NE Caboose coming from Walthers???

[wcfn100]

Wow, what a job on the Chessie car lettering and logo.   I would have failed my graphic design course.  

And how can they (poorly) print the windows orange, but not the upper and lower rivet strips?


Mr. Unreasonable.

[bbussey]

First of all, I never said I expected them to do the lower headlight.  You made the claim that none of the last LL units were sub-standard.  If you think painting on a lower headlight is a standard practice, that's fine, that's all I was asking.

Stop playing games.  If that was what you were asking, you would have phrased the question differently.  One lone example of a unit of your road not decorated the way you want does not make it sub-standard.  Is the rest of the intricate paintscheme not to your liking?  As Lee stated, put your modeling hat on and modify the unit to the configuration you want.

[inkaneer]

First of all, I never said I expected them to do the lower headlight.  You made the claim that none of the last LL units were sub-standard.  If you think painting on a lower headlight is a standard practice, that's fine, that's all I was asking.

Stop playing games.  If that was what you were asking, you would have phrased the question differently.  One lone example of a unit of your road not decorated the way you want does not make it sub-standard.  Is the rest of the intricate paintscheme not to your liking?  As Lee stated, put your modeling hat on and modify the unit to the configuration you want.

Oh WOW, man lighten up for goodness sakes.  Just keep repeating, "it's only a hobby, its only a hobby, it's only a hobby..." 

[davefoxx]

http://cgi.ebay.com/N-Scale-Norfolk-Western-Caboose-500336-By-LL-/320548676907?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4aa230a52b

Ha ha!  At two bids, it's still only $1.54 and almost half the price of shipping!  ;D

[2-8-8-0]

The more I look at this, the more it is a shame. I have a few RS-3s that will be painted and decalled soon for Western Maryland (you just have to like the WM!) and a batch of the nice Atlas fishbellies, and a good NE caboose would help me finish it out.

At least Atlas has a nice C&O caboose for me (and C&O 1932 AAR boxcars now too!)

Really upsetting, this. This could have been a huge model for Walthers, with just a bit more effort...or a much better price...or both.

[sizemore]

Honestly I say we lobby for TrainCat to produce a kit in N...with interior.

 ;D

Just sayin,
The S.

[Robbman]

Don't forget the GP38-2s sans-sight glass and with playdoh fans.

It's like LL did 90% of the shell, and you know who did the last 10%. Bet ya can tell where they took over...

Not Walthers at all... the LL HO GP38-2 was just as bad of an abortion... even after they 'fixed' many of the issues on the first run.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

First of all, I never said I expected them to do the lower headlight.  You made the claim that none of the last LL units were sub-standard.  If you think painting on a lower headlight is a standard practice, that's fine, that's all I was asking.

Stop playing games.  If that was what you were asking, you would have phrased the question differently.  One lone example of a unit of your road not decorated the way you want does not make it sub-standard.  Is the rest of the intricate paintscheme not to your liking?  As Lee stated, put your modeling hat on and modify the unit to the configuration you want.

Oh WOW, man lighten up for goodness sakes.  Just keep repeating, "it's only a hobby, its only a hobby, it's only a hobby..." 

Actually, it's not just for everyone.

[DaveB]

I wonder how Walthers could get the NE caboose reissue so screwed up.  Maybe some well meaning soul started out with a more ambitious upgrade plan, which got caught in a management/budget/production meatgrinder.  It wouldn't be the first time.  Accumate couplers and a new jewel box.  It's hard to believe that was all that was planned to start with.

[Rossford Yard]

Dave,

That's possible.  I recall a car mag once traced the development of a new sports car from Pontiac.  They hired some hotshot designers and they had some real nice drawings.  They sent it to engineering who wanted to change it to reuse some existing frames, engines, etc.  Corporate was worried that the new sports car wouldn't appeal to their older clientele (well, duh) etc.  What started as a match to a Ferrari ended up as the Pontiac Sunbird, or some such, sold nothing, and now Pontiac is gone.

It is quite different at a bigger concern like Walthers than, say Bluford Shops where Craig only needs to look in the mirror for a decision!  The corporate decision process sometimes sets out to design a camel and come out with a horse.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think you were refering to the Fiero. The Sunfire was always designed around the Cavalier.

The Fiero wasn't a bad car, it just could have been so much more.

[Rossford Yard]

Daniel,

Never having had a Pontiac, you could be right.  But, it was just an illustration of corporate groupthink that took a neat design idea and turned it into a turkey that wasn't a great seller.  Who in a big corporation like GM wouldn't raise a red flag at redesigning a sports car to appeal to older buyers?  Someone noticed, but was too afraid to speak up because the bosses were too strong.

I still disagree with those who think Walthers puts out average products on purpose to show N scalers where they stand, but a really lousy corporate decision making process regarding N may be in place, as others suggest.  Its probably no coincidence that products done for HO also, like the structures, are done well or better than the typical N product, but somehow, they feel the need to keep their hand in the scale just in case it really takes off.  (And Walthers may very well have the GM problem of worrying about its older customer base, i.e., HO scale.)

Years ago, forum wags used to criticize Atlas for doing too many eastern roads because their big wigs made stuff for their own layouts, not too much different than Kato gets blasted for doing only wester roads because of their supposed preferences.  In the end, there is only so much they can make, and most of the critiques are centered on "whats in it for me" by most of us. Its only human nature.

[bbussey]

Forgot to mention earlier that Walthers had the Conrail pilot model on display at the Houston convention.  Other than the Accu-Mates and incorrect paint scheme, I didn't see anything different from the original Life-Like version.  When I told them the Conrail and Penn Central shouldn't have black cupolas, they said this is only the pilot model and the production models will be different.  We'll see.