I see this in ads all the time, and wonder exactly what makes a model “museum quality”?
Most of the time it is just in the mind of the seller. It SOUNDS good, so it will jack the price.
As to what it SHOULD be, that is a bit more involved. Basically it means that it is something that COULD BE found on display in a museum. Usually it involves a high standard of workmanship, ie. no sloppy “it’lldew” fits or finishes. Sadly (to me) form is more important than function. yes, everything is there, (which means LOTS of delicate things to fall off or break) but operational qualities are quite often of secondary (or even tertiary) importance.
One expert model engine (live steam) builder who builds “museum quality” stuff that actually runs well starts his for sale ads with “Another exquisite model at an outrageous price!”…Since he has built a great reputation for quality he usually sells them within days, at his asking price.
Clear as mud?
Most true “museum quality” models in the smaller scales spend their life as shelf queens…too delicate to operate…and often run like crap if you try. A “museum quality” model should be historically accurate to the minute detail.
OTOH, “museum quality” is often a sales gimic as Mik said to get more for a model. Often these are nice models and run better than the true “museum quality” but there are the usual compromises made to allow them to be operational models. Most of these models are for people that have too much money to spend.
If you fall in the above category, note:
HOMELESS AND DISABLED!
Will work for trains. 
Warren
I knew a fellow who built “museum quality” locomotives in 1/8 scale. New Haven Railroad prototype steam locomotives, to be precise. He never used the words “museum quality” to describe his work — everyone else did.
The differences were immediately obvious. Every air line, every drain, every strap, every fitting seemed to be replicated. Everything functioned exactly as it did on the prototype. While some control surfaces had to be larger than scale to be hand-operable, they were in the correct locations, and operated prototypically, from the power reverse to the brakes (which he made air operated, instead of the standard steam…)
Looking at his locmotive next to the others made it immediately stand out, and out of context it could have been mistaken for it’s 1:1 inspiration, where many of the other locomotives never would have (as nice as they were in and of themselves…)
And… as to quality… they were no display only models either… these ran, and ran, and ran, and ran like swiss watches when they ran.
“Attention to Detail” seems to be the operative concept. A museum wants to display things as realistically as it can, and takes great pains to “get it right” so that the education they provide is accurate (consider the embarassment of the folks at Yale’s Peabody museum who must have been appalled to discover they’d had a dinosaur skeleton with the wrong head displayed on it for years!) A museum quality model in appearance and function educates people as to “how it was” as accurately as possible. Consider the restoration of FCM#12, now at Alder Gulch (and the prototype for the B-mann 2-8-0, btw…) where every effort was taken to restore the locomotive to “better than new” condition… in much the same way as your local fire department might try to make as bright and shiny as new revival of that old 1929 Maxim fire truck that once led the way.
So, sales gimmick, or benchmark of quality and accuracy … as with everything else, consider the source.
What’s in YOUR museum?
Matthew (OV)
My museum would most likely get mistaken for a landfill…
Warren
Maybe thats a new type of model. RipRap Quality!
An example of why museum quality is not going to get you round non museum quality bends
The last picture shows an LGB loco which some reckon can be converted by chopping two into one , sat on top of the target conversion. Nah . Even with the blurred picture it seems obvious that it’s a non starter .
You may be interested to know that the above photos were posted with the help of John Bouck , who has probably forgotten he did it .
The photos were posted as much for interest as for a check on the complete write up I now have for posting from Picasa photo processing . I shall tidy it up and post it on the forum .
Anyone suggest where I should stick it ?
Mike;
Probably under “Rolling Stock”…I’m looking forward to your posting of it.
Er , Fred , I think I have misled you . I meant where should I post details of how to post photos ? But thanks for replying . If any of you want more pictures of the 353 Electric , it’s made by KISS , and is very high quality .
But not quite museum quality which is what this thread is about .
I can post more detail if anyone is interested .
I think this last bit went “zooooooooom” right over my head. The last picture is of 2 different series of locomotives. I’m sure I could find fault with both. The upper appears to be LGB in the “200 series” but I’m not sure who manufactured the lower “300 series” locomotive. The lower appears to be of a higher quality but with only one picture of both together it’s hard to tell.
Warren
Warren ,
I posted the top two photos to illustrate what you lose as soon as you try to run any model through tight curves .
Then I thought someone may ask why the photos of just a chassis , so I put the others in of the same loco.
The last picture , as explained below it , was to illustrate the point that it would be difficult to convert two LGB locos into one 353 series ,as has been suggested by a lot of people .
If you want to know anything about it , please ask .
Warren, I’m the lucky guy who now has three of the Ge2/4 205 (made by LGB)
Shown on my “not as tidy as usual” workbench. Now why would I buy three LGB2045 engines? Very simple: one remains as a Ge 2/4 205 - the prototype ran on the RhB 'til 1974 - and the other two get bashed into a Ge 4/6 353. Not only has this been done before, complete with a “How to” article in the MIBA (German model railway mag), but by carefully studying that article, and the pictures that go with it, I have already designed a way to improve on that method by using a few components which are readily available in NA and will make things “easier”. You could call it “A German design improved by a Swiss using some American components”. 
Since there are plenty of RhB Forum members interested in the precise “How to” I will also generate exact drawings while I’m doing the kitbash, along with the obligatory pictures. And yes, the outer driven wheelsets will have a better alignment than the ones on that Kiss engine. PS since these are boxy engines, it took a bit of “thinking outside of the box” to come up with the correct “how and where to chop” scheme.
Hi, Where is the “Museums Quality” in a picture of three mass produced plastic locos? Nobody has ever seen “A German design, improved by a Swiss, using some American components” This is probably an example for Museums Quality:
An American/Chinese design. or this:
Made in China after the origial plans of the Frankfurt Mail Museum. Every single buckle on the reigns is modelled. This is getting close:
An Australian/American/German effort. One of the 1 : 20,3 scale MLS Master Classes Carter Brothers coaches on a redwood trestle. Look at the master classes or at the modelling chapter at MLS. There are quite a few examples for Museum Quality modelling. You will notice the total absense of a “!0 Foot Rule”. Have Fun Juergn Zirner
But when it’s my railroad, then it’s my 10’ …
Warren
Hans ,
Which issue of MIBA mag is it in ? I have been trawling through their web index and it doesn’t show .
Perhaps the article has a title that is not very apt .
Mike Morgan said:Mike,
Hans , Which issue of MIBA mag is it in ? I have been trawling through their web index and it doesn't show . Perhaps the article has a title that is not very apt .
MIBA 5/99 starts on page 64. “LGB-Oldie verlängert”
Hans ,
Thanks , it looks like he did a good job of it . Must order the back issue . Cheers
Warren Mumpower said:Or perhaps your very own 3.048 metres. More decimal places than that you'll have to supply for yourself. Now where's my thumb? I got some measuring of my own to do.
But when it's my railroad, then it's my 10' ..... Warren
That little brass loco is a beauty! Is that a winch on the front?