ChevelleSSguy
Member
About 10 years ago. Miller Engineering, the company that makes those neat, electronic, animated signs and billboards, made a kit called the "Starlite Drive-In". It was a fully working drive-in movie theater kit. I only seen it once in person as a diorama that was on display at the NMRA convention show in St. Paul, MN. back in 1999.
I know it came with a structure kit for the snack bar and a neon light on top of the building. A marquee out near the street with chasing lights. Plus a real working LCD screen for the main screen itself. You hooked up a VCR or DVD player or even a TV to give the theater life. I think it also had a template for the parking lot also. I havent seen one since then, nor have I even seen one show up on Ebay. But then again, I havent gone searching very often for it to show up in an auction. Maybe I may check every few months or so.
My thought is it may have not sold all that well due to the price. 699.00 dollars to be exact.
But ill tell you what. IMO, there are 2 model railroad kits that have entered our hobby that were just an awsome sight to see in person. This Starlite Drive-In kit, and the motorized Walthers Bascule Bridge. I know there are many others out there that may rank high but those are the 2 that popped in my head right away and are just personal highlights of some of the neat stuff in this hobby.
Given the high price tag of those drive in kits. If I came across one today, I would strongly consider grabbing one even though I dont have 700 bucks laying around. I have just always wanted that kit ever since I seen it at that NMRA show. I googled it to see what I could come up with and all I could really find was the original Model Railroader review from 2003.
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=709
I know it came with a structure kit for the snack bar and a neon light on top of the building. A marquee out near the street with chasing lights. Plus a real working LCD screen for the main screen itself. You hooked up a VCR or DVD player or even a TV to give the theater life. I think it also had a template for the parking lot also. I havent seen one since then, nor have I even seen one show up on Ebay. But then again, I havent gone searching very often for it to show up in an auction. Maybe I may check every few months or so.
My thought is it may have not sold all that well due to the price. 699.00 dollars to be exact.
But ill tell you what. IMO, there are 2 model railroad kits that have entered our hobby that were just an awsome sight to see in person. This Starlite Drive-In kit, and the motorized Walthers Bascule Bridge. I know there are many others out there that may rank high but those are the 2 that popped in my head right away and are just personal highlights of some of the neat stuff in this hobby.
Given the high price tag of those drive in kits. If I came across one today, I would strongly consider grabbing one even though I dont have 700 bucks laying around. I have just always wanted that kit ever since I seen it at that NMRA show. I googled it to see what I could come up with and all I could really find was the original Model Railroader review from 2003.
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=709