The Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club members have decided to commission O-scale models of the Budd PRR MP-85 Silverliners. The model would be produced by IHP models of Philadelphia, based on the all-original CAD artwork they prepared for the HO models currently under development. The version represented would be prototypically accurate to the 1963 PRR version cars 201-219 and 251-269; and are acceptable stand-in versions of Reading Silverliner cars 9001-9016. The cars will be scale resin craftsman body kits (1:48 scale, 21" long carbody) which would consist of a one-piece body shell, window inserts, stepwells, underbody details and plastic nonpowered trucks. The builder would need to provide floor material, wheelsets, power truck and pantograph.
The initial 7-car order has already been spoken for by the CVMRR members to make the project happen; but there is room for an additional 13 cars to be produced, for a total of 20 cars max. Pricing is comparable to other available O scale craftsman traction body kits at $250 per car, with $125 of that due as a deposit by April 1st. Expected delivery date is Fall of 2010, with the remaining $125 per kit due on delivery notification from the manufacturer.
Furthermore, the CVMRR group would like to produce some of the cars as powered RTR models for sale, to raise funds to help with club's operating costs. Anyone wishing to purchase these cars as Ready-To-Run powered 2-rail versions may do so at a cost of $500 for a DC car, or $565 for a DCC car, with $250 deposit due by April 1st, and the remaining due at time of completion. Due to the difficulty in locating functional o-scale Tomlinson or Tightlock couplers, these cars will be furnished with Kadee couplers. As to pantographs, IHP is working on a solution for an O scale Faively pantograph. If this falls through, cars may be finished with brass box-style pans, similar to the PRR Pioneer-series MU test cars. Finishing work will be done with the CVMRR group of cars. Anyone purchasing an RTR version may specify PRR/Reading paint and details and preferred car number. DCC versions will come with the address preprogrammed as the car number. Both DC and DCC cars will have a switch to choose between 2-rail and overhead power modes. When in Overhead power mode, the cars will have the ability to automatically select the proper Left/Right ground return rail, regardless of car orientation. RTR cars do count towards the 20-car total maximum.
For the RTR cars offered by CVMRR, anyone who fails to follow through on final payment when due at time of completion will lose their deposit, with the CVMRR group taking ownership of the car as payment for the outstanding amount due / finishing costs.
3-rail RTR versions of the cars are not currently being offered, although that may be reconsidered if enough interest is shown.
Anyone wishing to purchase an unfinished kit should do so through IHP models directly, at
the IHP Website. Those wishing to purchase RTR versions should do so through the CVMRR group.
If everything goes smoothly with this project, the CVMRR group may move forward on having another set of models commissioned, the PRR G38/G39 ore jennies. Pricing and dates to be announced.
Thanks!
--Drew
