Nomination for Biggest POS: 2009

[Ryan87]

I can understand that, and IMRC SD's are the exceptions in their product line... their freight cars and f units are wonderful models, which makes the SD's all the more tragic... They can do better! 

as for why the discussion of pre-2009 products look at page 3...

Bigger question.  It's not only the end of the year but the end of another decade (seems like Y2K was only yesterday).  What was the biggest POS for the decade?  This should bring the comments out of the woodwork!

[Mark5]

Bigger question.  What was the biggest POS for the previous millenium? 

[Ryan87]

Bigger question.  What was the biggest POS for the previous millenium? 

http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/lsf7.html  ;D

[TiVoPrince]

These are only 'satisfactory' models in my mind

Wow!  Tivos gettin' soft on us.  That's the nicest thing you've said about the tunnel motors yet.  

Erik

Old age
and mellowness setting in I suppose.  Actually the resignation that nothing else is going to be released anytime soon is my reality.  The only potentially viable options would be Hallmark brass from 'the dark ages' or a complete era shift and selling off 80+% of my accumulation while refocusing.  I'm basically on my own (not a problem) to improve/correct them to an acceptably higher level without the Sunrise parts support I could certainly use...

If anyone really wanted to 'roast' IM, a specific thread would certainly would have been started already.  My issues are quite specific to the tunnel motor models and outside of the glaring mistakes and omissions on them I have no particular axe to grind or other complaints.  In that spirit I'm simply following the normal and expected 'RailWire thread drift' that we see almost everyday...

[Robbman]

All of IM's EMD SDs so far are tooled to incredibly low standards, and given that you can compare the 'standard' EMD parts as tooled on other models (i.e, the subbase on the SDs compared to say... the Atlas Trainman GP15... or the radiator grills on the SD45-2 to the Atlas single grill GP38-2 version (SD45-2s used two of these grills), or class lights, blower ducts, etc.. it really shows. 

I can fix the EL/CR SD45-2 too... it only requires me designing an entirely new hood and fuel tank and having them rapid-prototyped :  I could save a bit of time and money by reusing the IM sill, albeit, removng the subbases and replacing them with Atlas parts, as well as using an Atlas -2 cab and nose, and modifying the sill so the notch is correct.

I'm not including the SD40-2W in this list as of yet... from what I've seen, it has the incorrect DB hatch issues all the former SDs have, and luckily for IM, not having beads on the blower duct is actually correct for it.  If it is as bad as the other SDs... I designed the CMLW/Kaslo SD40-2W, so when the IM model does come out at least getting a correct hood and cab done won't be a ground up design effort.

[NYC1956]

Bigger question.  What was the biggest POS for the previous millenium? 

http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/lsf7.html  ;D

Then there is that Lima F-7 wannabe with the awful pancake motor....
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/limaf7.html

[Erik W]

These are only 'satisfactory' models in my mind

Wow!  Tivos gettin' soft on us.  That's the nicest thing you've said about the tunnel motors yet.  

Erik

Old age
and mellowness setting in I suppose.  Actually the resignation that nothing else is going to be released anytime soon is my reality.  The only potentially viable options would be Hallmark brass from 'the dark ages' or a complete era shift and selling off 80+% of my accumulation while refocusing.  I'm basically on my own (not a problem) to improve/correct them to an acceptably higher level without the Sunrise parts support I could certainly use...

If anyone really wanted to 'roast' IM, a specific thread would certainly would have been started already.  My issues are quite specific to the tunnel motor models and outside of the glaring mistakes and omissions on them I have no particular axe to grind or other complaints.  In that spirit I'm simply following the normal and expected 'RailWire thread drift' that we see almost everyday...

Tivo,

Just out of curiosity what era of SP are you modeling?  '70s to '80s?  Any specific local?  I know you're an avid SP fan but don't think I've seen (or paid attention to in the past) what specific era and area of the SP you're into.

Erik

[TiVoPrince]

Erik,
Trying to concentrate on SP Coast Line (modeling Gaviota to Cuesta Summit) circa Fall 1984 (loosely allowing 1980-1990 freight cars) so my world is moving freight and passengers from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.  Common and mundane from that period were tunnel motors and plain 'ol high horsepower SD units dragging beets, lumber blocks, manifests and TOFC on the main.  Older SD and commuter power used as helpers while just about any GP or B-boat could be found switching along the way. 

At one time I lived 100 yards from SP Dolores Yard.  Conventional wisdom says that 'everything shows up at Dolores' and it was pretty much true.  Still, I prefer to reproduce the common and mundane of railroading avoiding the flash of one-off paint or oddballs.  This is not to say that I'm opposed to having a small shrine dedicated to KM hydraulics, yellowbirds, olympics, popsicles and DH643s or other unique stuff that strikes my fancy.

All that said, currently I'm rethinking my commitment.  Pacific Harbour Lines operations fit my available space much better (unlikely that this will ever change) and I'm considering operating my '1984' fleet on PHL 2009 trackage.  Then again a GENSET release could completely turn over the apple cart of my resolve...

[JoeD]

Same here.  SP Coast Line to LA, but 1960.  Got rid of all the other stuff and just trying to focus on that era and that place, which makes things easier to model and to pay for )  SP River Station seems a good place to start and may go as far north as Surf.

Joe

[John]

is that the one that used to run through monterey?

[TiVoPrince]

is that the one that used to run through monterey?

Properly,
the Coast Line goes inland just north of Vandenburg AFB and slips over the coastal range north of San Luis Obispo, CA.  You are probably thinking of the South Pacific Coast branch...

[Mark5]

is that the one that used to run through monterey?

That is one fascinating line:

http://www.abandonedrails.com/article.asp?id=316

[John]

is that the one that used to run through monterey?

That is one fascinating line:

http://www.abandonedrails.com/article.asp?id=316

yea .. thats the one .. I was out there in 97 .. some pretty interesting artifacts along that line in Monterey

[JoeD]

The SP Coast line ran from San Francisco to LA proper...Monterey was on a spur out of Castroville and called the...Monterey Branch!  The run most of us are familiar with is the SF to Monterey run called the Del Monte...a commuter line.  If you'd like to see this line in action, get Steinbeck's East of Eden film with James Dean....lots of great steam and freight action mixed up with a pretty good story line.  Especially neat is the shot of the switcher sitting in the middle of a field with it's freight being loaded.  Want to see what some of those older composite boxes looked like...this is the one to see.

As for the theme of this thread, nothing comes to mind as a POC.  I was able to add to my small SP fleet with the only dissappointment being Bryans Gondola not being done to the more logical Southern Pacific G50-9 Class Mill Gon.  I mean, who models East Coast anyway.   ;D

Joe

[Ed Kapuscinski]

  I mean, who models East Coast anyway.   ;D

Joe

Lol, only a bunch of jerks who don't deserve nice things!