"HO" and "N" Scale Con-Cor
1934 Pioneer Zephyr
Attention Collectors:
These sets WILL BE a LIMITED RUN ITEM!
Latest update on the HO and N Pioneer Zephyr
Projects.
Q? Why is it taking so long?
This project IS taking longer than
we expected, but as new information on the Zephyr
was unearthed for us by the Burlington Route Historical
Society, and other Zephyr enthusiasts over the last
year we incorporated that information into the model
when appropriate,and this tended to delay things
as production of molds had to be delayed as we updated
the drawings etc. But the final result is
more than worth the wait!!
The project entails almost 100
plus hardened steel molds, assembly dies, printing
plates,etc.. etc. for all the plastic and die-cast
parts, total man hours for the design team, mold
making team etc. are estimated so far are over 10,000
hours , about 30% more than first estimated.
The good news is we are 99% finished
with all tooling and engineering as of late March
2005. We expect production to begin in early April
of the HO models, and it will take several months
plus for all the sets to be produced. Then we have
to add in about 30 days transit time across the
Pacific Ocean to our Arizona warehouse, and then
we can start shipping them out. With the huge number
of orders we have, it will take us a couple of weeks
to get all the orders shipped out of Tucson.
You will find a great photo of
the Pre-production sample at the Model Railroader
web site and also in the May 2005 Issue of Model
Railroader Magazine.
All the tooling for the "N" Zephyr
is scheduled to be finished by early May, and we
have been making flying changes in the "N" tooling
using information learned from the HO models.. so
they should be along 3-4 months after the HO models
(fingers crossed).
Click Here to see some photos of
the PreProduction Samples of the HO Zephyr. The photo
of the fantastic Box cover for the Zephyr, where we
have used (withpermission) the famous Zephyr Painting
by Mike Danneman.Zephyr Model Photos
In light of the Boss's planned Semi-Retirement,
he has also decided this production will be a "Limited
Run" of only 2,000 sets for the N Version. We
expect these quantities will sell out quickly and
the collectors will be seeking them out. Order yours
now, or be sorry.
Final production underway, models due to leave Hong
Kong last week of May. Then they will take about a
month to reach us, so expect to see them in the stores
in early July. Here are some photos of the final production
set.
This model will be of the original Pioneer
Zephyr 3 car train.
The Pioneer Zephyr is a
name that has become synonymous with the word "Streamliner:
and needs no introduction. Almost all railfans the
world over instantly recognize the name. While the
Union Pacific was running their M-10000 "Streamliner"
some months before the Zephyr was put into service
in May of 1934, the Zephyr stole the public
relations show and is better-known and more widely
remembered than the UP's M-10000.
The Zephyr's distinctive
nose began making the newspapers and newsreels.
As a symbol, the train had a distinctiveness, a
sleekness, an "image" if you will, that made it
easy for the pulbic to identity. When it made ists
record breaking 1015 mile run on May 26th from Denver
to Chicago,it gained even more PR. It traversed
the 1015 miles non-stop in 13 hours, 4 minutes and
58 seconds to arrive at the Opening of the Century
of Progress Exposition.
It was one of the biggest attractions
at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago
during the summer of 1934. Before it went into regular
service in the Fall of 1934, it was taken on tour.
During 1934 it traveled to over 220 different American
cities and was toured by over 2 million People.
So even if you are not a Burlington
Route Fan, it is quite possible that the Zephyr
visited your city and you could run it on your layout
as a white flagged special just like the real train
did during its travels in 1934 over many different
railroads in the East, Midwest and Western USA.
The Pioneer Zephyr also
stared in its own Movie, "Silver Streak"
and was seen by millions more people all over the
world.
The model will be made first in
"HO" Scale, and we hope to have it ready in early
Spring of 2005. It will be followed a few months
later by the "N" Scale version.
Design Features of the 1934 Pioneer Zephyr
Wig-Wag, LLC
