Midland Reproductions Calif Zephyr

Tom,

 

Kits or built-up?

 

Even though I am friends with the 2 chaps who owned Midland Repro, I would rather have the Atlas cars as they are more detailed and accurate.

 

ChipR

I would opt for Mac Shops - one piece body extrusion.  If you do not mind the interface between window strip and roof/floor, I am sure the Midlands are as good as they get for multi-piece extrusions.

Are you saying the Mac extrusion itself was crude, or the assembly, underbody, etc?  Benson was simply inaccurate - no prototype exists with a letterboard on mid-side.  Other than that, the Benson extrusion was perfect.

 

So the value for you is the underbody, glazing, end detail, trucks, and possibly interior? You cannot get an accurate answer on the price without having an appraiser actually look at the things.  One might guess a hundred bucks a car, but that is true of all of these things, including used K-Line and GGD.  A true professional build could hit $500/ car.  All opinion.

Okay.  All else being equal, I would choose the Mac extrusions over Midland any day.

Pictures??

 

Dick

 

The etched brass domes on the Midland reproduction models are correct - they were measured during the station stop here in Denver, much to the amusement of the passengers.  One of the Midland Repro domes was lent to Atlas O to help them get the dimensions correct.

 

ChipR 

Where can these car be seen? Purchased?

 

ncng

I don't think Ron Kiaser (SP) is still making these cars. Your best bet is to call Caboose Hobbies in Denver.

A bit more history.

 

1.  Oscar Neubert designed the cast brass parts, including the dome ends.  You can tell these from the "N" on the back of the parts.  Several items on the big auction site still proudly advertise that they were created by Oscar

 

2.  The actual casting of the brass parts was done by Trackside Details

 

3.  Des Plaines Hobbies bought the remaining stock and the remaining dies.  You can ask them if they have any parts or kits.

 

4.  If you have a Mac Shops kit and any of the cast parts have an "N" on the back, you will find they are a few percentage points too small.  No prize for guessing why

 

5  There is a complete set of kits for an 11 car CZ for sale in Denver.  $1200.  Contact me off line if interested

 

ChipR

 

 

all brass Big Dome 50 of these models were produced in GN and ATSF

Sunset's creative Budd Standard Dome

Promo Sample built for Don Elliot's Midland Reproductions

 

 And as can be seen in Eriks photos Atlas did a lousy job.  Erik and company tried to convince them but even Atlas's version II is pretty bad.

Example of how a BLI HO G.O.D. Is not suitable for an O scale model.

Erik n Company. Your funny Richard!

 

I was part of that crew

Okay.  I take it back.  Those are really good models, well worth the price.  The ones I have seen were from Alexander dies, and the window/body interface was awful.  The rivets on the letterboard are really nice.  And those trucks look like $100 trucks, to me.

 

Guess I was mistaken about Midland.  I always thought they used the Alexander dies.

Okay - so how did Midland get rid of that unsightly gap where the window strip is inserted?  Did they re- do the extrusions,or did they go one piece bodies?

Hi Chip,  Ron also had a lot of the original builders blueprints of the CZ cars which he use to produce his cars.  He loaned them to me a few years ago for the Key CZ project that I was doing the research on, but they had sit in his basement rolled up for so long they had turned almost solid blue.  Ron never make copies so they were not much use.  The Atlas CZ cars are amazing for the price, even for twice the price I think.

 

Bob2,

 

Back to your question.  Midland Reproductions never, ever, used the Alexander dies, not even as a starting point.  All new dies.  As soon as I can get in touch of one of the former owners, I'll get the rest of the story.

 

ChipR

OK, now back to the Midland kits.

 

1.  3-part extrusion, roof and 2 lower sides.  This is similar to the Alexander extrusions, but with more accurate flutes.  Now for the differences.

 

2.  There was a channel in the roof to allow the ends to be locked in place.

 

3.  The punch that cut the windows out of the sheet aluminium was dead accurate with no dishing around the edges.

 

4.  The channel on the roof and lower sides to hold the window strip was tight and accurate.

 

ChipR

Ok - thanks.  If one cannot see the interface, and they come with Wasatch trucks, then these are a true bargain.

 

I have a few of Roger's UP trucks, and they are gorgeous.  The early ones needed a slight adjustment to prevent short circuits.

Bob,

 

Sorry, no trucks included in the original kits.  The owner of these retro-fitted Roger's trucks.

 

ChipR

You are correct.  Tom said Weaver trucks.  Forget it.  Eighty bucks per car max, unless spectacular detailing.

Brought forward for reference