InterMountain to Market and Produce Red Caboose produtcs...

[asarge]

I think RC is just following suit , they still control their product line , which is a good sign . Free's them up to do whatever else is on their mind without upsetting supply and interest being lost .

Also, they won;t have to worry about coming u[p with production money up front, although they still have to make sure the products they design will make money.

IM also gets help from somebody who is goes to great lenghts to get the product right. My only beef is that sometimes they took the easy way oput on some schemes, like the C&O coil cars with the plain hoods instead of adding the C&O logo, but we bought 'em anyway and they are my favorite RC car.

[FrankCampagna]

My only beef is that sometimes they took the easy way oput on some schemes, like the C&O coil cars with the plain hoods instead of adding the C&O logo, but we bought 'em anyway and they are my favorite RC car.

I really like the X-29's in NYC paint.  ???  I bought some only because no one will probably make a correct NYC USRA car.

Frank

[lock4244]

There is a pattern here. Besides their own product line, IM "handles" A-Line, Tichy Train Group, Centralia Car Shops, Pacific Freight Enterprises, Train Station Products, Bethlehem Car Works, and now Red Caboose. Little empire building going on... JJ Hill would be proud.

[up1950s]

There is a pattern here. Besides their own product line, IM "handles" A-Line, Tichy Train Group, Centralia Car Shops, Pacific Freight Enterprises, Train Station Products, Bethlehem Car Works, and now Red Caboose. Little empire building going on... JJ Hill would be proud.

Shipping might be cheaper when a container is stuffed and going to IMRC , than partial containers , or less going to smaller companies . Same with ordering production runs to be made and or painted . One point of contact , a little cash to IMRC to make it worth their bother , and everybody wins . It also puts IMRC at a higher level with the producers due to volume of contracts . No matter what label gets stuck on the package , it's a IMRC contract . 

[GaryHinshaw]

I just hope we continue to see RC's level of quality control and not IM's.  Production levels aside, the auto-racks were a pretty spectacular product from inception to implementation.

[lock4244]

Couldn't agree more. I just ordered a few more bi-levels from MBK (thanks for the heads up, Gary). I won't say how many or what the fleet is up to now, too scary to ponder. I'd like to see a few more releases (N&W logo only, more GTW to name a few), but I'd really like to see them do the enclosed sides with open ends and no roof variant.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

A few thoughts...
I have a feeling this is more to do with the small guy getting squeezed out of the Chinese production than anything else. If IM can order a dozen different projects for a dozen different manufacturers, they can be moved up the food chain to a more preferential slot.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I talked with someone this weekend about it, and it's not so much about getting "squeezed" or anything like that. One of the guys who runs RC is just ready to retire from it, and so IM is stepping in to handle his side of the business.

[asarge]

Yeah, Bob tried to retire once and came back at least part time. He's been wanting to take it easy for awhile.

I don't thionk squeezing has alot to do with it in this case either. RC has always been a fairly close knit group w/o alot of capital to get things done on a regular basis.

[Mark5]

I wonder if IM will have a say in the paint schemes offered.

I'd like some of the TTGX with the black NW racks.



Maybe we'd finally get a re-run of the 4750s in the sixties N&W scheme (updated to correct the minor flaws).

Mark

[GaryHinshaw]

Mark - I heard from RC that all future decisions about the racks were now in the hands of IM.  You should send this suggestion to them (with pictures).  I don't know if they'll listen, but it's worth a try.

[lock4244]

Mark - I heard from RC that all future decisions about the racks were now in the hands of IM.  You should send this suggestion to them (with pictures).  I don't know if they'll listen, but it's worth a try.

My experience with IM is that if you provide them with pictures, they seem quite willing to release it in model form. I've got a cylindrical and a 5161 to my credit (not they you actually get any credit). Sure could use some of those TTGC/black N&W's.

[Mark5]

Pix no problem.

Problem is I'm still peeved that they can't seem to keep their promise on my WM F7B that I bought in August 2006.

I guess a certified letter is on the horizon. >

Mark

[lock4244]

Mark, I think the delay is the replacement WM shells were molded inside-out 

So here's a thought... will the RC 4750cuft's be dropped or still offered alongside IM's better 4750?

[Mark5]

Mark, I think the delay is the replacement WM shells were molded inside-out 

The thing that gets me is they just did a run with the correct shells, yet I'm still waiting ...

So here's a thought... will the RC 4750cuft's be dropped or still offered alongside IM's better 4750?

Hopefully the latter.