FVM Milwaukee Road Box

[bbussey]

... Someday we'll have manufacturers convinced that body mounted scale couplers are the way to go. <grin>  ...

Someday very very soon ...

[asarge]

Someday very very soon ...

But the rib spacing on the end of the car will be .00001 scale inches off, so the car will be useless ;D

[wazzou]

The cynic in me says, why do people point out to others the shortcomings in a major manufacturer's releases like marshmallow looking fans or lack of a gap between a dustbin and the exhaust and so on?  Contrarily it's apparently not OK to suggest to a smaller MFG like Matt who we know reads and posts on the various boards that the ends of a car may not look like all that they should perhaps? 
Nobody I know has vowed to tell everyone they can that these are steaming piles and not to support Matt with there purchases.
I respect Mike Skibbe and sense that he has a friendship with Matt and also know Mike to be a very particular modeler in the truest sense of the prototype when possible.  I certainly can't blame anyone for coming to the defense of FVM.  I saw actual beta samples of these cars back in November of '08 when a friend who is also a publisher and an admitted Milwaukee fanatic showed them to me.  I pre-ordered them as soon as they were available to do so, without hesitation.  All I ask is don't pile on people and categorize them as rivet counters in certain circumstances where people may notice something of peculiarity.   
And to Matt, I applaud you for coming on and stating a case for why choices were made in your research and diework.

Off soapbox...

[Robbman]

I'm just curious as to how when MT does something that Joe A thinks is right, yet it's commonly known that its not, that the defense used here doesn't apply...

[Sokramiketes]

I'm just curious as to how when MT does something that Joe A thinks is right, yet it's commonly known that its not, that the defense used here doesn't apply...

Apples and Oranges.  Seriously. 

[David Leonard]

I'm a little cautious about offering an opinion in this thread, but I'm happy to have these rib side cars available--and I am purchasing a bunch. I can live with the errors or defects that some observe, because I already have learned to live with too large separate grab irons or more scale sized cast grabs (either one), and if FVM didn't make these cars, Intermountain might, and I don't have as much trust in them.

For me the bottom line in all of this is the availability (or lack thereof) of good closeup photos of items I have to reserve sight unseen. Thanks to SkipGear for posting the photos, and thanks to FVM for producing these cars (and for posting photos on their website)!

[wm3798]

Robb,
It's a matter of degree, and all relative to overall output of the company, both in terms of product, and in advertising blather.  Micro Trains sets itself up for criticism by claiming to be the "Cadillac" (not sure what that means anymore!) when clearly there are gross misrepresentations on a fairly regular basis.

Fox Valley makes it very clear that he's striving to do the best he can, and so far, has made some very nice models.  He follows the much better plan of never promising more than he can deliver, but usually delivering more than was promised.

With Micro Trains, the format is quite the opposite, then instead of a forthright discussion of what research was used, Joe gets on his high horse refuses to look his critics in the eye.

So Mike's dead on.  Apples and Oranges.  In fact, more like Apples and Orangutans (with ape-ologies to Ms. Dee)

Lee

[SkipGear]

I've been setting back and watching the direction of this topic for a bit. I found one more picture that I took that may or may not help.



My photo software may have "sharpened" things up a bit too much. I always run a color balance and image sharpen on photos that might have tainted things a bit. The photo above is unedited, other than croping and compression to fit in Railimages.

The cars look great in person and I have ordered another batch for our store as the first ones have sold out already. The end ribs do look a little sharp in photo's but I'm not following the trains around the layout with a microscope. I thank Matt for offering these. They are not a home road car for me so 98% correct for a car that retails for $17 is fine with me. It was these or a $20 JNJ kit + trucks, a couple hours and paint. I have enough Fine N Scale B&O Wagontops to build that are setting dormant and not getting done as it is. Another project car was not what I wanted, these were.

Now I'm just just waiting for the other versions to arive.

[wazzou]

I am eager to get mine also.

That last photo does look quite a bit different/better than the previous shot of the end.

I just heard my LHS has received them here in Washington, so plan to get mine at lunch.

[FrankCampagna]

I plan on getting at least 2. Thanks Matt. Do more transition era stuff, and you'll have a steady customer.

Frank

[Mark5]

I ordered 250. Thanks! 

(watching for the email for MBK that these are in)

[lock4244]

I wish FVM had done the so called Canadian newsprint boxcar. Then we'd actually have them in our hands, instead of waiting for whatever the delay is at at Hobbycraft.

FVM should offer the carsides on their own so one doesn't have to chop one of these up to make this retaining wall  ;D

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=41649

[wm3798]

That reminds me of a bulkhead at Smith Mountain Lake's marina that's made out of N&W hopper car sides.

Lee

[wazzou]

I ordered 250. Thanks! 

(watching for the email for MBK that these are in)

That's cool, when you get them and open all of the jewel boxes, put them on the layout and snap a photo for us.

[ljudice]

If FVM did the newsprint cars we also would not have to apply for a second mortgage to pay for them either.