Metroliners

[pwnj]

How about Arnold http://www.tee-usa.com/store/product30892.html ? Those might actually be in stock.  Or http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Trix/12533.aspx ?  That one is in stock and on sale!

Oooh, on sale!    At $180+ that's still a serious chunk of change for a loco where you still need to scratch or otherwise obtain a body shell and details.   But again, if you want to make it happen, it's certainly doable.

[peteski]

Oooh, on sale!    At $180+ that's still a serious chunk of change for a loco where you still need to scratch or otherwise obtain a body shell and details.   But again, if you want to make it happen, it's certainly doable.

Unfortunately the prices of European N scale models are pretty much double of what we pay for US-prototype models.  Welcome to the real world prices!  Actually, part of the problem is the Euro/US$ exchange rate.  When I was buying European N scale back in late 90s, (when 1 Euro was worth only about 50 cents) I was picking those models for extremely good prices. Not anymore...

[pwnj]

Yep, and that explains why I'm making boxcabs out of duct tape and chewing gum wrappers.  But I can dream.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"Welcome to the real world prices!"

Real world prices my eye... probably the very reason so many European producers have died in the past few years... priced themselves right out of existance.

[One of One-Sixty]

I just want an AEM7. We have (almost) everything else in N-scale related to electrics except this one,

Phil

I can't believe I forgot about the AEM-7's.  It is a shame that Atlas never scaled them done to N, or its brother the ALP-44 for the matter.  :cough: Paul G:cough: Their newer models of them is DCC ready and just like their original runs you can choose to operate them via pantographs or the track.

I know years and years back I asked Paul what the possibility was of Atlas making them in N scale and was told due to the lack of commuter modeling in N scale and with it being a very specific modeling only running in one area it is unlikely we would ever see either one in N scale.

Hopefully with the market turning and there is larger audience that is interested in commuter modeling than before B-mann and Kato proved this, we might see something come to fruition. 

the AEM-7, we have Amtrak, SEPTA and MARC, and the ALP-44 we have NJ Transit and SEPTA


Kato already have the designs for the Amfleet II which is just a single end door version of the Amfleet ! and Metroliner.  It wouldn't be hard to stick a front end on the Amfleet.  Plus they have the know-how to make a slim chassis to hide the motor and gearing while still showing the interior.

It would just be the pantographs unfortnately that would be all plastic.  I have yet to see them make a metal version of any of the JP proto pantographs.

If anyone wants to MODEL NEXT YEAR's NE Corridor, you should know that the AEM-7's, HHP8's  and almost everything else is supposed to start getting replaced with Vectron locomotives, which like the NJT ALP46's are ALMOST stock European locomotives - and they are available in N-scale.  I believe the Acela sets are also due to be completely rebuilt BTW...

Unfortunately there are external differences, I believe due to US crash worthiness regs...

I think they're called Citysprinters or something here...  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak_Cities_Sprinter

"I would not be surprised to see Metroliners from Kato someday...."

I would about guess that it would be easier for them to do the Metra and NIDC gallery e.m.u.'s since they are so similar to the gallery cars that they currently offer...

Its Stitch from Disney's Lilo & Stitch as a transforming train!!

[peteski]

"Welcome to the real world prices!"

Real world prices my eye... probably the very reason so many European producers have died in the past few years... priced themselves right out of existance.

While there were some merges of companies, the ones which are still around seem to be doing ok and they still produce new models.   But the models are no longer built in Germany. They outsourced them not to China but to other (former Eastern bloc) European countries. I think that was a smart move. But the price reflects the fact that these aren't made in China. Even Arnold (Rapido) is back in business (ran by Hornby). But  their models are made in China now.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"It wouldn't be hard to stick a front end on the Amfleet."

Sticking "a front end on the Amfleet" cars will only yield a person a foobie and nothing more since despite the fact that both Metroliners and Amfleet are tubular in nature the cars are considerably different.  It just won't work.

I do not know how well the Bachmann Acela has sold in N but if sales have been good I would suggest that any modeler interested in Metroliners to start lobbying Bachmann for them in N.  It might yet yield what is desired, be it the original configuration or the rebuilt cars, and hopefully suitable models that can be converted to cab cars as well.

The down side is that while the Metroliners were "hot" at one time (the marketing of the originals was no coincidence) because they were the primary method of transportation between Washington and New York that was back 40 - 45 years ago and there is far less reason to believe that a lot would sell now that the cars no longer run.  Acela is the "hot" thing right now but even it may not have been the sales performer that Bachmann expected it to be in N.

[One of One-Sixty]

Sticking "a front end on the Amfleet" cars will only yield a person a foobie and nothing more since despite the fact that both Metroliners and Amfleet are tubular in nature the cars are considerably different.  It just won't work.

I know you cant just stick a front end on, but Kato have majority of the design already made for them with the Amfleet IIs. It really shouldn't be that hard to adjust the current drawing to add another set of doors on one end as well as modify the front.  You have to remember that the Amfleet I & IIs was born from the Metroliners.

And if my memory serves correct, the trucks are common and they probably already make them.  The only things I can think of that they will have to design from scratch is the pantographs, hopefully it will be metal instead instead of all plastic like the rest of their single arm pantographs.  The other thing is the mechanism which they could probably redesign the RDC ones to fit.

I will be using the whole RDC chassis myself to re-power my 4 Metroliners.  Bobcat had a hand in helping me with the project a few years back so with a little trimming it will fit.  Yes it will be "Foobielicious" but Rule #1 applies.

[GP38-2freak]

Don't look for the german units on ebay, sometimes it is better to get them from a dealer direct, I have one located near me and he has some Roco 112/143 electrics.
The fleischmann ÖBB units are hard to find but there was a swedish versoin of it (other headlights and window placing)
If someone is really interested in one of those units let me know it and I try to get them at better prices as we have dealers who make regularly blow-out sales on fleischmann & Roco locos.

Tim