Joe, explain the Circus cars

[tom mann]

I'm confused as to what the release is exactly.  Is it just a series of 12 billboard reefers, in addition to the entire 'red unit', as shown here 

?  The red unit is huge, is it all the trailers etc?

[Chris333]

Yeah I saw the red train a few years back and it is long.






I had a ton of pics, but this is all that's left.

[Ian MacMillan]

I agree a better description or photos would be great, as this may be the one of the only MT series cars I would buy if it is an actual quasi Red Train and not billboard cars.

[JoeD]

Initially due to the agreement fleshed out with Ringling Brothers we are leading with Poster series while we gear up for the proto stuff.

In Z we are doing additional smooth-sides and other cars to make a Red Train as prototypical as possible.  Obvious they had some unique equipment that might not be feasable to do...cost wise.

N scale will eventually feature Prototypical new tooling as well, that's a project I'm currently working on now.  How much and what is still being discussed.  A lot depends on how well the fantasy stuff does and what the economy looks like of course.  Beyond that all I can say is that we are putting a lot of time and money into the project.

Joe

[up1950s]

Collectors will buy anything , proto or otherwise . So you gain into the fold of collectors the proto modelers by doing the real deal or close enough to it . 

[JoeD]

I sure hope so.

Joe

[Ryan87]

A lot depends on how well the fantasy stuff does and what the economy looks like of course.  Beyond that all I can say is that we are putting a lot of time and money into the project.
Joe

Joe I for one would have no interest in the fantasy equipment I would however be very interested in prototype based stuff.
So I hope you don't judge your potential sales solely on the sales of fantasy equipment...

[JoeD]

I see it as two different markets as well.  Just always keeping one eye on the overall economy and what resources we have to bring on line.  So far interest in the fantasy stuff has been very good which bodes well for getting the ok to do more proto stuff.

Joe

[bicknell]

N scale will eventually feature Prototypical new tooling as well, that's a project I'm currently working on now.  How much and what is still being discussed.  A lot depends on how well the fantasy stuff does and what the economy looks like of course.  Beyond that all I can say is that we are putting a lot of time and money into the project.

If I may offer a suggestion.....

When I look at something like this I think really hard about how long until I have a working train.  The nice thing about recent Kato passenger releases is you get them all at once.

I don't have to have them all at once, but completely open-ended makes me reluctant to buy.  Knowing you're planning "10-12 new cars over 5-7 years" would make me much more likely to purchase.  I have some idea what the payoff might be down the road.  I realize you can't be 100%, but it's another area where I think overcommunicating will help.

And, if it wasn't obvious, I'm watching.  This isn't a must have train for me, but would be cool, the question is only partially is it worth the money, it's also is it worth the time....

[Denver Road Doug]

I'm with bicknell...need more input up front once the decisions have been made.   Bottom line, I would like to own the Red train, but I'm not sure I have the stomach to buy it from Micro-Trains.

Will it be the Kato "half-assed Empire Builder" or the Kato Super Chief?
Will it be the old Con-Cor foobie sets or the Pioneer Zephyr?
Will the 13th car cost me $800? ...and be released in 2025?

Anyway like I said this is something I'd really like to have.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out.