I see your point, but historically many manufacturers seem to have had a lot success with vehicle models in which the prototypes were of fairly recent manufacturer as of their release date. Most of Wiking's N scale models of cars, trucks and farm equipment over the past 40 years were models of current or recent prototypes when first released, with Herpa and Busch following a similar pattern. And, the prototype for the Atlas Ford F-150 was a current model when it was released in 2000, while the prototype for the Atlas Ford Taurus was still a very common site on the streets when it was released in 2002. Another consideration is that a model of a recent prototype may enjoy a longer production run as new modelers take up the hobby and select the "current" time period to model. Also, the manufacturers of the prototype can offer a lot more technical support for a model of a current or recent offering. Ford supplied Atlas with much of the necessary design drawings for the F-150 and Taurus, but the design work for the Fairmont and Explorer had to be out sourced because Ford no longer had the necessary materials to assist with the designing of the models. Another factor is licensing. Most manufacturers want to be assured they will not be slapped with a lawsuit before investing $50,000 to $100,000 in tooling. And, with Millennium Transit Services currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it could be challenging for the model manufacturer to get much cooperation from them, let alone a license to produce models of RTS buses. So, we need to have a motivated model manufacturer and a willing prototype bus manufacturer (plus a lot of cash) before we see will see an N scale model of a modern North American bus. Carter
Thanks Carter, glad I picked up those RTS buses from Walthers then when I did. The wheels of time buses are going quite well so let's hope
Mack C-49 specs: Length = 39' 2 3/4" Width either 96" or 102" Wheelbase = 289 1/2" Front overhang = 99 3/4" Rear overhang = 81 1/2" Height = 118" Data Source : Reprint of Mack C-49 brochure
There were 102" wide C49s and 96" wide C49s. I imagine WOT got their dimensions from the Mack Trucks Historical Museum which has extensive files on Mack buses. Generally model vehicle manufactures (like model train manufacturers) will make a reasonably accurate model and paint it a whole array of paint schemes to amortize their production costs over a wider range of items. Unfortunately for the rivet counters that means some models are never quite "right." The 6300 series Macks were 96" wide, so the prototype may be 102" wide which today is the standard bus width and in many cases the only width built today.
I'd love to have a model of the Flxible New Look bus. Our local transit agency had TONS of these buses when I was a kid. They've all been phased out now.
Bill, Thank you for the specifications! I had heard that there were 102-inch wide Mack C-49 buses, but I could never find anything to substantiate it. Does the brochure indicate where they were used? I believe that 102-inch wide transit buses came into existence well before 102-inch wide intercity buses. Here Wikipedia states that 102-inch wide GM "old look" buses were available in 1948. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_%22old-look%22_transit_bus And, I found information that prior to the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 there were exceptions to the 96-inch maximum legal width on Interstate Highways within a particular state, but only if that state allowed widths greater than 96 inches on the other roads within its borders. Otherwise, it looks like it was 1982 before 102-inch wide buses were legal on the Interstate Highways in all states. This link has information on some of the issue’s Greyhound had with its first 102-inch wide buses. It states the 102-inch wide MC-6 buses built in 1969-70 were restricted as to the specific states in which they could operate. http://www.coachinfo.com/AllAboutBuses/MCI_Info.html And, where I grew up, 96 inches was the maximum legal width limit. I even purchased two new grain trailers in 1981, and the only width option I had for those was 96 inches. Carter
1969 was also the year that the Eagle model 07 was introduced. It had a very limited production for the same reasons as the MCI MC-6. Eagle continued to produce the model 05 until about 1975 in Belguim. After that they were made in Brownsville,Tx. when Trailways bought the company & moved it to the states. 1982 was the 1st year of the model 10. MCI(Motor Coach Industries) continued to make different model buses. 1969 saw the 1st MC-7. They made until 1973. MC-8's- 1974-1978 MC-9's- 1979-1984 They then changed their designations. In 1985, they came out with the 96-A3. It then changed again to J models, G models etc. For a while, Greyhound wanted an updated MC-9 for their new Atlantic City service from New York. If you ever saw a Hound that just had"Lucky Strike" on the side,that was a MC-12. They also got other's for systemwide service. GMC was in the coach business until 1980. They made city transit buses & highway coaches.
C49 102" wide deliveries as listed in May-June 1992 Motor Coach Age: Seattle Transit System Boston, Metropolitan Transit Authority Terminal Island Transit Company San Francisco Municipal Railway Redifier Bus Co Montreal Tranportation Commission Chicago Transit Authority Pacific Greyhound Lines Cleveland Transit System Avenue B & East Broadway #501-502 Connecticut Co Niagara Frontier Transit Co # 6300-6359 C47-DT 102 inch wide deliveries to: Denver Tramway Community Traction Co. Citizens Coach Co., Little Rock
Cool, my Wheels of Time Pacific Greyhound Lines bus is correct for a 102-inch wide one! Thanks Again, Carter
Thats interesting. They still look chunkier then the prototype, but I just can't pt my finger on why.
I belong to a group that restores & preserves buses here in NJ. We actually have one of these Macks. Their even uglier in person.
It may be of interest to know that "scale" cars are often out of scale as well. It's not so bad from the height and length point of view, but they are often wider than scale. Whether the story is true or not, I read several years ago that you look down from seven or eight floors up at the bus or car or truck of your choice, and it SEEMS to be wider than it really is. Especially in N, there's a lot of looking down: 3ft off the floor in OO/HO doesn't seem as extreme as 3ft off the floor in N so the models are deliberately made wider than scale. A "real" scale car looks too narrow. Regards, Pete
Unfortunately, CMW is not going to do the N scale version of the PD 4103 models they're doing in conjunction with Walthers in HO scale. Instead we are getting the TD 3810 city bus. Personally... I'd prefer the PD 4103 inter-city busses because they were commonly used by Trailways and Grayhound. You could find an inter-city bus almost everywhere... whereas... the city busses might only be found in larger cities. I can only hope that CMW/Walthers reconsiders this bus for N scale. Here are pictures of the recently released HO versions... they look great. http://www.some train store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CMW-32113-2.gif http://www.some train store.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CMW-32102-2.jpg
The TDH-3610 was a small transit bus used in big cities (when labor was cheaper), small cities, suburban lines, and by small independent operators. http://www.coachinfo.com/AllAboutBuses/GMC_Images/TDH-3610.jpg The 3610s date from the late 40s and lasted well into the 70s on some properties, whereas the PD-4103 was only produced for a couple of years and had much shorter life span typical of most intercity buses.
Here is some reference material. Its a couple of photo collections called Bus Companies in Transition. These photos are from 1969 and 1970. Jan Feb 1970 Bus Companies in Transition - a set on Flickr August 1969 Bus Companies in Transition - a set on Flickr
