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Post by valenciajim on Oct 15, 2015 17:20:21 GMT -8
ATSFfan--the cars are assembled in the US by Japanese manufacturers and many brands are assembled in Mexico. The parts come from all over the place. For example the Takata airbags are found in many brands.
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Post by curtmc on Oct 15, 2015 21:41:25 GMT -8
ATSFan - Most North American Ford assembly plants are still in US. Last 3 Ford I've owned were built in Flat Rock, KC, and Louisville... Only Fords assembled in Mexico are F650-750, Lincoln MKZ, and a portion (not all) of the Fiesta and Fusions.
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Post by Spikre on Oct 16, 2015 9:33:26 GMT -8
?? arnt many Mustangs made in the Metuchen NJ plant ? and some in a Michigen plant ? that may not be current,but most Shelby's came from Metuchen at one time awhile back. Spikre
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Post by dti406 on Oct 16, 2015 9:46:00 GMT -8
There aren't anything made a Metuchen, it closed in 2004, but it did make Mustangs along with Flat Rock and Milpitas. The Shelby's were made at Milpitas. Now mustangs and Fusions are made at Flat Rock plant.
Rick J
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Post by riogrande on Oct 16, 2015 9:49:24 GMT -8
Speaking of Mustangs, when I was around 7 years old, we lived at Bunker Hill Air Force Base between Kokomo and Puru Indiana. My parents took us on the Ford assembly plant tour in Dearborn Michigan where we got to see IIRC 1966 Mustangs being assembled. My dad noticed an assembly worker who's job it was to attach a molding strip on the side of the car and he dented one of the cars while attaching it. Now there is Ford Quality in action! Between touring the Ford Plant and the SP Sacramento Shops, I got to seem some memorable things.
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Post by Spikre on Oct 16, 2015 11:37:58 GMT -8
in my defence, last time the Edison-Metuchen Exits were passed on the NJ Turnpike the Ford Assembly Plant was still in Operation there. am sorry to read its been gone a long time. any one want a mostly Complete History of the 40' Cox Dry Van Trailer ? don't have time today,but may have enuff time tomorrow ? Spikre
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Post by roadkill on Oct 17, 2015 14:30:01 GMT -8
There aren't anything made a Metuchen, it closed in 2004, but it did make Mustangs along with Flat Rock and Milpitas. The Shelby's were made at Milpitas. Now mustangs and Fusions are made at Flat Rock plant. Rick J Flat Rock has only built Mustangs since fall of '04, and Milpitas 20 years before that in '84. In between those years Mustangs were built at the sprawling Ford River Rouge plant.
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Post by runs2waynoka on Jan 11, 2017 16:19:48 GMT -8
I think this subject is touched on somewhere in this thread, lol..... I was down at Hobbytown USA today looking for some styrene sheets and spied the new Atlas Ford F100 pickups, which I didn't know were out yet. I figured I'd go ahead and buy one and check it out. This isn't the best shot but I think it shows that no changes were made from the pre-production samples and the final product- Several things that immediately strike me are that the bumpers seem to be oversized and there's some large casting marks on the inside of the tailgate. I plan on weathering my example for modern times and in the process will darken in the grille area with some washes and paint the turn signals which I think will improve the overall look of the truck. It's not as refined as the NEO but I think it can be improved upon to still get a semi-decent looking model from it. Even the old Life-Like F150s that were mentioned earlier in this thread can be reworked into presentable models.... On a sort of related note about 1:87 vehicles, I recently found these 1:87 Case IH 1660 combines on ebay that are made by Universal Hobbies- I still need to get it unscrewed from the base- it's attached with some odd super over-tightened screws that I don't have a bit for, and look it over some more, but it looks promising. My example has a few minor finish issues such as a loose mirror and a crooked decal, and the handrails could be replaced with finer wire, but it's still a nice model overall. Universal Hobbies is a French (?) company so the combine is based on a European version but it can be somewhat American-ized by doing things like removing the strobe lights. The 1660 was made from 1986-1992(?) but is quite similar looking to IH axial flow combines that were first produced in the late 70s. It looks like the header will come off with some work so this would possibly make a good 80s or early 90s era load for the Intermountain OTTX chain flat... Brad
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Post by bnsf971 on Jan 11, 2017 16:50:38 GMT -8
Brad, I thought I'd possibly save you some grief on the turn signal painting. The turn signal/front marker lenses were nearly clear through 1976, with the 1977 model being the first with orange tinted lenses. The '77s also had the "F150" badge moved to the cowl, instead of the sides of the fenders. The earlier turn signals only had the tinge from the amber colored bulbs behind the lenses.
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Post by wp8thsub on Jan 11, 2017 19:13:25 GMT -8
This isn't the best shot but I think it shows that no changes were made from the pre-production samples and the final product- I do see a couple minor changes from the pre-production image I posted on page 2 of the thread, along with some prototype photos. Atlas corrected the trim forward of the front wheel arch to eliminate the chrome between there and the bumper. In addition, badging was added to the fenders. Unfortunately all the proportioning issues are still there. Here's the image from page 2.
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Post by Amboy Secondary on Jan 11, 2017 19:16:40 GMT -8
in my defence, last time the Edison-Metuchen Exits were passed on the NJ Turnpike the Ford Assembly Plant was still in Operation there. am sorry to read its been gone a long time. any one want a mostly Complete History of the 40' Cox Dry Van Trailer ? don't have time today,but may have enuff time tomorrow ? Spikre The last Fords made at the Edison Assembly Plant were Ranger pickups. For several years, a second shift was employed at Edison to assemble Mazda Pickups which were Rangers with different grill and trim. The Mazdas were trucked to Greenville, in Jersey City for finishing, by Mazda, then distributed. Mazdas going rail were loaded at the Doremus Avenue auto facility in Newark. The Rangers were shipped by rail, in covered bi-levels, directly from Metuchen to Oak Island and beyond. And yes, they fit under the wire. Crabby Joe
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Post by lvrr325 on Jan 12, 2017 22:34:24 GMT -8
Cars built back then did not last as long as cars do today, so those percentages are probably a decent ballpark indicator of the relative number of cars on the road in the 1970's.
FWIW, based on purely informal observation of cars in old junkyards, the average life of a vehicle in the salt belt of New York was around 11 years. That based on last inspection sticker where visible or by the license plate if they were old enough to have one with the year stamped in it. It's likely they lasted a tad longer in the south and west, although I recall a few with southern plates that didn't last any longer than the local cars did. And I ran across plenty of foreign cars, too, in fact stuff in some yards I've never seen anywhere else. Renaults, Borgwards, Hillmans, European Fords, one auction a guy had some 1950s Datsuns, pretty much you name it and somebody had one. By far outnumbered by American cars - but they were there.
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ed
Full Member
Posts: 129
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Post by ed on Jan 13, 2017 6:06:06 GMT -8
I am puzzled by the quality difference between the River Point Station Ford pickups and the Atlas Ford pickups, especially given the size of the companies involved. I realize that they are from two different eras, but, for $2 more for the RPS model, you get a far superior product. As much as I had been tempted, I will pass on the Atlas offerings. At $5-7 maybe, but at $20 list for a Tyco-like product, you've got to be kidding. Seriously.
Thanks to those who posted pictures of the finished product. You saved me a few bucks.
I look forward to whenever the RPS '64-70 Econoline vans are offered.
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Post by scl1234 on Jan 13, 2017 7:15:30 GMT -8
I am puzzled by the quality difference between the River Point Station Ford pickups and the Atlas Ford pickups, especially given the size of the companies involved. I realize that they are from two different eras, but, for $2 more for the RPS model, you get a far superior product. As much as I had been tempted, I will pass on the Atlas offerings. At $5-7 maybe, but at $20 list for a Tyco-like product, you've got to be kidding. Seriously. Please post a link to the RPS 1973(+/- 1 year) Ford F-100 pickup which you are comparing to the Atlas 1973 Ford F-100 pickup. You can tell some people that a walnut is actually an apple until they have a taste...
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Post by hovehicle on Jan 13, 2017 9:53:35 GMT -8
ed,
I can definitely agree with you on the Atlas Ford F-150; that is one vehicle that they could have done better. The front end is all one piece, which really makes it look fair, not good. The tires look very poor with the big ruts in the sidewall. The paint looks good, as well as the added mirrors. I would give it a C, that's it.
RPS products get an A practically every time because of the attention to detail. You can expect good things to come from RPS, and with a new supplier the timeline between releases will be shorter.
Vito L.
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ed
Full Member
Posts: 129
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Post by ed on Jan 13, 2017 9:55:55 GMT -8
"Please post a link to the RPS 1973(+/- 1 year) Ford F-100 pickup which you are comparing to the Atlas 1973 Ford F-100 pickup.
You can tell some people that a walnut is actually an apple until they have a taste..."
Re-read my post. The RPS offering is from a different era, a 2008 or so.
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Post by grahamline on Jan 14, 2017 11:36:55 GMT -8
I think the year difference is the point. RPS makes a nice truck, but if you really want something from the '70s, it's just completely irrelevant. The Walthers '60s shortbed Ford in a very well-done model, which for some reason Walthers hasn't repeated. Looks to me like a Roco product, so maybe they aren't speaking any more.
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Post by onequiknova on Jan 14, 2017 13:10:25 GMT -8
One thing is for sure. Compared to vehicles from RPS, Brekina, etc in the same MSRP range, this offering from Atlas comes up well short.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2017 15:40:50 GMT -8
I picked up one Candy Apple Red...It's a pretty nice truck overall. Nice paint; lettering is crisp on the truck...captures the "look" of the 1970's Ford Fleetside, IMO.
I'd like to have a couple more.
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Post by riogrande on Jun 20, 2018 9:03:54 GMT -8
I picked up one Candy Apple Red...It's a pretty nice truck overall. Nice paint; lettering is crisp on the truck...captures the "look" of the 1970's Ford Fleetside, IMO. I'd like to have a couple more. And a couple more, and a couple more .... LOL I've been slowly getting a couple here and a couple there for the past year now for purpose of loading bi-level auto rack(s). I've managed to find some from the first run too. As some have pointed out, loading auto racks with them is nutty expensive which is why I've been chipping away. Unfortunately, it seems it's not going to be easy these days, what with all those great deals everyone found at Walmart and other places that are long gone.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2018 9:17:57 GMT -8
These trucks are pretty nice overall; but for the price they are charging, I would expect much more of a product. They do look really nice to set a scene from the late 1970's.
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Post by riogrande on Jun 20, 2018 10:05:36 GMT -8
I agree. I think there is another company that makes 70's era pick-ups and IIRC, they are a good deal more expensive than the Atlas F-100. Could be better but should look decent on an open auto rack, or two. They seem to have sold well enough; MBK sold out of theirs so fast all that was left when I checked soon after release were 5 white F-100's - I ordered all of what was left at the time and since have been grabbing a couple here and there.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Jun 21, 2018 11:46:39 GMT -8
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Post by riogrande on Jun 21, 2018 13:13:25 GMT -8
Matt, sweet!
It looks like you are one of those who have been draining vendors inventory as well.
I just opened a parcel today with two more totaling 20 so now I have enough to load 2 bi-level's myself. I think I've managed to get all of both runs except for the truck with the green upper panels; I totally passed by the first run and had to hunt down most of the colors.
BTW, Atlas doesn't show the F-100 pickup on their archived so I'm having trouble figuring out which colors were offered on each of the 2 runs.
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Post by markfj on Jun 21, 2018 15:55:36 GMT -8
Are you guys gluing your vehicles to the decks of the auto racks or just placing them on the car? I would want them glued somehow to avoid a mess in the event of a derailment.
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Post by bnsf971 on Jun 21, 2018 17:01:32 GMT -8
Are you guys gluing your vehicles to the decks of the auto racks or just placing them on the car? I would want them glued somehow to avoid a mess in the event of a derailment. You could use thin wire on the bottoms of the trucks, and through a brace on the rack, at least on the upper level. Lower level would require a pretty serious derailment to dump those trucks. If that happens, I think some spilled F100s would be the least of your problems.
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Post by grahamline on Jun 21, 2018 17:21:22 GMT -8
We routinely run tractors on flatcars with no extra locating system. They stay put. Some have blocking and some do not. We very rarely have derailments, so improving track work would be the place to start.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Jun 21, 2018 18:53:16 GMT -8
Matt, sweet! It looks like you are one of those who have been draining vendors inventory as well. I just opened a parcel today with two more totaling 20 so now I have enough to load 2 bi-level's myself. I think I've managed to get all of both runs except for the truck with the green upper panels; I totally passed by the first run and had to hunt down most of the colors. BTW, Atlas doesn't show the F-100 pickup on their archived so I'm having trouble figuring out which colors were offered on each of the 2 runs. I bought at least 2 of each color from the First Release and Second.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Jun 21, 2018 18:54:38 GMT -8
Are you guys gluing your vehicles to the decks of the auto racks or just placing them on the car? I would want them glued somehow to avoid a mess in the event of a derailment. You could use thin wire on the bottoms of the trucks, and through a brace on the rack, at least on the upper level. Lower level would require a pretty serious derailment to dump those trucks. If that happens, I think some spilled F100s would be the least of your problems. I glue mine on with a drop of Tenax7R under each wheel.
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