Portuguese Budd coaches: do they exist in model form?

[racia]

Hi everyone,

Back in the 30s, to be more precise in September 6, 1939, CP (Portuguese Railways) formalized with Budd the supply of a small group of 28 coaches in several layouts (1st and 2nd class compartments, open 3rd class, 2nd class and restaurant and 3rd class and fourgon). A small quantity was shipped across the Atlantic in ready to run form, but the largest number were received in kit and subsequently assembled locally by CP own shops at Barreiro.

In typical Budd practice, the coaches were of all welded stainless steel construction, and were in fact, the precursors of a long lineage of inox rolling stock in Portugal, that culminated with the local construction of an inox series of electric locomotives in 1963 (a world’s first). Sorefame, a local company, continued to build inox Coaches, DMUs and EMUs well into the 90s.

Back to the original Budds, the first turn of wheels was in May 8, 1940 (8 months after signature of the contract, fantastic!) when the first set was introduced in the fastest trains between Lisboa and Porto, Portugal’s main cities. 

After that small introduction my question is: I believe the coaches followed what was a Budd standard design. Do you know of similar coaches anywhere? Do they exist in model form, especially HO? Who build it? 

Thanks and happy 2011 to all of you

rp