Want to verify the authenticity of some models

[marksomebody]

i recently purchased a number of scratch built models from the son of the builder. His last name Reif or Rief. He supposedly wrote articles for model train magazines up he was not sure which ones  I have tried searching on the main web site but nothing comes 

regardless of the truth the models are exquisite and worth the cost just for the visual beauty. 

[mbinsewi]

Welcome to the MR forums.

A quick Google search, using both spellings, didn't come up with anything.

If you "recently" purchased these, maybe you can get more specific with the name, and circumstances,  and possibly even show us pictures of what you bought.

They sound interesting.

At the top of the General Discussion forum, there is a tutorial on posting pictures.

Mike.

[marksomebody]

Thanks mike I also called my friend Google and nothing showed up. I am hoping one of the really long time members May have a clue. I’ll post pictures soon

[BigDaddy]

to the forum.  Your initial few posts are delayed by moderation.

Can't help you.  A small time builder may not appear very often on Ebay or anywhere else.

We would like to see pictures.  Posting pics in this forum is tricky, there is a sticky on how to do it in the General Forum

.

[marksomebody]

No problem. Posting pictures sure is difficult. I’ll try to get it figured out

[emdmike]

Could the last name have been Reid?   I remember seeing lots of articles years ago from a Gil Reid that had a really nice layout.    Mike the Aspie

[SPSOT fan]

I’d need pictures to give you an idea about whether or not your models are correct, but if you do post pics I bet there are people on the forums who could give you a good idea of how accurate they are.

If you yourself want to try to figure it out, you could try connecting costumer service of the big hobby magazines. Or google the prototype of the models (road numbers, etc) and compare prototype pic to your models.

Good Luck!

[carl425]

SPSOT fan

I’d need pictures to give you an idea about whether or not your models are correct, but if you do post pics I bet there are people on the forums who could give you a good idea of how accurate they are.

I don't think that's what he's asking for.  It sounds to me like he wants to verify that they were built by a "famous" model railroader.

[mbinsewi]

carl425

It sounds to me like he wants to verify that they were built by a "famous" model railroader.

I agree, along with figuring out just who the guy is.

Mike.

[marksomebody]

The truth is your both correct. However if these are a quality build I did figure out that they were plastic kits that were built painted detailed weathered. The son who I bought them from had put a Craig’s list ad about selling old trains and buildings. I texted him and he invited me over if he is a known modeler good my layouts might look good if not my layouts will still look good

[wjstix]

If his dad was a "famous" model railroader, he probably was in the National Model Railroad Association. That might be a place to start, perhaps contact the local region or division and see if they recall anyone with a name like that. Maybe someone can check their old records of members.

https://www.nmra.org/regions

There is/was a Charles Reif who was involved in the Train Collectors Association, if it's not the guy it could be a relative....

http://www.tcaetrain.org/2d-articles/collecting/misc-collecting/bingtrademarks/index.shtml

 

[riogrande5761]

You can try to look them up on sites like rr-fallenflags or railcarphotos.

[BigDaddy]

marksomebody

I did figure out that they were plastic kits that were built painted detailed weathered.

The son may have exaggerated his fathers reputation, but if you think they are quality, we can take your word for it, without pictures. 

Go to any train show and you will see lots of structures for sale that look like they were built and painted with a toothpaste tube of testors glue and a 3" paint brush by a 10 year old.  Skillful weathering and painting is an art. 

There is a difference between scratch built vs painted and detailed, at least to the scratchbuilder purist.  Howard Zane is a member of this forum and you can find lots of youtube videos of his layout.  He has scratchbuilt, kitbashed and kits. They are all outstanding.

You'd be hard pressed to find someone on this forum who would turn down a gift of one of his "only weathered and painted" structures.

[dknelson]

emdmike

Could the last name have been Reid?   I remember seeing lots of articles years ago from a Gil Reid that had a really nice layout.    Mike the Aspie 

Gil Reid was a famous railroad artist who worked for Kalmbach (his stuff appeared mostly in Trains as well as various books but plenty of drawings also showed up in MR, including some cartoon like illustrations for articles, advertisements and books).  I don't know much about his model railroading activities but he was famous as an artist and his stuff is highly sought after.

http://www.gilreid.com/bio.htm

Not all authors who wrote for MR or the other magazines show up in the index.  MR's "Clinic" column had by-lined articles but it is indexed as Clinic, not by author name.  And some letters to the editor were nearly article length.  So the Reif or Rief who built the models may indeed have written for the major magazines but doesn't show up in a search.  The name is not familiar to me but that doesn't mean much.  

Dave Nelson