I'm a fan of the 70s ATC as well so I always appreciate seeing those colors on the rails. Was watching on my phone so I couldn't tell... Is that the nscale version? I've got an old thread around here on some painting I did on my nscale ATC half domes and diner. Mike
Hey, Mike, if you can copy and post your ATC thread here, I'd like to see that! This is HO. When I first saw the ATC on the cover of the 1974 MR, I just had to make that train. Forty years later, finally got my chance! The lead unit is a BB Athearn, the coaches are Bachmann. It took months, and several failed auction attempts to secure the car carrier in original ATC colors- surprising amount of competition for that piece and it set me back a good $40 plus shipping! The contraptions ATC used for hot water generation really intrigued me, as well. It was filmed at the El Paso Model Train Club, thus the desert scenery. I have an extra set of ATC decals for $5 if anyone wants them, I lost my first set, ordered a second set, then found the first set just as I was setting up to paint. I have GOT to get organized.
It looks like the image hosting I did on those threads was on a domain that is extinct now so the threads are kind of useless without the pics I'll have to repair them, in the mean time here are the nscale models covered in the threads (diner obviously contains a proto shot for comparison): I've got about 12 to 15 auto-carriers (Bachmann) but I want to convert some of the modern racks over to ATC specs some day as well. I've taken a hiatus on the Auto-Train for the last several years but I would like to get back into it. I've got a couple of their cabooses modeled for 3D printing that I should finish up and put on my Shapeways site (then I'll find out how many Auto-Train fans there are for sure, hah) Mike
Wow, Mike, you are the ATC Master, for sure. I've never seen those particular short dome cars before. I thinking the prototypes came off of the UP. Updating the specs on those Auto Carriers will be interesting. It took me a few months to finally achieve one of the Bachmann AC's, and it cost me about 40 or 50 $ with shipping. The bidding kept going on and on, and I'd already watched in dismay as I got sniped off a few previous auctions. LMK about the 3D ATC caboose. I would very likely preorder one!
I've collected many, many photos over the years to have prototype references on hand for just about any kind of auto-train equipment I could potentially model. Here are some fun finds: I've reconstructed one of the threads I mentioned earlier after re-uploading the images: https://www.trainboard.com/highball...-to-brass-car-sides-acf-dome-diner-car.31873/ -Mike
FYI, Micro Trains is making dome cars and a baggage car set for the Auto-Train in Z scale! Nobody produces any Z-scale U-boats though, so that's a bummer.
