I've found this interesting link in another forum about steam-era billboard reefers. Lot's of pictures, to bad that Father Nature are no longer in the Business. http://www.toytrains1.com/atlas_reefers.htm
Jürg, You have a great memory!! Great site, thank you! Yes it is too bad about FN. I for one would buy his remaining stock and Z scale business but I think that Bob Olsen (PennZee) has first dibs on them. N scale has an fast growing amount of Turn of the Century locos and freight cars. If I didn't have so much invested in Z I would go N just because they have so much that fits my era (1880-1890s). John
John, I can understand that is sometimes frustrating to search for Items in a special era. Most of the Rolling Stock and Engines are for the newer era (Diesel). Torsja told me that you bought some Boxcars from him. I've also traded some from him and they are great. I hope he will release more old fashioned Cars.
Juerg, John, I understand that there are some rumbblings about getting the reffer Billboards back in circulation.. don't know anything more than that. Maybe if we (YOU) sent this site to UNKEL WILL and other manufactures, it might start the ball rolling again. There sure is a need for these pretty cars in Z and the mold now is just gathering mold and not being put to good use! Best, Fred
Thats a great website, can you imagine a string of those cars in Zed. Robert Ray, Where are you? These cars would look sweet done up in real wood cut with Roberts majic laser and with his fantastic decals applied. I think we should put it to a vote, all in favor vote yes. Bob
Cool idea Bob! Let's motivate Rob for those Reefers. My first choice would be the SP Fruit Express, then all others
I really do like those reefers, but I like them in wood, with an etched brass door. I actually have that car already drawn up, as a 40' Truss Rod Underframe car with K Brake. What I don't have, is the etched brass doors, as I never developed skills with etched brass. There was another issue, and that was with the decals. As you know, I use an Alps printer to make my decals, but Alps has pulled the plug on support and supplies, so ribbon prices have gone through the roof. Just ask Michael Hilliard how much a 5 pack of white ribbons are going for. One auction sold for $182 a few weeks ago, but average is $85-120 and rising as the panic sets in. After being discontinued for almost 8 years, no new printer has been produced to print a white underlay for decal printing. This is a job for Bowser, and one of you fine entrepreneurial individuals to do.
