Who will report on Trainfest in Milwaukee this weekend?

[Chulvis]

Agreed that FVM is making a good impression on me as a manufacturer too.

But so very odd that the "debut release" of the RD-4, C&NW, is TOTALLY a foobie. This is hugely disappointing to me as I've wanted these cars (C&NW) for a long time. Will get them anyway as I think they will look the part in unit train service. I will just have to hide all of my prototype pictures so I can't see how wrong they are...
 

Pedro,

What is the difference between these and the prototype?

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[pedro]

Agreed that FVM is making a good impression on me as a manufacturer too.

But so very odd that the "debut release" of the RD-4, C&NW, is TOTALLY a foobie. This is hugely disappointing to me as I've wanted these cars (C&NW) for a long time. Will get them anyway as I think they will look the part in unit train service. I will just have to hide all of my prototype pictures so I can't see how wrong they are...
 

Pedro,

What is the difference between these and the prototype?

The C&NW should have more ribs.  Not sure if they were RD-2s like what Robbman has posted, but they are definitely not RD-4s. No worries, my order is placed and I will be quite happy with them, especially after seeing them in person today at Trainfest. They are REALLY nice cars. The optional interior bracing is second to none, and the inside of the car is "keyed" to accept it. Wheels stick out appropriately past the ends of the car, there are body-mount pads, painting is crisp, etc. All around an excellent car. The only area for improvement would be to add some photo-etched detail to the hopper outlet gate actuating arms. On the prototype they are very prominent and "airy" looking but are molded solid and without much definition on the model.

[pedro]

I was in kind of a rush today at Trainfest, but some of the things that I saw of interest:

McHenry couplers. Look to be a clone of the HO "#5" type, complete with sub-miniature coiled spring on the side.  I'll pass, unless they do double-shelf types. They are compatible with MT, so there is no improvement in size.

Athearn F45 family, still just undec shell parts.

Atlas twin-bay offset side hopper. I bet steam/transition modelers will be happy with it. I put in my vote for C40-8/8W series. Response was "yeah, lots of people are requesting that". Better than a "no". Some new Geep paint schemes and plastic pellet cars and trainman hoppers were on display. Code 55 bridges are very nice. I think Atlas was the most popular booth - it was mobbed all day.

Kato superelevated double track unitrak was on display and looks very nice, if you like that sort of thing. Decorated GS-4 and Daylight train looks incredible.

The highlight of the show for me was seeing the Fox Valley RD-4. I had misgivings about them for one day until I saw them in person. (see post above). I think we can expect more great things from Matt.

That's a short list but I was in a hurry and I'm sure some others will chime in with pictures and more details.

On the layout side, the expanded mini-mod u track layout of Mr. Skibbe, Denton and co. was on display and very very nice. I think it was the only non-ntrak n scale layout there, and put them all (in all scales) to shame. When the unsceniced gaps are filled in it will be a real showpiece. (it already is, but you know what I mean). Good job, Mike and co.

 

[Mark5]

Atlas twin-bay offset side hopper. I bet steam/transition modelers will be happy with it.

Is this official? Not a peep on the A-board about it ...

[Frank Amato]

Atlas twin-bay offset side hopper.

Yes, let's hear more about this!  Is this a different version than the Micro-Trains model?

[Mark5]

I assume the two bays would be this:

http://www.atlastrainman.com/HOFreight/tmho2bay.htm (similar to M-T's "let's sit on this tooling" version)

and this:

http://www.atlastrainman.com/HOFreight/tmho2bay1.htm

But I sure as hell would like the info!

[LOFFY78]

Just got back from Trainfest 2007.  First one ever. I attended iHobby a few weeks back, so not to much new that i didn't already know.  Here is a brief rundown of some of the favorites:

Athearn / McHenry Couplers - McHenry had the new coupler that they had at iHobby.  It is nice but a little big, outside spring, but much better than the Accumate. ALL Athearn product will be shipping with the new coupler by January.  The Challengers and Big Boy were on display and are great.  The weathered boxcars are awesome. They are doing them inhouse and I hope it does well for them.  They had 5 F45 shells...test shots.  Same as at iHobby. These will have sound.  New modern John Deere tractor looks great.
Atlas - Had samples of the new Code 60 (or 65?) track, painted this time!  It was undec at iHobby.  They said they have it and it is about ready to ship.  Samples of the new code 55 bridges were there and they looked great.  I cast my vote for C40-8 and C40-8W.  All other new items were on display.  They had test shots of the new twin-bay offset side hopper. 
Bachmann - Had samples of all their new steam and tenders.  I asked about the infamous DD40ax.  They are currently working on a retooled version in HO and will have an N version soon after.
BLMA - Met Craig for the first time.  Great guy.  All new product was there. New bridge is AMAZING! Kinda funny, but the best detail is underneath the bridge.
Concor - I was shocked that Jim Conway showed up.  He had the MP-15s, Galloping Goose, GS-4, etc.  There were early production molds of the Aerotrain.  It will be sharp. I asked about a run of the Veranda turbines / U50s.  No time soon was the answer.  He also said if they did it they would retool it for sound.
Deluxe Innovations - Met with Dave and co. Test shots of the spine cars looked good, but there is progress to be made. They had a test shot of a new 53' container.  Needs a little more work before it is ready.
Fox Valley Models - Met with Matt.  Another great guy.  The 5347 and 5283 boxcars were on display.  Trinity RD-4 coal hoppers looked really nice.  CNW paint schemes were sharp.
GC Laser - They have some amazing laser cut products.  Alot of the items they have in HO are being brought to N.  They said their focus had shifted to military the past year, but they are coming back to trains.  Sounds like they are really busy.  Picked up a couple of their structures.  Elmhurst, IL train station (my hometown)...had to get it.
Intermountain - The 60' flatcar was their and was beautiful.  Seven years in the making.  Perfect weight and balance.  Body mounted couplers.  Coming January February.  Cab Forward is coming to N.  Still a ways out.  Tooling is about complete.  They had a computer slideshow showing the 3D drawings of the engine.  Looks to be a winner.
Kato - GS-4 / daylight was there just as it was at iHobby.  They have a very innovative coupler system that allows for the cars to be butted up together with virtually no gap, but they swing to articulate on curves...very cool.  The superelevated track was there.  Very welcome addition to the Unitrack line.  The doublestacks look sharp rolling around on a superelevated curve.  I asked for a SD-38 / F40 in Metra and bi-level commuters (since I am a Chicago guy).  They said the HO sales of the bi-levels was poor.
Overland Models / Tower 55 - They are all but done in N scale.  No plans to do Tower 55 in N.  Their "in-stock" list of N brass is literally 5 items.  The SD-70ACe's "will be made".  What year I do not know.
Walthers - The 0-8-0s were all there.  Very nice.  All the Cornerstone products were out.  The watertowers look great.  I asked if they would make some bottle cars in N for the steel mill.  Maybe some year.

There were a bunch of great layouts.  A fun experience.

[ljudice]

Thanks for the great report!!!

[Chris333]

Oh man Erie and P&LE hoppers for me please.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/511/IMG_8284.JPG

[Mark5]

Photos finally popped up here:

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=93433

Flat and round end version - oh yeah! M-T's are nice but they release them at a rate that makes snails seem like olympic sprinters ...

[wcfn100]

It'll be a shame if Atlas does the same 33' car as MT.  They could have at least done the short-taper version to give some diversity to the fleet, not to mention a more correct car it they do the same schemes as the HO trainman line.


Jason

[Mark5]

It'll be a shame if Atlas does the same 33' car as MT. 

Actually I think it'd be great if Atlas does the same car as MT (although I don't think MT does the round end version). The main reason being that Atlas will actually release these on a regular basis whereas with MT it could take a lifetime to assemble a meaningful fleet.

[Chris333]

Yeah I have a Erie MT offset side hopper with a yellow diamond, that is wrong. Atlas got it right in HO:
http://www.atlastrainman.com/Images/HOFreight/HO2Bay/18882Atq.jpg

I may buy less of the Atlas model since I do have some MT's, but I will still buy some.

[wm3798]

I think Atlas, FVM, Intermountain et al should start replicating the entire MT line, and start flooding the market with their great looking cars with more accurate paint schemes.  The Atlas fishbelly car, aside from the lanky Accumate couplers, is far superior in paint, weight, and detailing to any hopper that MT makes.  And every year I can count on getting three new road numbers, which I usually buy 3 of each number.  MT has made three different WM paint schemes, two of them inaccurate, and it took them 25 years to do it.

I'd like to see some pictures of the new Atlas track system.  I don't think I'd use it at home, but the idea of building some sort of modular rig to tote to train shows and church holiday bazaars is intriguing...

Lee