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Another thing to gripe about (rant)

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Posted by chutton01 on Sunday, April 5, 2015 7:50 PM

rdgk1se3019
I know someone that has a half dozen or more of those turd`s called Edsel`s  (the real one`s).........I just look at him and say ....why?


You know the Edsel quality wasn't really worse than any other vehicle of that era (except for the funky push button "Teletouch" shifter, which was replaced by a convential shifter in 1959). The vehicle design of the 1958 itself wasn't that outrage compared to contemporary, except for the unfortunate "Horse collar" grill design. Indeed the 1960 Edsel looked...kind of decent actually.
However, as everyone with hindsight knows, it was the wrong car at the wrong time (a semi-luxury car with a new marquee - not Ford! - at the beginning of a recession - oops). Ah well, along with Penn Central and New Coke, the marketing hype and introduction of the Edsel may remain as a cautionary business tale for centuries to come.
Now image, if instead a badly time undeeded luxury car the Edsel turned out to be a 1958 version of the 1960 Ford Falcon - that would have blown everyone's mind (well, those paying attention), and Edsel would have been celebrated as a great success like the 1964.5 Mustang or the 1957 Ford Ranchero.

As for Woodland Scenics, yes they are close knockoffs (e.g. that 1957 Plymouth 2 door hadtop comes close, but nothing prototypical Plymouth quite matches that grill/tailfin configuration)

Here's a list indirectly from this thread:
The Woodland Scenics HO Auto Scene vehicles are more generic than
specific; however, to me, they are reasonably close as follows:

5521 - '55* Chevy Pick-Up Truck
5522 - '52 Chevy BelAir 2dr Hardtop
5524 - '55* Chevy Wrecker & '51 Lincoln 2dr Sedan
5525 - '55 Chevy Nomad Station Wagon
5526 - '57 Plymouth Fury 2dr Hardtop
5527 - '48 Ford Convertible
5528 - '51 Ford Sedan & '52 Chevy BelAir 2dr Hardtop
5530 - '51 Lincoln 2dr Sedan
5532 - '55 Chevy Nomad Station Wagon
5533 - '40 Ford Coupe
5535 - '48 Ford Convertible
5536 - '40 Ford Coupe & '52 Chevy BelAir 2dr Hardtop
 *These may be a '56 or '57, but the difference is slight.

With a later cross-reference:
5521 -- Hall & Duke (Late 50s Pickup w/Driver & Dog)
5522 -- Billy Brown's Coupe (50s 2-Door, Top Up w/Driver)
5523 -- Felix Fix-A-Flat (Late 50s 2-Door Hardtop, Tire Changer & Lady)
5524 -- Wayne Recker's Tow Service (Late 50s Wrecker, Auto & 2 Figures)
5525 -- Family Vacation (Mid 50s Station Wagon w/Luggage, Mom, Dad & Kids)
5526 -- Lubeners Loading (Mid 50s 2-Door w/Open Trunk, 2 Figures & Luggage)
5527 -- Roger's Rag Top (Late 40s 2-Door Coupe w/Top Down & Driver)
5528 -- Willie's Warning (Early 50s 2-Door & Late 40s Squad Car w/Officer)
5529 -- Micky's Milk Delivery (50s Delivery Van w/Milkman & Lady Customer)
5530 -- Spoonin-N-Croonin (Early 50s Coupe w/Two Teenagers)
5531 -- Rusty's Regret (Late 50s 2-Door Hardtop in Bad Shape)
5532 -- Thompson's Travelin' Trailer (Mid 50s Station Wagon w/2-Wheel Camper)
5533 -- Suds & Shine (Early 40s 2-Door Hardtop w/3 Figures)
5534 -- Pickem' Up Truck (Mid 50s 1/2-Ton Pickup w/Driver)
5535 -- Sunday Drive (Late 40s Roadster w/Top Down & Two Couples)
5536 -- Cruisin' Coupes (1 Each Early 50s w/Top Up & Early 40s Hardtop)
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Posted by Graham Line on Sunday, April 5, 2015 1:14 PM

dknelson

 

 
jecorbett

Comparing the Oxford 1949 Mercury to the Woodland Scenics 1949 Mercury, it is clear one of them is not to scale. The Oxford model looks like it is on steroids when next to the WS model. 

 

 

I was under the impression that the WS vehicles are not intended to be exact models but vaguely similar "close ... but" generics so as to avoid any license fees and permissions.  

Dave Nelson

 

The Woodland Scenics cars are pretty good replicas of real cars -- the Chev pickup, Ford convertible, Plymouth coupe.  WS just doesn't bother calling them by their real names.

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Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Sunday, April 5, 2015 1:02 PM

I know someone that has a half dozen or more of those turd`s called Edsel`s  (the real one`s).........I just look at him and say ....why?

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

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Posted by kansaspacific1 on Saturday, April 4, 2015 6:59 PM

 

Prototype dimensions of a 1949 Mercury coupe are as follows:  Total outside length:206.8 inches with a 118 inch wheelbase.  Would be interested if someone who has bought the Oxford model would measure it with a scale ruler, as I am thinking I would like to buy one.

Chuck

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Posted by dknelson on Saturday, April 4, 2015 5:32 PM

jecorbett

Comparing the Oxford 1949 Mercury to the Woodland Scenics 1949 Mercury, it is clear one of them is not to scale. The Oxford model looks like it is on steroids when next to the WS model. 

I was under the impression that the WS vehicles are not intended to be exact models but vaguely similar "close ... but" generics so as to avoid any license fees and permissions.  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Saturday, April 4, 2015 5:29 PM

jecorbett

SoapBox

I know they use the metric system across the pond but 1/87th is 1/87th no matter how you are measuring. They only have to get this right once when they are tooling up to make these autos. How hard can it be to get it right. Do they think it’s not that important? Do they think it is not noticeable? If so, they are wrong on both counts. Because these vehicles are so nice looking I will find a place for them on my layout but it won’t be next to any of my other cars because they would stick out like a sore thumb. With the too small Euro cars, I’ve placed them near the backdrop. The Oxfords I will probably put near the front of the layout away from any other vehicles. Sort of an unplanned forced perspective. These Oxfords are very nice looking but unfortunately, I won’t be buying any more because of their size.

Considering the (UK) source, I imagine that you've fallen victim to British HO/OO scale (4mm/foot on 16.5mm gauge track.)  That makes the actual scale 8/7 of American HO.

OTOH, I could probably use them.  I model in 1:80 scale, a lot closer to OO than HO.  Only thing is, American cars in back-country Japan in 1964 - not very likely.  When I went there I traveled by train...

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by NHTX on Saturday, April 4, 2015 1:51 AM

    Just to muddy the waters further, HO "scale" (3.5mm) and OO "scale"  (4mm) trains both utilize the same track gauge-16.5mm.  Remember, British and European trains are a lot smaller than North American trains.  Just like automobiles--used to be.

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Posted by DSchmitt on Friday, April 3, 2015 7:31 PM

The Oxford is a model of the Citation.

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by jecorbett on Friday, April 3, 2015 7:27 PM

Comparing the Oxford 1949 Mercury to the Woodland Scenics 1949 Mercury, it is clear one of them is not to scale. The Oxford model looks like it is on steroids when next to the WS model. The data and photos presented above for the Edsel seems to make a strong case it is the Oxford model which is correct. If that is so, it would appear not only are the WS 1949 Mecurys out of scale but probably most of my WS, CMW, and Model Power vehicles. Of course more than one model needs to be checked out to determine if that is so. Sounds like I'm going to be googling for a lot of classic car dimensions. I can live with out of scale cars if they are all out of scale by the same percentage so that one doesn't make the others look wrong. It might be that even though the Oxfords might be correct, they are the ones that will need to be isolated from the rest because I have way too much invested in the others.

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Posted by LensCapOn on Friday, April 3, 2015 5:42 PM

Going back to the Edsel site, there was a 2-door with the square roof with these demensions.

 

1958 Edsel Citation
2-Door Hardtop

Owned by John & Darlene Scott
Knoxville, IA

Model Number: 63B
Total Production: 2,532
Original Base Price: $3,500
Curb Weight (lbs): 4,136
Wheelbase (in.): 124.0
Length (in.): 218.8
Width (in.): 79.8
Height (in.): 56.8

 

There was also a smaller version with a rounded rear roof that was shorter.

 

1958 Edsel Pacer
2-Door Hardtop

Owned by Clark James
Elnora, Alberta

Model Number: 63B
Total Production: 6,139
Original Base Price: $2,770
Curb Weight (lbs): 3,724
Wheelbase (in.): 118.0
Length (in.): 213.1
Width (in.): 78.8
Height (in.): 56.4

 

http://www.edsel.com/pages/edsel58.htm

 

Must be a T-bird site too, somewhere.

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Posted by DSchmitt on Friday, April 3, 2015 4:19 PM

LensCapOn
 
MisterBeasley

Let's settle this.

This is an Oxford model of the 1958 Edsel I just got last week.  The spec for this car say it is 218.3 inches long, or about 18.2 feet.

This is the 1956 T-Bird from Oxford.  Spec is 197.5 inches, or 16.45 feet.

EDIT:  I re-took the pictures.  They are pretty close to their specs in HO scale.

EDIT again:  This is tricky.  I had to tape the ruler to the deck of the cars.  With the ruler on the table and the car above it, the close-up camera angle adds an apparant foot or more of length.

 

 

 

Oddly enough, there is at least one Edsel site on the internet. (Go figure)

 

 

A clip of dimensions for the 4-door.

 

 

1958 Edsel Citation
4-Door Hardtop

 

Owned by Charles & Frances Reed
Harpersfield, NY


Model Number: 57B
Total Production: 5,112
Original Base Price: $3,580
Curb Weight (lbs): 4,230
Wheelbase (in.): 124.0
Length (in.): 218.8
Width (in.): 79.8
Height (in.): 56.8

 

 

 

Length is 18'-2.8"

 

 

 

http://www.edsel.com/pages/edsel58.htm#Specs

 

 

The Oxford model is a two-door hardtop, prototype dimensions from http://www.automobile-catalog.com/  .  The four door dimensions are the same:

Length:

5559 mm / 218.86 in

Width:

2028 mm / 79.84 in

Wheelbase:

3151 mm / 124.05 in

 Substantially the same as the four door dimensions referenced by MisterBeasley

 

Appears the Oxford model is very close to the correct size for the advertised 1/87 scale.

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by LensCapOn on Friday, April 3, 2015 3:13 PM

MisterBeasley

Let's settle this.

This is an Oxford model of the 1958 Edsel I just got last week.  The spec for this car say it is 218.3 inches long, or about 18.2 feet.

This is the 1956 T-Bird from Oxford.  Spec is 197.5 inches, or 16.45 feet.

EDIT:  I re-took the pictures.  They are pretty close to their specs in HO scale.

EDIT again:  This is tricky.  I had to tape the ruler to the deck of the cars.  With the ruler on the table and the car above it, the close-up camera angle adds an apparant foot or more of length.

 

Oddly enough, there is at least one Edsel site on the internet. (Go figure)

 

A clip of dimensions for the 4-door.

 

 

1958 Edsel Citation
4-Door Hardtop

 

Owned by Charles & Frances Reed
Harpersfield, NY


Model Number: 57B
Total Production: 5,112
Original Base Price: $3,580
Curb Weight (lbs): 4,230
Wheelbase (in.): 124.0
Length (in.): 218.8
Width (in.): 79.8
Height (in.): 56.8

 

 

 

Length is 18'-2.8"

 

 

 

http://www.edsel.com/pages/edsel58.htm#Specs

 

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Posted by dknelson on Friday, April 3, 2015 3:07 PM

Oxford's own website is careful to distinguish between the vehicles they offer in 1:76 and those they offer as 1:87 - and the American prototypes we are debating are clearly listed by them as 1:87.  It is of course possible they were working off erroneous information or drawings or master parts.  I am also aware that the modelmaking process can introduce slight size errors fairly easily.  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by chutton01 on Friday, April 3, 2015 2:45 PM

OK, this page has dimensions of the various 1958 models, (possibly where Mr. Beasley got his dimensions from): 1958 Edsel Page
There are actually different sizes of Edsel - it was supposed to be a brand like Mercury or Lincoln, with different models (Citation, Ranger, Pacer, Corsair)

Apparently the Oxford Model is a 1958 Edsel Citation 2 Door Hardtop:
Dimensions & other key info from the above linked page
Total Production: 2,532
Original Base Price: $3,500
Curb Weight (lbs): 4,136
Wheelbase (in.): 124.0
Length (in.): 218.8
Width (in.): 79.8
Height (in.): 56.8

Mr. Beasley, time to get out those cheap Chinese made digital calipers (at least mine are cheap Chinese ones, I think Chicago brand via Harbor Freight), and re-measure the Length, Width and Height of your model. Give us (my imaginary fan club) the readout in decimal inches, and we'll multiply by 87.1. Via the magic of (very) fuzzy logic we'll take the weighed delta of the differences LxWxH, and decide how relatively ugly the scaling is compared to HO (for example the old Matchbox TopKick truck cab was like this - the Length and Height of the truck cab were fairly close to HO, but the width was way too wide, so it went in the close-but-no-cigar category since I was not insane enough to try to cut out the middle and JB Weld the sides of that pot-metal shell together).
Hopefully this Oxford question can finally be put to bed...

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Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 3, 2015 2:14 PM

MisterBeasley

Edsels were big cars, much bigger than the 56 Chevy BelAirs most of us have on our layouts.  The Oxford Edsels may look large by comparison, but back in 1958 they were large by comparison.

 

Yeah and there was no way in heck...that monster 480 cu.in. motor would fit in any 55/56 Chevy either, would even be tight in a 57/58 Chevy. Bow

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by jecorbett on Friday, April 3, 2015 2:13 PM

MisterBeasley

Edsels were big cars, much bigger than the 56 Chevy BelAirs most of us have on our layouts.  The Oxford Edsels may look large by comparison, but back in 1958 they were large by comparison.

 

I suppose to really settle this, one would have to know the actual dimensions of the prototype. The arithmetic would be fairly easy. Then it would be no problem to know which cars are out of scale and by how much. I'm more inclined to believe the explanation that these cars are OO scale rather than HO. A shame if they are not HO because other than scale, they are really well made.

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Posted by jecorbett on Friday, April 3, 2015 2:05 PM

Sir Madog

Jecorbett - the Oxford models are made to OO scale, which is 1/76 and not 1/87. They are 13% oversized for an HO layout.

You are quite safe with cars from Wiking, Brekina and Busch, but their selection of US prototype cars is rather small.

 

That explanation makes sense. If that is the case, the fault then belongs with Historic Rail for presenting them as 1/87.

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Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:59 PM

bogp40

 

 
maxman

 

 
zstripe
Just got the Yellow Edsel last nite. Three white walls and one black wall on the left side of car.

 

Somebody put on the spare?

 

 

 

Rather strange, soumds like some "whitewall" painting

 

Actually, I just took a closer look with the magnifier and it's not only a blackwall....the hubcap is different...the other three have a silver spinner in the center, with the Yellow paint in a ring around it. The blackwall has a all silver hubcap, with spinner in the center.

Wow!!! That's what I get for buying a new car at nite, off the showroom floor. LOL. Whistling

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

EDIT: I think I'll put this one on WPF....for a do you notice the difference question. Laugh

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:56 PM

zstripe

Mr. B,

Just got the Yellow Edsel last nite. Three white walls and one black wall on the left side of car. LOL,LOL. Actually, I think it would look pretty good with black walls.Smile, Wink & Grin

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

Wow, four tires on the left side.  How many on the right side?   Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:49 PM

Edsels were big cars, much bigger than the 56 Chevy BelAirs most of us have on our layouts.  The Oxford Edsels may look large by comparison, but back in 1958 they were large by comparison.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by bogp40 on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:34 PM

maxman

 

 
zstripe
Just got the Yellow Edsel last nite. Three white walls and one black wall on the left side of car.

 

Somebody put on the spare?

 

Rather strange, soumds like some "whitewall" painting

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

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Posted by DSchmitt on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:34 PM

Most peoples perception of the actual size and comparative size of real objects is subjective and with few exceptions usually wrong. 

Comparing two models is not adequate unless you know the scale of one of them  and also accurately perceive the differences in dimensions of the prototypes. 

The only way to tell the actual scale of a model car is to measure the pertinent dimensions (length, width, height , wheelbase, track) and compare them to the actual car.   It may be found that the scale varies depending on the dimension compared.

Measuring with a scale ruler is good for a rough comparison, but to be really accurate a caliper should be used.

In the recent Oxford Models thread, I posted links to three automobile specification sites.  

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by maxman on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:22 PM

zstripe
Just got the Yellow Edsel last nite. Three white walls and one black wall on the left side of car.

Somebody put on the spare?

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Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:16 PM

Mr. B,

Just got the Yellow Edsel last nite. Three white walls and one black wall on the left side of car. LOL,LOL. Actually, I think it would look pretty good with black walls.Smile, Wink & Grin

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:08 PM

Let's settle this.

This is an Oxford model of the 1958 Edsel I just got last week.  The spec for this car say it is 218.3 inches long, or about 18.2 feet.

This is the 1956 T-Bird from Oxford.  Spec is 197.5 inches, or 16.45 feet.

EDIT:  I re-took the pictures.  They are pretty close to their specs in HO scale.

EDIT again:  This is tricky.  I had to tape the ruler to the deck of the cars.  With the ruler on the table and the car above it, the close-up camera angle adds an apparant foot or more of length.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by rustycouplers on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:08 PM

How about Athearn making some more n scale firetrucks.

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Posted by zstripe on Friday, April 3, 2015 1:04 PM

On the side in front on the Oxford plastic case that the Autos come in, states that: Scale 1:87. so that is a lie then, is what some are saying???? The 1/76 scale figure that I have on my sailing ship is two head's taller than the roof line on the car, so I guess the figure is seven ft tall??

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

 

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Posted by jrbernier on Friday, April 3, 2015 12:49 PM

  Oxford HO cars are 1/76th(OO scale).  Tht Edsel will be long, even if true 1/87th.  If the car looks good, just do not place it next to a 'scale' one!

Jim

Modeling BNSF  and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin

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Posted by steemtrayn on Friday, April 3, 2015 12:49 PM

Being from England, could they be OO scale?

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 3, 2015 12:46 PM

Jecorbett - the Oxford models are made to OO scale, which is 1/76 and not 1/87. They are 13% oversized for an HO layout.

You are quite safe with cars from Wiking, Brekina and Busch, but their selection of US prototype cars is rather small.

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