The Cardinal River Models Story

Hello, my name is Robert G. Perez, founder of Cardinal River Models LLC and I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to visit the website and look around. In the next coming months the site will improve as more developments on the Nickel Plate Road S-2 2-8-4 Berkshire Project come about and more time is available to spend rendering in the site expansion. In the meantime please make yourselves comfortable!

Cardinal River Models started as an idea to produce exceptional model trains to a degree of prototypical fidelity which had never before been accomplished. I say this because even some of the most sought after brass models have their areas where the detail was either 'fudged' or simply isn't there. CRM was founded while enrolled as an engineering student with a very cogent passion for Steam Locomotives. By spending significantly more time in the design aspect than what has historically been allocated by manufactures, and by being hands on in the development stage throughout, I believe the "Cardinal" goal that I have set for CRM will be achieved.

The name 'Cardinal' by the way, was inspired from railfanning trips in the New River Gorge, where wildlife is vibrant and Birdwatching is a great pastime between trains.  

You may have seen our first debut advertisement in Model Railroader Magazine back in March of 2020. Only in late Spring of 2021 was I at last able to resume where leaving off only to be hit with global supply shortages and a standstill of industry!! Alas, this project is now in full resumption and current CAD prototypes checked off as marvelous! 

You know by now that the prime Cardinal River Models directive is to produce fine scale locomotives. So, In May 2021 after learning that an excursion season for the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society had been green signaled, I knew there just might be a chance at organizing a comprehensive 3D Laser Scan of Nickel Plate Road 765. I did whatever it took to contact the great folks in Fort Wayne. With a short turnaround I was graciously and thankfully met with enthusiasm towards conducting a scan of 765 and motored across the wind farms (which look very strange at night!) and cornfields in early July 2021 to make it happen. With computers a hobby of mine, I honestly could not wait to commission the scan and compare the scan data with the original blueprints and elevation drawings from both Lima and Nickel Plate Road.

Since then extensive work has been ongoing with the 3D CAD of 765's scan and model configuration. This has been balanced with my own unrelated obligations. Cardinal River Models looks forward to bringing this revered example of ingenuity and industry to the public in 1:87 scale.   

Well, that catches you up to where things are at the moment! Stay tuned for more very soon. I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the read, and didn't miss any stops if you're on public transit and were simply so engaged that you couldn't look away...

Best wishes and warmest regards,

P.S. Make sure you sign up for Cardinal River News! Which will be the "whenever" publication showing what's new with the website and the latest scoop on things! Also be sure to visit our Facebook at the bottom right of this page and share with your friends! 

 Me in a rather awkward/comical pose while logging details on a 755 trip...