If the McKeen Car were to be designed in O Scale in both 70' and 55' versions and built with a motor and lights, rivets (correctly placed and spaced, with the correct amount,) passenger interiors. What else would you expect of it and what's the highest amount of money you would pay for it? I know about all the disappointed fans of MTH not making the McKeens, but with my plans, I can now make the cars even more accurately then M.T.H., and I think you would like them more. The cars would be 3-D printed, and have a motor on the front truck. I am debating how I would do it, but I am also thinking about having the doors work, the cab door, baggage door, and the passenger door. So let me know what you think, and maybe this could become a fund raiser for my project.
It would seem very plausible actually to 3D print these. The body shells and interior details could certainly be done, door that could be applied to be made to function, etc. In fact, I think that you could even make the truck components as well using brass and ball bearing inserts for the bearings. Might be able to get Q-car or NWSL components to power it, too.
The O scale trolley world right now is already producing full shell models by 3D printing that are for sale right now through Shapeways and the prices are not all that high for a shell. The only issue here is that while these look excellent, the surface is still slightly pebbled from the 3D printing process. It becomes a decision point component when weighing price vs. desire vs. acceptability. A good price can compensate for a lot for a lot of people.
I'd actually be interested in this if you were to pursue such a project and I would suggest that you follow the lead from the trolley guys on this as well since that pathway forward seems to be working.
On the prior brass imports, Kidder did these in O , S, and HO. I've seen the shorter O scale one from Kidder a few time and only once the full size longer model. Not cheap.
Precision Scale did them as well. These tend to require a visit to your loan officer before approaching them too closely.
