Wishlist for BLMA

[engineshop]

Probably most of us have read the "What do you think?" topic but I believe there is an easier way to get Craig's attention to us detailers. We need a list of photo etched pieces that are still missing or the wrong size.
Here is my list

Modern windshield wipers -> all of the available wipers are fine for GPs but the modern GE and EMD engines have smaller windshields and the wiper part is too long. I am talking about the part that would have the rubber wipers.

Modern lift rings -> A SD70M has about 4 different styles of lift rings. The two rear lift rings on the corner at the rear of the long hood are longer and wider than what's available right now. Each rear fan has 3 thin but long lift rings. The two rings on the side have a completely different shape than anybody offers right now. The huge fan right behind the cab has rectangular plates with a hole instead of the ordinary lift ring.

Grab Iron for the plow ->BLMA's plow are really nice but have no grab iron. I used Gold Medal grab iron but it would be nice if we would have plow grab iron that have a gluing pad on the end.

I envision a Modern GE/EMD ultimate detail set with some additional grab iron pieces a modern cab has around the number-board.

Maybe there are other pieces that are needed or redesigned but those are the ones I could come up with.

[Catt]

I'd like to see Craig do some loco/railroad specific detailing kits with all the goodies in one package to do one or two locos.

Did I mention "All The Goodies to do the locos in one package"  ;D

[sundowner]

My BLMA wishlist is simple, plastic porch and pilot mounted dithlights and 5 chime horns.

[nscalesteve]

I'd like to see Craig do some loco/railroad specific detailing kits with all the goodies in one package to do one or two locos.

would you buy such a "kit" for say $24.95 retail ?   
(imagine all the labor involved to pack such an engine specific kit)

[up1950s]

How about some fancy gondola and flat car loads made from brass to look like fabricated sheet metal .

[Iain]

I'd like to see Shark lift rings, plus MU receptacles for same.  I'd like to see BLW hood unit MU stands.

[Wlal13again]

OK, I`ll say it. Cab signal control boxes for CR/PC/PRR.... ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

Cab signal boxes are a great idea.  Another thing I would like is the individual coke containers which were carried in gondolas.  Believe they also carried concrete.  PRR, WM and a bunch of others used them.

[TiVoPrince]

I'd like to see Craig do some loco/railroad specific detailing kits with all the goodies in one package to do one or two locos.

would you buy such a "kit" for say $24.95 retail ?   
(imagine all the labor involved to pack such an engine specific kit)

Absolutely
the cost in my time tracking down the second (or maybe third) BLMA part makes $24.95US a complete 'World class' no brainer...

[Catt]

Quote from: Catt on Yesterday at 03:06:38 PM
I'd like to see Craig do some loco/railroad specific detailing kits with all the goodies in one package to do one or two locos.

would you buy such a "kit" for say $24.95 retail ?   
(imagine all the labor involved to pack such an engine specific kit)

Like Tivo said ABSOLUTELY, and for the very reason he said he would.  ;D

[tom mann]

Quote from: Catt on Yesterday at 03:06:38 PM
I'd like to see Craig do some loco/railroad specific detailing kits with all the goodies in one package to do one or two locos.

would you buy such a "kit" for say $24.95 retail ?   
(imagine all the labor involved to pack such an engine specific kit)

Like Tivo said ABSOLUTELY, and for the very reason he said he would.  ;D

Yes, for the same reason.  And also, $25 retail is cheaper than buying all the little $5 packs you need for one loco.  I want to detail a loco every now and then, but to do one offs is cost-prohibitive.  However, detailing is affordable when you do a few at a time.  It's also worth it for the research time savings.

[wcfn100]

Is that better or worse than paying $7.95 for the eight stirrups I need.   Anyone not going to use the G stirrups from their #402 package? I've got the others to trade.

I'm sure I'll need some of the others at some point but I'm already three pack in.


Jason

[Craig Martyn]

Good stuff here guys... keep the ideas coming!  Couple of points:

Roland:  I recently re-designed our Windshield Wipers (#96) and Lift Rings (#90) to improve the sets.  The small Windshield Wipers you're asking about should work with what comes in the set.  The Lift Rings were improved by adding length to the mounting pin and slightly increasing the overall diameter of the generic ring (though it's still smaller than the GMM version).  Furthermore, the Lift Ring set includes two styles, the second of which (that has a flat bottom) may work for a number of EMD/GE prototypes.  While these new parts are in circulation, I cannot guarantee that a specific dealer has the 'new' products on the shelf...

Detail Packs:  I love the idea and it was something I intended to do YEARS ago; however, there is more to it than meets the eye.  While some parts are generic, many change among locomotives even from the same builder in the relatively same time period.  For instance, EMD SD60's, depending on the road, featured the Angled Cab Sunshade (our #74), the Modern EMD Cab Sunshade (#16), or none at all.  Furthermore, Cut Levers, Rear Fan Grab Irons, Radiator/Dynamic Brake Fans, etc., etc., etc, varied as well.  There is simply too much variation to do a generic set; I'd have literally dozens and dozens of new 'Sets'. 

In addition to all of that, the cost to redesign all of the frets for only one or two pair (versus 4+) would take time, and we couldn't easily group all of the parts onto a single fret as we use Stainless Steel or Brass and a range of thicknesses depending on the product (.005"-.010").  As much as I love the idea, I just don't see any way we could offer generic sets, and for that matter, offer them at a lesser price than what we have now.  The beauty of detailing is producing something authentic; in many cases, this means extreme attention to prototype configuration.

We do have a few new etched-metal parts in the works, one of which is another locomotive part!   

[James Costello]

We do have a few new etched-metal parts in the works, one of which is another locomotive part!   

EMD Wide Cab front doors? 

We'd love a couple of hints on your new freight car too!  ;D

[Ed Kapuscinski]

He's doing an 86" boxcar.

Just like Trainworx, Mark IV and Bluford Shops.

I heard there was a bet and they all said "you won't do it".