TOFC availablity

[One of One-Sixty]

I remember a few years ago that there was some TOFC and Spine cars made in N, but do not remember who made these.  Do anybody knows who made them?  I already checked Atlas, Kato and Athearn, but alas no luck.  Also when did the spine cars first enter service?

[SkipGear]

You're looking in the wrong places.

89' Flats - MTL, ConCor, Comming from BLMA soon
Spines - Coming from BLMA

If you want to build, N Scale Kits has quite a few unique cars in pewter kit form.

[Ian MacMillan]

Alan Curtis Models, don't know if they are still run under that name though.

[Catt]

Alan Curtis Models, don't know if they are still run under that name though.

N scale kits in merry old England now make the Alan Curtis kits.
The link is link is here. http://www.nscalekits.com/

[djsmeltzer]

You might be thinking about the Con-Cor fuel foilers from back in the late '80s.  They were rather crude and the set I was familiar with didn't run particularly well.

Here's one on eBay currently: http://cgi.ebay.com/Con-Cor-N-Fuel-Foiler-Cars-Matching-Piggyback-Trailer-/300467386285?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item45f54077ad

[One of One-Sixty]

Thanks, it was definitely the AC Models, but if Craig is coming out with some spines and flats I will wait.

[Denver Road Doug]

Yes, wait is right.   We "waited" about 7 years for Deluxe Innovations to release spine cars that still aren't here, and now the BLMA version is 6 months behind schedule and counting.

I'm starting to think my idea to sell off all my unbuilt AC Models kits is unwise.

[Philip H]

well Craig's website does say "Late 2010" as the delivery date for the spine cars . . . not sure how far off schedule that would put him . . .

[tehachapifan]

Yes, wait is right.   We "waited" about 7 years for Deluxe Innovations to release spine cars that still aren't here, and now the BLMA version is 6 months behind schedule and counting.

I'm starting to think my idea to sell off all my unbuilt AC Models kits is unwise.

Even with all the current announcements, N SCALE KITS still has the only offering on the market for a 48' all-purpose spine car.

Russ

[Denver Road Doug]

well Craig's website does say "Late 2010" as the delivery date for the spine cars . . . not sure how far off schedule that would put him . . .

It was at one point Feb/March 2010 if I'm not mistaken.  It was June for a while also, then July/August.   I haven't looked to see what it says now.

I asked via FB in August and he said probably by the end of September then.  Thought I would easily have them here for my birthday tomorrow, but....not gonna happen.

[Denver Road Doug]

Even with all the current announcements, N SCALE KITS still has the only offering on the market for a 48' all-purpose spine car.

That is true.  And those are the kits I have.  But I hate to spend the time and money to build/upgrade/paint/decal them if the 48's will be coming soon, which I gotta think they will.  The etched upgrade kits and hitch upgrades alone are well on the way to the cost of the BLMA spines.

[tehachapifan]

For me, it's all about the building, painting and detailing. In some ways, I wish there wasn't quite so much stuff coming available RTR. I enjoy building stuff for myself from scratch, kit or kitbash that is unique and not otherwise available. It's the challenge, I guess. For example, having recently built an SP SW1500 was more enjoyable to me than if I could have just purchased one off-the-shelf. Don't get me wrong, I WOULD still purchase one or three if they came out RTR! However, it would somehow be just a little less satisfying. Then there's the RTR releases that occur after you build something yourself. Your own scratchbuild or kitbash always looks great until you compare it to a RTR model! :-\ In my perfect world, the manufacturers would develop a cooperative list of things they will never make in a million years. ;D

[Denver Road Doug]

Don't get me wrong....I agree with you 100%.  I would love to be able to kit build, kit bash, or scratchbuild everything.  But alas, I have so many projects I want to do and little time to even get a small percentage of them done.   So yes RTR announcements effectively bash many projects in the head in my world.  (of late... Greenville 2-bays, spine cars, Walthers 4427's, BNSF Dash 9's, F59PH rebuild, et al)  As I've grown older I've started to develop a better sense for the "never in a million years" criteria so I think that combined with reluctance to start NEW projects means that eventually I'll get back above water.

[asarge]

Atlas did do a 2 axle spine car awhile ago....at least 10-12 years ago. I thought the BLMA cars were originally due in May/June.

[Craig Martyn]

I thought the BLMA cars were originally due in May/June.

They were.  Our factory is currently wrapping up production and we'll have models sometime in October.  Please note that hands down these are the most intricate N Scale models I have ever seen, and that has affected the production time-frame for these.  That said, they'll be worth the wait, and we appreciate your patience.