I see these great paint schemes announced by Atlas but not on the prototype caboose. What is the Atlas Trainman bay window caboose based on? Is it designed for a specific caboose?
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You're not looking very hard. 
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There is a difference between slapping a paint scheme on something similar and being prototypically correct. None of the windows are correct on the trainman for the UP caboose. I was looking for the car that is actually prototypical for the car including length, windows, etc. From there you start modifying the model for other railroads.
Nice pics.
None of the manufacturers attempt to do all the different line-specific caboose variations, or with other cars either, other than perhaps the handful of companies that make a few very expensive brass reproductions. They have to do runs with different road names offered, and it would be far too expensive to make a dozen different molds for a run of cabooses, for example. With O gauge, for the most part you just have to be satisfied with "close enough."
D, all of the above. The Atlas Trainman bay window caboose is a " generic" model.
breezinup posted:With O gauge, for the most part you just have to be satisfied with "close enough."
I must disagree with this statement. If that is how you enjoy your hobby, more power to you, but there are many modelers that are not satisfied with their models unless they represent the prototype as closely as possible. The OP was not asking any manufacturer to produce every variation in existence, he just wanted to know what the prototype was for the model.
As pointed out, none of the major marketers can offer specific cabooses to make money. Most cabooses are not correct but that’s the way it is. This Atlas T-Man is ok. The market has been flooded with this style for many years. Also a bit pricy for what it is compared to other generic models.
Best BW’s IMO are Lionel short bay models but plan to spend 80 bucks to find one.
Non- accurate T-MAN LIRR above
Lionel short bay (platform clearing window) CR below
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This is from Atlas' website. The Trainman bay window caboose is based on a Southern Pacific C-30-6 prototype from 1951. I have a Chessie System caboose and the ladders are on the wrong sides and the windows are not correct but, it's "close enough" for me.
Thank you Catnap! This is the type of information I was looking for.
Ken
