I just came across a YouTube about the Vert-a-Pac rail cars. Have these ever been modeled in O scale? Seems super niche, but could be very cool to see, especially with 30 scale vega’s inside. I see why it failed but cool idea.
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It was a cool concept. I read that the car was engineered to be hung vertically to withstand the stresses on the drive train and suspension. Imagine a carload of 30 Cosworth Vegas........
@SusieQ posted:It was a cool concept. I read that the car was engineered to be hung vertically to withstand the stresses on the drive train and suspension. Imagine a carload of 30 Cosworth Vegas........
When it comes to Cosworth Vegas, as compared to regular Vegas, 30 was probably the entire production run. They were very rare even when brand new.
I've only seen one in person, and it was back in the early 80's. None since, on the road, in a museum, or otherwise.
Mike
Its a Vega. Enough said
Yes, I have seen one.
The late Pat Mucci, the owner of P&D Hobby, had a scratch-built, O-Scale, 2-rail model in his store, in the Metro Detroit area. It was for display only. To the extent I remember our discussion from 15 years ago, a friend of his built it for him. Pat was excited to describe the features but mentioned that he would never sell it. The model was painted, of scale length, with scale automobiles, in doors that could be opened and closed.
Now that P&D has closed the physical store and transitioned to online sales only, I wonder what happened to that model.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen Rajan
There was a spectacular o scale scratched one, P48 I think; not sure who built it I am sure it’s featured in the 1984 50th anniversary issue of Model Railroader. NMRA meet show results I think anyone have the issue?
O scale fold out drawings of the Vert-A-Pac can be found in the October 1971 MR. The other side of the fold out is the PRR business car "Chesapeake "
Were they only lettered for Southern Pacific?
Southern Railway had them as well.
Thanks Lionlman!
I believe the Chevy Vega was once Motor Trends 'Car of the Year' so the Vert-a-Pac had high expectations!
To be fair, the Vert-a-Pac was a success. However, the Chevy Vega was NOT! The old story was, they came pre-rusted right on the show room floor.
@SusieQ posted:It was a cool concept. I read that the car was engineered to be hung vertically to withstand the stresses on the drive train and suspension. Imagine a carload of 30 Cosworth Vegas........
Now I didnt have a Cosworth I had a 73GT....Looked great .....It was junk.
@Erik C Lindgren posted:There was a spectacular o scale scratched one, P48 I think; not sure who built it I am sure it’s featured in the 1984 50th anniversary issue of Model Railroader. NMRA meet show results I think anyone have the issue?
Eric the 1/4" O scale model took 2nd place, in the model contes. It was made by a Malcome Harvey of MI and was mostly scratch built of brass, full detail and all the doors worked. January 1984 M.R. pg163.
Not my era, but had two exposures to real Vegas: in a new job training program, an attractive new hire was asking all the guys about problems with her overheating new Vega, and we were all clueless, and later l tried to talk a girlfriend out of buying a used one.... unsuccessfully, it died, and she got mad at me. Their rep was out there..and set a precedent for Yugo.
If a manufacturer made them I would buy them. Cool car to model thats for shure. Not a vega fan,but the vertapack cars would make for some cool models.
A bit of trivia. The Chevy Vega was designed so that fluids wouldn't leak out when stood on end in the vert-a-pac.
Unfortunately it was also designed so that it would burn equal amounts of oil and gas by 30K miles, and the body would have rust holes through it in 2 years in the Midwest.
Actually the idea was after 5 years you would replace it with a new car (the ultimate expression of a disposable society). A lot of buyers did, with a Japanese import. GM unfortunately didn't see that one coming. LOL
@MainLine Steam posted:Unfortunately it was also designed so that it would burn equal amounts of oil and gas by 30K miles, and the body would have rust holes through it in 2 years in the Midwest.
Wow! My experience exactly with my Vega. Cool looking car, but body rusted quickly and at the gas station I would fill the oil and check the gas.
Bob
This is definitely a car I want to be made in O scale, and that's because besides liking auto carriers I also like the historical value of it. I know that Overland Models has one in HO, but unfortunately not in O.
Perhaps 3rdRail and Scott Mann could give it a shot
@Dave Koehler posted:Eric the 1/4" O scale model took 2nd place, in the model contes. It was made by a Malcome Harvey of MI and was mostly scratch built of brass, full detail and all the doors worked. January 1984 M.R. pg163.
Awesome simply awesome build. Guy was incredibly talented builder. I used to dream of owning something like that one day. Those scale operating couplers P48, it just looked so real, especially compared to my ConCor N scale.
@Hot Water posted:To be fair, the Vert-a-Pac was a success. However, the Chevy Vega was NOT! The old story was, they came pre-rusted right on the show room floor.
Pretty much every car from that period that did not have Ziebart or some other undercoating rusted out in a few years. I almost bought one but the dealerships wanted such a markup that I got an Hornet Sportabout instead (some things never change). And it was just as bad. The Vega was also famous for the 50 thousand mile aluminum block engine. At 50 thousand miles you just threw it away.
The company in China that produces the Premier Line for Atlas O and MTH could have the Vert-A-Pac model produced out of stamped steel parts. Since it is O scale, the sections could fold open to reveal a removable Vega.
Andrew
@rdunniii posted:Pretty much every car from that period that did not have Ziebart or some other undercoating rusted out in a few years. I almost bought one but the dealerships wanted such a markup that I got an Hornet Sportabout instead (some things never change). And it was just as bad. The Vega was also famous for the 50 thousand mile aluminum block engine. At 50 thousand miles you just threw it away.
Thats what happened to mine. 10 gals of gas and a quart of oil, went back to German cars after that
@RRDOC posted:Wow! My experience exactly with my Vega. Cool looking car, but body rusted quickly and at the gas station I would fill the oil and check the gas.
Bob
Yup.
