atlas model:

 

 

If that is important to you, K-Line and Sunset have done credible models in aluminum, which polishes up nicely, and Pecos River did some brass stuff that whas chrome plated, or nickel plated, or something, and they look like stainless.

 

I agree - the look of metal appeals to me more than even the best silver paint, and I do not have plastic models as a general rule, but these cars are very accurate in other respects, and I am not sure that sort of accuracy is achievable in metal at anything near a reasonable price.

Hey Bob,

Paul Smith sends him his regards from the Airplane hobby.

Tell him hello back.  A lot of airplane nuts are also train nuts.

If you look at hyperscale.com you can see metalizer paints being used on plastic kits that give you the polished metal look.  Atlas has done a great job on the cars but I've considered taking an undecorated car and trying metalizer paints and seal with "future" for the stainless steel look.  Perhaps take sides from USP and polish them up for stainless steel.

Sides from USP?

 

I went to your link, and didn't find an article on buffable paints.  I have tried Testors, and may someday try Alclad (sp?) - My A unit is nickel silver, but the B is bronze, and I have tried really hard to get it to match.  I hate to paint the nickel silver to match the B.

 

You have seen thephotos - ATSF PA/PB from MTH plastic bodies.

Jim,

I must say they do look fantastic.

Does anyone know why Atlas chose to omit passengers from the CZ car? Looks kind of lonely pulling empty 21" cars with no seated folks enjoying the journey.

Since the cars were/are not that expensive, I believe adding sufficient quantities of seated people, including the labor, would have probably raised the cost/price of each car significantly. 

The omission best suits those who wish to model rail travel during the early 70's...

Thanks for sharing all your photos as now I can leave mine original in the box. One of these days Atlas will release an E unit to match up the CZ CB&Q cars.

 

You didn't care for the Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot CB&Q E7A units?  How about the Sunset/3rd Rail recently announced CB&Q E8A and E9A units?

In an ideal world, it would be nice to have detailed interiors WITH passengers.  But it seems the Chinese glue is made cheaper these days and doesn't hold up too well in shipping.  At least that's been my experience -- even with the GGD cars which are otherwise very exquisite.  Something is always rattling around the interiors when I open their shipping cartons. 

 

As long as the interiors are easily accessible, I don't have a problem adding more passengers.  But I admit it was nicer when cars came fully populated and the glue holding the interior details in place lasted more than a few weeks out of the factory.

 

David

       
       


That's a stitch Jon.


I would like to see this level of detail out of the box.

       
       


I think an appropriate response to this is if this were a $500 car you likely wouldn't buy it. Artista figures are $7.00 a pop. I still don't know how Atlas can produce these models for $160 a car.

We as a culture have been spoiled on CHEAP Chinese labor for the last 20 years. Hobby Lobby hand painted and assembled goods for a dollar. Those days are numbered; and unfortunately it's done nothing but hurt our beloved hobby. It's set a high water mark for what we as a mass will tolerate on price point. With the rising costs of labor worldwide our models are only going to get less than rather than improve.

On another note - not all passenger cars measure out to 21" in 1/48. Many many to many to list range from 70' to 85'. On interior detailing especially in high end brass in all scales we chose to leave this element to the buyer. Some of us prefer an unpopulated train in the coach yard or displayed as an exhibit in any case can be both ways. I prefer to add my own figures due to my "snob" I mean purist mentality for the best figures by the best figure artists. Artista, Preiser, and some of the one off resin manufactures out there.

Coincidentally my Harriman Common Standard 72-D-3 is a 80'-5" car...roughly 20" long.
(C) SP drawing ACF St Charles Mo. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society used for reference only.

Bravo.  Considered and scholarly.  Bill.

The Atlas Zephyr cars are a bargain!  The quality of these cars is significantly better than my GGD El Cap cars which were more expensive (alum v plastic surely one of the reasons).

 

How easy/difficult is it to remove the shells of the Zephyr cars?

 

thank you

T4TT,

Although the GGD El Cap cars are very nice, they don't come close to the Budd car end details and the window treatments on the CZ cars, I know it more difficult to get the higher level of detail on aluminum than on plastic bodies. But then again GGD is the first to offer scale SF Hi Level Cars in O scale, and for that I give all the credit to Scott Mann.

I would be all over a set SF Hi-Level cars if Atlas made them with the same quality and detail of the CZ cars!

Joe