Why are NS -9s so scarce (as models)

[2-8-8-0]

I have a soft spot for big black diesels with catfish whiskers.

While I do love steam, and intend to stay with it...well, the kid in me likes seeing a big diesel and a train of big boxcars and a few covered hoppers, like the one that heads west from Conneaut every day at about 9-10 AM.

Usually a single -9 (sometimes an old hi nose SD-40!) a dozen or so gigantoboxes, and a few covered hoppers. Occasionally some coiled steel cars. Be a fun train to watch go round and round.

In HO, I had actually built the train with an Athearn -9 (it lived on a long shelf along the living room wall and got lots of compliments) And I wouldnt mind replicating it in N. In N, the cars seem easy-ish to locate...but no NS -9s!!

And so, just outta curiosity...anyone have any idea why no one makes these? Theyre scarce in HO, and nonexistent in N. Theyre easy enough to paint (one color only!) but, still just seems...odd. Ill just get one and repaint (or get an undecorated one) but still seems like a missed (and quite large) market opportunity.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Kato is the only maker of an N scale Dash9, and it had a number of detail issues (wrong number board and headlight placement, for starters).

And these were last done 10+ years ago.

I think Kato has no interest in updating the tooling for one road, and also isn't going to release something purely wrong, so we (well, you, I'd be dead and buried before I bought an NS Dash 9) sit.

[2-8-8-0]

I suppose so. The headlight is wrong on the Athearn ones also, I never worried much (planned to relocate it, never did) and it certainly dosent hurt their sales, they still seem to be one of the more in demand engines. Maybe ill just repaint a Kato one. Still just seems odd.

[Bob Bufkin]

I don't model modern but I own a few modern locos and would definately get at least 2 NS if they ever came out with the proper one.  Sounds like a job for FVM to take on.

[ljudice]

I hate to say it, but FVM is not doing it's NS GEVO's with the correct headlight placement either.

You know what's going to happen, of course....   We will have the FVM GEVO's and Kato Dash-9's which have the same major error - and of course THEN Kato will do a correct Dash-9, making the FVM units look even more incorrect.

Seriously, I disagree with Ed here... There are several paint schemes for the NS C40-9W - NS black, NS frame stripes, NS Horsehead, NS solid frame with old logo, OLS and Primer. These are seen EVERYWHERE - as common as the single road BNSF C44-9W's and I strongly suspect Kato will do them.

And by the way M4Design and Robbmann have done a fixit kit for the Kato loco that corrects this whole problem and I wish I wasn't so lazy or I would try it...  Undec base locos (missing the airconditioning grilles) are easy to find.

[asarge]

Around these parts the HO Athearn Dash-9's sell extremely well, NS is off the charts, so I see a need to have them in N scale. They will sell very well, correct or not. Would they sell that much better if they were correct for each road. Maybe not enough to justify the cost of the additional tooling.

[Mark5]

Why are NS -9s so scarce (as models)

Cuz Kato and others don't think 1,000 of them is enough to make a model. Or it's because Kato thinks only bright colorful schemes appeal to teenagers. Or it's a conspiracy!

Kato is the only maker of an N scale Dash9, and it had a number of detail issues (wrong number board and headlight placement, for starters).

And these were last done 10+ years ago.

1997.

[Packer]

Cuz Kato and others don't think 1,000 of them is enough to make a model. Or it's because Kato thinks only bright colorful schemes appeal to teenagers. Or it's a conspiracy!

Kind of the same situation with SD40-2s... I've only been able to find 1 BN one, and it wasn't even green (bicentennial) yet they had 838.

[2-8-8-0]

Yes, in HO they sell very well, when I switched to N i sold the couple I had on the auction site, and they went for much more than I paid for them (athearn ones). But this sort of secondary market does NOT benefit the manufacturers. I suppose increased demand, from the long waits between releases (Athearn) might guarantee a run sells fast when they do make them?

The athearn one is a nice model (still has the headlight problem) but sells very very well. Id prefer to have the right headlight and all, but if i can choose between an NS -9 with the wrong light, or no NS -9 at all, its kind of a non-decision. Easier than having to paint one and still relocate the light if it bothers me (Being pickier now, it sort of does...ill probably get undec ones and just relocate it and paint them)

Why a company wont keep a very good selling item in production (like Athearn) or make it at all (kato) is really puzzling. Maybe they will sometime soon? I see a bigger demand for this than another big boy or F7 model.

I wasnt aware the situation was similar with SD40s.  :-[

[asarge]

I have been begging for Athearn to get into the game w/the SD40-2 and Dash 9 for quite awhile. Mr. Engstrom would only say that they have been done before so there was no other need to do them again. GGGrrrrrrr!!!!!

I don;t even model the Dash 9 era, but if the scale is going to progress and bring in younger modellers, we have to have a representation of things they see on the rails now as well as in the past.

[Mark5]

I don;t even model the Dash 9 era, but if the scale is going to progress and bring in younger modellers, we have to have a representation of things they see on the rails now as well as in the past.

Very true.

I started in N about 1970 with a Atlas SD45 ... which was on the rails was state of the art.

Mark

[ljudice]

Kato won't do them because who wants the howl of bad vibes when the world screams "inaccurate headlight placement".

My money is that they will fix the model in their own time frame and release it. Look, they did it for SP/UP and BNSF.

[Mark5]

My money is that they will fix the model in their own time frame and release it. Look, they did it for SP/UP and BNSF.

Fast forward to 2017 "Kato announces NS C40-9W"

[ljudice]

My guess - is that it will come this year or next....

Hey, I was right about the GEVO's, wasn't I????     :

[2-8-8-0]

Athearn has some interesting -9s for release this June on their site...

I wasnt aware Western Maryland or Great Northern ever had them.

WTG athearn...