Originally Posted by turbgine:
Does anyone know why Atlas chose to omit passengers from the CZ car? Looks kind of lonely pulling empty 21" cars with no seated folks enjoying the journey.
I think an appropriate response to this is if this were a $500 car you likely wouldn't buy it. Artista figures are $7.00 a pop. I still don't know how Atlas can produce these models for $160 a car.
We as a culture have been spoiled on CHEAP Chinese labor for the last 20 years. Hobby Lobby hand painted and assembled goods for a dollar. Those days are numbered; and unfortunately it's done nothing but hurt our beloved hobby. It's set a high water mark for what we as a mass will tolerate on price point. With the rising costs of labor worldwide our models are only going to get less than rather than improve.
On another note - not all passenger cars measure out to 21" in 1/48. Many many to many to list range from 70' to 85'. On interior detailing especially in high end brass in all scales we chose to leave this element to the buyer. Some of us prefer an unpopulated train in the coach yard or displayed as an exhibit in any case can be both ways. I prefer to add my own figures due to my "snob" I mean purist mentality for the best figures by the best figure artists. Artista, Preiser, and some of the one off resin manufactures out there.
Coincidentally my Harriman Common Standard 72-D-3 is a 80'-5" car...roughly 20" long.
(C) SP drawing ACF St Charles Mo. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society used for reference only.
