Scale Accuracy of the Max Gray N6b?

The cupola should be entirely in front of the rear side window.  Weaver (in O) and Precision Scale (in HO) made the same mistake on their brass N6b in having the rear of the cupola over the window instead of in front of it.  Straight-on side shots of the prototype are not common, but here is one:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...TU1ZeDA&usqp=CAU

Thanks Bob!  That really helps.

I like the looks of the MG versions.    I have a few.   They did both the centered cupola version and the offset cupola version.   I have not checked the dimensions and locations of windows.

If you want to count rivets, Quality Craft (name before Weaver) did wooden kits for the N6B and N6A and you could assemble exactly as you like it.

The Weaver brass one is a bit of anomaly also because they put the doors in the cupola for brakemen to climb out on the roofs to set hand brakes, and then they put the modernized end railings with all the Doodahs and stuff that was much later rebuilds.   

MTH did a creditable version with the centered cupola in 3 rail that would be easily converted.     I have not checked it to drawings or the brass ones but stand alone it looks very nice and accurate.

I have a Max.  I never thought about measuring it - it looks perfect to me.  Also have the N6a and a wood version that has seen better days.

I am spray painting airplane parts this evening, but will try to get photos for you.  

All things considered, these really are my favorite cabeese.

Crazy evening.  Paint had settled badly.  Half hour to stir a gallon.  Went looking for the camera - gone!  Probably at the airport.

These are iPad photos - in the shade, and dusty.  But you get the idea . . .

distortion on two of them - iPadcloseups make them wedge- shape if not directly broadside.  Did not know that . . .

@bob2 posted:

...distortion on two of them - iPadcloseups make them wedge- shape if not directly broadside.  Did not know that . . .

 

Gee, they look pretty good to me!

Mark in Oregon 

Jonathan,    The litmus test for me would be to get a photo of the real McCoy (prototype) and compare it to the models Bob2 so kindly provided and see if the basic features match up closely enough to suit your taste. If you need refinements like under body detail you might want to look at Precision Scale. Good luck in your search!

Simon

Over the years there has been quite a bit of discussion among SPF's (slobbering Pennsy fans) about variations among PRR N6b cabin cars.   In addition to the somewhat similar "wide cupola" N6A, there were at least 3 prototype versions of PRR N6b cabin cars.  The easiest to spot was the centered cupola version.  Less apparent were differences between offset cupola versions.  In the most common version the side windows were centered over the trucks (as found on Precision Scale and Quality Craft O scale models).  This version is best represented by restored N6b 980016 illustrated on the cover of The Keystone Vol 22 - No.2.  However on a few N6b's the car body windows were located closer to the end walls, creating a different visual relationship of the windows and the cupola.  This is the one Max Gray imported from Japan in 1963 priced at $14.50.  (illustrated in Bob2's third photo posted above).  Variations in prototype N6b's apparently occurred  as some cars were built new, while others came out of different PRR shops using body sections of obsolete wood underframe 4 wheel bobbers that were mounted (and extended) on steel underframes. 

For the post war O scale 2 rail modeler IMO the best detailed N6b's were the ones imported by Precision Scale in offset and center cupola versions.  I particularly like the high arch single spring cabin car truck PSC chose to create for the model, and the underbody detail.  Note that the PSC models (and MTH) N6b's) have a second horizontal end railing  found on postwar N6b's, while the Max Gray N6b's have the as built single horizontal end railing.  

Wow, Ed, those are beauties!  Thanks for the definitive info.