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

[Packer]

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...

Again??? First the AC44 then the GP60M, and then the C44-9W?
(can't find pdf for the AC44, but they were in DRGW, Chessie C&O, WP, and Milwuake)
http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/011910/07_GP60M_fantasy_011910.pdf
http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/022310/05_C44-9_fantasy_022310.pdf

How are N-scalers fairing as far as SD40-2s and C30-7s go? HO pretty much has none, the companies that have either rarely make any or they are pretty bad (-7: BLI and old Atlas; -2: BLI, Athearn, Bachmann, and Kato).

[Mark5]

How are N-scalers fairing as far as SD40-2s and C30-7s go? HO pretty much has none, the companies that have either rarely make any or they are pretty bad (-7: BLI and old Atlas; -2: BLI, Athearn, Bachmann, and Kato).

HO has it much better. In N scale there's only Kato. It's been 10 years since they ran the early version SD40-2.

Personally I hope someone other than Kato does it, because Kato has proven to be unreliable here.

As for C30-7s, Kato did it back in the 90s - and never since.

Mark

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The CRHS had discussed the CR GP60Ms. Believe it or not, those actually almost happened in real life.

I believe it was the success of the SD80MACs that they had bought that had actually put the kibash on it, because CR decided to order more of them, instead of the 60Ms.

It's funny, I don't have much of a problem with these, because the manufacturer clearly states that their fantasy, and it's not like they're not pumping out plenty of realistic stuff at the same time.

[James Costello]

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

That Kato would get theirs to market before FVM???  ;D

I do think you're right though Lou - they will in their own time.

[ljudice]

all right, half right, half wrong!   

People said they would never do the BNSF version and they did... And they did the SP version which I think was a total surprise.  Obviously they recognize demand for NS - they are re-running two additional SD70M's for a total of five r/n, which I think is more than ever done for one paint scheme on a particular model. 

So why not do the C40-9W?  They obviously know how to do high headlights and numberboards and deck mounted ditch lights?

It's kind of the last REALLY common road locomotive on the contemporary US scene which has not be done correctly...

[GaryHinshaw]

Still waiting for a BNSF Dash-9 in H2 (not WB, H1, H3...) in the 4000-5200 series. By far the most common loco in the west...  They are inching closer with the new 700 series though so I can't complain as loudly as some of you.

I'd take a slug of NS units as well.  Is there any external difference (e.g. frame length) between a C44-9W and a C40-9W?  (Not counting headlight placement and other road-specific options.)

[Robbman]

Is there any external difference (e.g. frame length) between a C44-9W and a C40-9W?  (Not counting headlight placement and other road-specific options.)

No... a C40-9W is a C44-9W with a different fuel rack setting.  They follow the same phases etc.

[2-8-8-0]

This would be less aggravating (for the HO guys) If athearn sold undecorated ones. Needing to paint and decal one is bad enough, needing to first strip the previous paint, and taking a very real chance of damaging fiddly parts like grab irons while doing so, is much worse.

Thats what keeps me from just stripping one, i am afraid to damage the grabs and things (an HO one, its just going to be a static model). Im kind of backwards...i prefer steam in N, but i like moderns better in HO. (probably because the new HO stuff is gorgeous)

[James Costello]

People said they would never do the BNSF version and they did... And they did the SP version which I think was a total surprise.

I'd still like to see the Espee AC4400CW - which they haven't even released as a foob  :'(

[Packer]

HO has it much better. In N scale there's only Kato. It's been 10 years since they ran the early version SD40-2.

Personally I hope someone other than Kato does it, because Kato has proven to be unreliable here.

As for C30-7s, Kato did it back in the 90s - and never since.

Ouch... The "possible switch to N" counter has moved down a few notches (SD40-2s and C30-7s are a staple of the 70s-80s).

Ed, never knew the CR though about GP60Ms.

[GaryHinshaw]

No... a C40-9W is a C44-9W with a different fuel rack setting.  They follow the same phases etc.

Excellent, thanks Robbman.  So that means the SP/UP/undec version is pretty close.  I have 2 undecs from that release, so one of them may become NS.    

As far as I can tell, the only differences are: 1) high headlight as noted above, 2) wide end handrails, 3) minor vent & X-panel details, and 4) rear ditch lights (WTF?).

1) Would be a pain to fix, but I'd give it a shot since it's a signature item,  2) would be pretty simple, following Ed's example,  3) I would punt on, especially for a black diesel.  4) Ok I'm guilty: I never heard of rear ditch lights until tonight...  Non-functioning ones would be pretty simple and probably sufficient.  When would these be on?  Long hood forward on a lead unit?  At least that won't happen on a BNSF run-through.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed, never knew the CR though about GP60Ms.

Yep: http://thecrhs.org/CRHSForums?&c=showthread&ThreadID=1693

[oakcreekco]

Over the years, I've seen a lot of "long hood forward" NS's heading east out of KCMO.

The first one was a -9, all by its' lonesome, pulling autoracks...........talk about "smokin'"

[2-8-8-0]

I see single -9s on trains pretty often (oddly, this has happened a LOT more the last couple years, probably due to higher costs for fuel) but ive never seen one going long hood forward. The -9 would have a pretty horrible field of vision down the long hood i would think.

The seller i bought it from says it went in the mail today, via priority mail. Now, how long will Microscale take to send me my decals...?

At least the SD-70M and SD80 are available from kato for NS and Conrail (in the SD80s case)
Now, if they would make a standard cab SD-70 in N....

[Lenny53]

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

Are you frickin kidding me, when I talked to a Kato rep about the CN -9s having a totally different from their model (at the time
the CN units were all safety cab) he told be to cut the cab off and use an after market one.