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 Posted - December 31 2006 : 02:52:55 AM
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Before he vaporized for parts and reasons unknown, MagAc used to pontificate about some of the old guard of HO that I had never heard much of - names like Penn Line, Hobbytown, Revell, and others. He used to talk about how those guys set the standards in such a short time - with drives that could pull stumps and detail that is still cribbed to this day.
I have to say now - he wasn't kidding! [:0]
I recently came upon my own "magic box" of sorts - 24 engines for a pittance. Perhaps the biggest standout amongst them, is a 1956 Revell F7, painted for Santa Fe freight... and in astoundingly near-mint condition!
And I gotta tell you - I could watch and listen to this thing ALL DAY... it's a loud, audacious beast of a runner that screams around my 4x8 like a scalded bear! And the paintwork and shell detail is just stunning - and would be by today's standards (easily eclipsing anything else available back then), yet it's going over 50 years old!
I might have to pay more attention at the next train show I go to, and keep my eyes open for these guys. [}:)]
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Posted - December 31 2006 : 07:26:07 AM
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GiC,
I'd like to hear more about "the Box", if you'd care to tell. I've been amazed that at the few shows I've been to in the last 20 years that often these engines are not thought of as being valuable, or collectable . Like Tyco's, they're considerded "junk and really they are "survivors" the same as some antique cars.
Alco Fan
Edited by - Alco Fan on January 03 2007 5:32:31 PM
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Posted - December 31 2006 : 5:03:44 PM
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GIC,
I agree that Revell had a winner in its F-7A. I also have a mint in window package Santa Fe Freight F-7A. When you consider the time its was issued...mid/late 1950s...it is perhaps the Athearn Genesis F-unit of its day. I think the Revell's nose profile and contour is better than the legendary Globe-Athearn F-7A. The numberboards and nicely formed and not majorly angled like so many manufacturers did to allow for easier molding. The Revell's detail is great for the time too. And if I remember right the EMD trucks are much more to scale than many folks made in those days.
You wonder with such clunkers as that old Marx or Varney F-3A or F-2A that Model Power continues to crank out today for reasons beyond reason surviving so long and in such quantity...why didn't anyone pick up the tooling or clone Revell's F-7A.
And yes...TELL US MORE ABOUT "THE BOX"...I'm curious too! [:D]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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Posted - December 31 2006 : 11:47:22 PM
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I told my wife today, "This thing is like the Cadillac of old HO". It really truly IS far beyond anything available at the time. I love it!
As for that magic box... [:D] I'll have to post that one separately. [:D]
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 Posted - January 03 2007 : 9:46:21 PM
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Based on this discussion I went out on the bay and bought a nice little Penn Line (Metal) GG-1 set! I posted a pic in the Ebay section. I did some reading about Penn line's history and I love GG-1's! Not quite as much as a Milwaukee EP-2 BiPolar But close! Except for my few Mantua and Tyco pieces thsi is the first real HO Vintage stuff I've bought though I confess to having a Lionel Alco PA A+B unit set in D&H!
Cheers,
Gareth
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Posted - January 04 2007 : 08:31:55 AM
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Hmmmm...Revell HO-Scale Trains Resource....Hmmmmm...have thought about it before...and I do have all the catalogs...Hmmmmm....
[?]
Tony Cook
HO-Scale Trains Resource
http://ho-scaletrains.net
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 Posted - January 04 2007 : 08:37:35 AM
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Hey Tony:
Either you're single a widower or been married a very long time oh wait maybe deaf!?
[:D]
-Gareth
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