August Micro Trains Releases and Announcements

[DKS]

I think they are testing the waters.....

If people will pay $17.25 for a pair of trucks they can probably up their minimum box car price to at least $35.

*sigh*

I just can't believe that the $149.95 MSRP stated in the Micro News is not a misprint. That's more than three times the price of any of their other bulk pack trucks with couplers. I don't get it. It's gotta be a misprint....I hope.

I'm guessing it's because it's a very low-volume item compared to their normal trucks & couplers. Plus, each truck has two couplers... so, 20 trucks and 40 couplers for their Talent crew to assemble. That's $7.50 per truck, $15 per log car (but no logs). Compare that to the price of their test scale car, which I thought was a misprint first time I saw it.

[Chulvis]

N Scale

077-00-163    Canadian Provinces Series Car #12: Newfoundland

I think they're off by 1; according to my count this is the 13th (and last) Provinces car.

Tim

You mean there won't be anymore? At least we have the Presidents series to look forward to.

[nscalesteve]

Actually if Randy would make a casting that glues to an Arch Bar truck , and has a mounting pad for 905 couplers that would be ideal and look much better .

Richie, I can't see the picture...   

[bicknell]

I'm guessing it's because it's a very low-volume item compared to their normal trucks & couplers. Plus, each truck has two couplers... so, 20 trucks and 40 couplers for their Talent crew to assemble. That's $7.50 per truck, $15 per log car (but no logs). Compare that to the price of their test scale car, which I thought was a misprint first time I saw it.

MSRP on 1015's assembled is only 9.50 for four.

Look at it this way, a pair of 1010 archbar trucks are $5.40, add in $4.25 for half the 1015 assembled pack for the other side, and you're at $9.65.

Evidently the extra casting for the log supports is worth $7.60 per pair of trucks.  Seems like an extra $1, tops might have been in order, IMHO.

[Chulvis]

I'm guessing it's because it's a very low-volume item compared to their normal trucks & couplers. Plus, each truck has two couplers... so, 20 trucks and 40 couplers for their Talent crew to assemble. That's $7.50 per truck, $15 per log car (but no logs). Compare that to the price of their test scale car, which I thought was a misprint first time I saw it.

I'm sure the two coupler deal is part of the price. I just don't think it justifies triple the price...but then again I am not privy to the actual all included COGs, so who knows.

I agree that some of the Scale Test Cars have been on the high side for what you get.

[Walkercolt]

Some people I know smooze with Keith E.and get bags of 250 trucks without wheels and bags of low-profiles for special prices. And his name is Richard. But he was at the factory. You know how those bankers are anyway...

[Chris333]

I have 2 disconnects with a log load. There is not much at all to each "truck" other than the extra coupler.

[central.vermont]

I'm not sure but that B&M car might not have made it into the blue
scheme.  ??? Will have to do some checking.
Jon

[DKS]

I'm guessing it's because it's a very low-volume item compared to their normal trucks & couplers. Plus, each truck has two couplers... so, 20 trucks and 40 couplers for their Talent crew to assemble. That's $7.50 per truck, $15 per log car (but no logs). Compare that to the price of their test scale car, which I thought was a misprint first time I saw it.

MSRP on 1015's assembled is only 9.50 for four.

Look at it this way, a pair of 1010 archbar trucks are $5.40, add in $4.25 for half the 1015 assembled pack for the other side, and you're at $9.65.

Evidently the extra casting for the log supports is worth $7.60 per pair of trucks.  Seems like an extra $1, tops might have been in order, IMHO.

Yes, but how many of the archbar trucks have they sold so far, as compared to the disconnects--which aren't just archbar trucks? Maybe in a couple of years, after they've sold hundreds, the cost may start to come down. But for now, we are helping to foot the bill for all-new tooling. I'm not saying the price is necessarily reasonable, but it does make some sense.

[ljudice]

I'm not sure but that B&M car might not have made it into the blue
scheme.  ??? Will have to do some checking.
Jon

Good news!!!! It did -

[Kisatchie]

...At least we have the Presidents series to look forward to.

"Hmm... I'm gonna be
rich after I sell my
George Washington
cars on eBay..."

[Allentown Hump]

WTF? Blue trucks?



Stole the pic from Chuck's site...

[3rdrail]

WTF? Blue trucks?



Stole the pic from Chuck's site...

The draft gear is most definitely blue. Since on the model this is part of the trucks, guess that's why the trucks are blue. But blue couplers? Thought couplers had to be unpainted to show cracks. On the prototype, it looks like the trucks might have originally been painted blue and just got very dirty, as trucks are wont to do.

[up1950s]

Still researching this , but did the disconnect log trucks really have couplers on both ends . I saw some shots where one side had a coupler , and the other had a tube or bracket with a pin . A bar  of varied length would span the 2 trucks , this way the pull was transfered to each truck . The way MTL has it set up , the trains pull is through the logs and chains that secure them to the trucks . Anybody really know the truth about this ?

An web grab example of the system described , makes sense to me .

[3rdrail]

Still researching this , but did the disconnect log trucks really have couplers on both ends . I saw some shots where one side had a coupler , and the other had a tube or bracket with a pin . A bar  of varied length would span the 2 trucks , this way the pull was transfered to each truck . The way MTL has it set up , the trains pull is through the logs and chains that secure them to the trucks . Anybody really know the truth about this ?

An web grab example of the system described , makes sense to me .

Richie, the prototype had link and pin couplers on both ends. On one end the pin held a Janney coupler, on the other, a long bar with a hole at each end, so yes, disconnect trucks always had a coupler at both ends. The plan you show is of an HO model, not the prototype.