MTL Bay Window Cab. On time but Two roadnames to start.

[Atlanticflier]

If there is an CONRAIL Historical Society, ask them to send appropriate drawings to M-T of a car that can use the SAME wheelbase/frame of the new model.

If you put the correct information in Joe's / M-T hands it will greatly increase the likely-hood of said information being used.  Give them all the info you can think of including drawings, # of prototype cars in the range and # of Conrail N scale modelers (+-), photos, etc.. If some one can do this, then we will see, if M-T can be responsive and use that modular design to their advantage. However be patient, others, such as the L&N Historical society and modelers may have sent the same info in !!

It can only help and increase the chances of seeing an appropriate model of a Conrail Bay window caboose that could be based on this new model's chassis/frame.

Manufacturers too, have limited research time, so if you are so inclined, contact M-T to see if you can help them with this info.  Again - it can only increase the chances.....

My 2 cent......
Steven

[oakcreekco]

Very good idea, but it's far easier to belly-ache and bash, and expect mfg's to read all the drivel on various forums.

[Dave V]

Guys, there IS a Conrail Historical Society:

http://thecrhs.org/

...and we do exactly that, i.e., work with manufacturers (when they're willing) to make their products more accurate for CR:

http://thecrhs.org/?q=ForManufacturers

[Ed Kapuscinski]

And we never hear a peep from MTL looking for assistance, and they've done TWO CR cars in the past two months.

And neither have been stellar choices.

[Wlal13again]

Hm, I wasn't even in N scale back then.  I started in N in 2002, doing 1956 PRR.  Since starting in CR last year, I haven't seen these around... 

A quick search on eBay for these in any road came up empty.

But now I know to keep my eyes open.

I have one Dave, they`re not that great.

[Atlanticflier]

For reference- here is the quote from Joe via 'cut & paste'

"This caboose style had a lot of range...being at home I don't have access to my matrix so I'll have to post some info later. Yes, the plan is to do new side slides to do different versions of the Bay Window. Not shown in the photo is the extra brass for roof antenna's that will help spice everything up. My plan, knowing it is difficult to do a caboose for all seasons, so to speak, was to design this as modular as possible. This is why the bays and the roof are seperate parts as are the end railings (photo etched so we can do different versions of those too) Doing a project like this is somewhat like running a minefield...fraught with danger! No matter what choice you make, someone gets left feeling like their request fell on deaf ears. Hopefully this series of Cabeese will give foks the material to do the kind of cars they need on their layouts. I was even eyeing the shell with new roofs, sans the bays as the core for an SP/UP Flanger project I've wanted to start!!

Cheers and have a restful weekend...I know I need one.

Joe
MTL "

I would think that this (M-T's BW version) would be the best chance to get a RTR Conrail specific model.
Contact Joe and 'Sell the Conrail option' to him, then he can take it to the M-T roundtable.
Even my Alabama Gulf could use a CR RePaint caboose!

Steven

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I really doubt they'd do another CR car after doing this one.

I just wish their process were a little more "open", like Athearn's.

[bbussey]

If there is an CONRAIL Historical Society, ask them to send appropriate drawings to M-T of a car that can use the SAME wheelbase/frame of the new model.

If you put the correct information in Joe's / M-T hands it will greatly increase the likely-hood of said information being used...

Why is it the responsibility of the historical society to take the initiative to make sure the manufacturer produces as accurate a product as possible?  How would the historical society even know what the manufacturer is working on?

Your statement make no sense.  If the manufacturer wants as accurate a model as possible so that they can potentially sell as many models as possible, then the manufacturer should take the initiative to contact the historical society if need be.  One of the first steps a manufacturer should take when starting on a project is to see if there is an associated historical society that might be able to supply research materials that would insure the model will be more accurate -- instead of (more often than not) relying on the series of Morning Sun F&PCG books.

Since MTL chose to produce a Conrail scheme on a non-prototypical model without contact the CRHS, any criticism that materializes is justifiable - especially if, as stated publicly by Joe D'Amato, there will be future side and roof configurations that would be more prototypically accurate for a Conrail model.

bb

[Chris333]

The historical society probably only has accurate information on the prototype, why would MT be interested in this all the sudden?

[Atlanticflier]

If there is an CONRAIL Historical Society, ask them to send appropriate drawings to M-T of a car that can use the SAME wheelbase/frame of the new model.

If you put the correct information in Joe's / M-T hands it will greatly increase the likely-hood of said information being used...

Why is it the responsibility of the historical society to take the initiative to make sure the manufacturer produces as accurate a product as possible?  How would the historical society even know what the manufacturer is working on?

Your statement make no sense.  If the manufacturer wants as accurate a model as possible so that they can potentially sell as many models as possible, then the manufacturer should take the initiative to contact the historical society if need be.  One of the first steps a manufacturer should take when starting on a project is to see if there is an associated historical society that might be able to supply research materials that would insure the model will be more accurate -- instead of (more often than not) relying on the series of Morning Sun F&PCG books.

Since MTL chose to produce a Conrail scheme on a non-prototypical model without contact the CRHS, any criticism that materializes is justifiable - especially if, as stated publicly by Joe D'Amato, there will be future side and roof configurations that would be more prototypically accurate for a Conrail model.

bb

Well first off I was not placing responsibility on anyone - those were your words.

Yep !  They SHOULD contact the societies.

They didn't, so Conrail modelers get something less than they want/desire/need. No one do anything and enjoy what you 'get'. Now that makes sense.

Manufactirers want to sell items, lots of items: Modelers want accurate items.

My point is: IF you are not satisfied, as a Conrail Modeler, then you can always try to do something to help, I wasn't placing responsibility on the modelers. just offering a perspective, IF you arn't happy with what you are getting, Be proactive.

I know of several Historical Societies that have a contact 'man' that activily works with manufacturers. Their choice.

For instance, When M-T announced that they would produce a BW caboose with possible variations - THAT would be the signal to contact them and push for your favorite BW - THAT is how/when the Historical societies would Know what is being made, unless they have an established relationship.

When you announce your next project BBussey, if it is not so RR specific, you may get suggestions sent to you on this scheme or variation or get asked if you need additional info. Surely that would be helpful in your research, unless you have lots of time to do in-depth research.

Yes, I have sent drawings, paint chips, photos etc in to manufacturers. No, it was not my responsibility, however I enjoyed the accurate model when it was released. And, I just bet that the manufacturer appreciated the additional information.

Steven

[Nato]

  Walthers has done their HO Bay Window Cab in N. I have 3 of them the Milwaukee is maybe the closest to a real MLW car later non Rib Side, they did Western Pacific in their later red not mineral brown scheme. The old Atlas Rivarossi or Model Power liiks more like them, they resemble some SP cars. Then I have UP, yes they inherated some Bay windo cars from Rock Island,but no the car is not even close .more of a foobie, but I couldn't resist the nice paint job. Yes Con Rail was done on this car. No I don't think we will see MT re running this car anytime soon as a CR car with more correct details.            Nate Goodman (Nato). Thanks Admin for fixing your problems.

[sirenwerks]

The Walthers car is pretty close to the WP's 2nd ICC order. The car side windows, carriage details, and end rails are off, but blank canvas is there and they're doable. But that order was only 5 cars, and the scheme they used on the Walthers model never appeared on that series either, it appeared on a later series that is a near dead ringer for the MT car.

Unfortunately, the largest group of modern WP bay windows have the sloped bay roof and a diagonal panel roof, rather than either MT or Walthers cars' Stanray roof.

[oakcreekco]

Not taking any side here, but at least the car is more easily "bashable" with the way it's designed.

Opens the field for "conversion kits" for specific roads...........if the potential is there, and someone is willing to take the risk??

[TiVoPrince]

While
this may be a Conrail foobie, it is arriving soon.  Perhaps a look at the value added by this model is better than looking at how to crucify MT.  SP C50-9 has come up as a highly desired model everytime a thread has come up.  Both MT and Athearn saw the opportunity to make a profit on this model.  Since the market is now fractured MT must find ways to amortize the tooling investment.  Painting up some 'close enough' paint schemes as a way to pay for tooling is certainly a tried and true method.  Painting a clearly SP heritage caboose as Conrail seems strange to me but it will probably sell much better than any of us would expect.

I wonder if efforts would be better targeted at the etchers in the crowd to provide correct bay windows and end handrails for the hardcore Conrail fans...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't think the thing that irks me is that they're doing a foobie (look at the Atlas Trainman car, which the CRHS happily sells through its store).

I think it's the BS copy that they write up and then push off as "facts".