My dad had a studebaker. I was too little to remember what one.
My Franklin Mint-Danbury Mint collection of 1:24 vehicles began in '94 when I was still living in Fairbanks. One of the models I overlooked at the time was the US Mail jeep you see below. That turned into a rare item. By the time I began searching for one of these, its collector value had doubled. I finally acquired one of them for my layout at more than twice the price of the initial offering. Of course, some models have gone in the opposite direction in value. Naturally, this does not seem to apply to the ones that I seem to need to complete my layout. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-003.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-003-m.jpg)
[/url] I also found one of those very attractive LGB mail cars, also at somewhat more than the original price: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-003-a.jpg]
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Another 1:24 model that has gained considerable value is this Franklin Mint Airstream trailer. I bought one when it was first issued back in the 90s. They would only sell ONE to each customer. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-013-a.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-013-a-m.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-013.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-013-m.jpg)
[/url] I found this one on Ebay last year for about double the price I paid for the first: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-014-a.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-014-a-m.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-014.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-014-m.jpg)
[/url] I have two Ford trucks with trailer hitches that match up to each of these trailers. I had the foresight back then to obtain that second truck even though I did not have a second model Airstream. This is a model that could easily be reissued. I suspect there are a LOT of modelers who would now purchase one of these. What do YOU think? Wouldn’t you want one for YOUR layout?
Last year I set up the K & L Liquor distributorship sales office in the downtown Cicely model. It’s major product line is Budweiser. I had ONE Bud delivery truck at the time. I have not found any in 18-wheeler size, but I HAVE acquired two more Bud delivery trucks in the last year: I will keep looking for an 18-wheeler version. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-010.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-010-m.jpg)
[/url] Showing the Budweiser Alaskan bear tap handle on the building, which I used to serve Bud draft in the CRD for many years: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/aaa-CicelyViews-d-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/aaa-CicelyViews-d-m-1.jpg)
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I have already mentioned my collection of “tourist” buses. I spent some time hunting down these 1:24 models–two from China, two from Britain. Had to really bite the bullet on these costly limited edition versions, but they really add to the model: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-011.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-011-a.jpg)
[/url] The original ones were the gold one and the yellow-orange one. I acquired those in 2007-08. The latter two I acquired this year. I have been waiting for the arrival of an American prototype bus, preferably a Greyhound type. None has ever surfaced in this scale. Believe me, I have searched long and hard: no positive search results. As with MOST of my pictures I present on LSC, these ones can be clicked on to obtain a larger version. Not all the larger versions are of the quality I prefer, but I try.
In the 90s I found this model of an ALASKA state trooper car in a hobby shop in Anchorage that is long-gone. Since then I found one more on line. Haven’t seen any since. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-004.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-004-m.jpg)
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THIS year I found this 1:24 model of an Alaska Industrial Hardware store truck, so naturally I had to have one of them: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-012.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-012-m.jpg)
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I already had a hearse, but I REALLY like the elaborate details in this one, which was briefly offered for sale LAST year: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-006.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-006-m.jpg)
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And, of course, EVERYONE from my era should have at least ONE classic 1957 Chevy: Here is my lineup: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-007.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-007-m.jpg)
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I have my share of those early 70s muscle cars as well. Here are two of the latest acquisitions: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-001.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-001-m.jpg)
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Some of my classic cars are over in the town’s used car lot. Among them is “Christine,” that infamous 1957 red Plymouth: [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-009.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-009-m.jpg)
[/url] The blue Charger is the one in the chase scene with Christine. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-008-a.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-008-a-m.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-008.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-008-m.jpg)
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And finally, I have these 1959 Eldorados. Maurice Minnifield in Northern Exposure had one of these like the gold one seen here. It is a well-detailed Danbury Mint version. The blue one is a Franklin Mint that I acquired back in my Fairbanks days. The newer gold one I found just a few months ago. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-005-a.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-005-a-m.jpg)
[/url] [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-005.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/a-005-m.jpg)
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Ron,
Nice collection and they are displayed well.
Ric Golding said:
Ron, Nice collection and they are displayed well.
I did it backwards. I started a collection of 1:24 Danbury & Franklin mint cars & trucks knowing the scale was right but not having a place to put them. At the time my only contemplated model railroad was the Copper River & Northwestern. In those days 1994-96) I did not even have ONE model railroad, although I was building up the rolling stock for one. It was not until 2006-07 that I finally had a modern railway system that could use these cars that by that time amounted to many dozens of collectibles. Some were damaged in the move to Copper Center and await and uncertain fate. Most of the rest now have a permanent home in Cicely. [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/004-1.jpg]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/004-m-1.jpg)
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Ron,
You said - “Some were damaged in the move to Copper Center and await and uncertain fate.”
Are there no junk yards in Alaska? Either that or put them on EBay. 
Ric Golding said:
Ron,You said - “Some were damaged in the move to Copper Center and await an uncertain fate.”
Are there no junk yards in Alaska? Either that or put them on EBay.
Room permitting, I will eventually set up a model junkyard for that stuff. I am not exactly flush for space on the model townsite at this time.
Fall is VERY short here in the Copper Valley. Even before most of the fall leaves have been blown off the trees, we have seen our first snow squall of the season. I am utilizing every relatively good day there is–and there are not many left due to rain-snow mixes and otherwise blustery weather with plenty of heavy wind gusts–to complete my remaining projects on the outdoor part of the layout in advance of the winter cold and snows that will close the railroad for the season within a few weeks (if not sooner).
Toward the end of the summer season, when I tried running the large USA passenger coaches through the west-end turn-around loop on the lower level where the Cantwell yard is located, it became clear that I would need to find a way to widen that curved. I ended up making changes that also created a platform for a future extension of the ALCANEX line. The extension would cross an area that is an established path for me under the model housing structure. There was no way around it. I needed a bridge. I purchased an 8-foot three-section piece from a guy in the area who decided this year to sell of his own g-scale model railroad due to his age and deteriorating health. For now the bridge will be the end-of-the-line. Thus I now have something for which Alaska has become infamous: a Bridge to Nowhere ! [url=i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/alterations-Cantwell.gif]
(http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/blackburn49/ALCANEX/alterations-Cantwell-600W.gif)
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The repositioning of that west curve also enabled me to connect up a dead-end caboose parking line that previously had no connection to the main tracks. The new curve works very well. And I am quite happy with my new bridge, which I completed installing today. Any painting of the new area may have to wait until next year unless I am fortunate enough to have a few hours of sunshine in the next few days that will allow me to finish the job. At the end of the bridge will be a straight line which will dead-end as a parking area, and a curve that will work its way around to the OTHER side of the Cantwell RR yard. I need it to move AWAY from the yard first, so I can lose sufficient elevation in order to bring the new RR line to a point UNDER the existing RR yard. This will be the parking area for the Phase III Klondike Mines Railway system. The line will continue all the way through the area BELOW Cantwell, reach the east end, and then head for GROUND LEVEL–a first for my railroad.
Looks like a Garden Metal Models bridge to me. Nice stuff.