Input wanted for new MTL products

[Mark5]

Some closer coupling options for locos like the Kato EMD SD40-2 (crews currently require long jump training to operate these in consists)

[bbussey]

You type faster (when the baby starts fussing)!   Your first two [Noreastern caboose and PD3000] should really be handled by someone other than MTL.  Don't you want that myriad of schemes to be available before the decade is out?  Converted troop sleepers, now there a good project.  And I agree with the rest of your suggestions.

Well, since technically I don't have a "dog in the fight" in Oregon, and while I think that those two models would do well for them ... if I were to look at it strictly from a selfish standpoint, having the model tooled is more important to me than how the decorated models are marketed.  I can paint/decal what I want if the scheme is slow to come in RTR form, and the model's components become available for kitbashing purposes.  I know you share that sentiment.  Besides - also strictly from a selfish standpoint - Conrail would be among the first NEs to be done (along with the other major CR-predecessor roads), while the generic NAHX scheme would be the first PD3000 released and followed closely by PC and CR.  So even in the RTR scenario, I'm covered.

That said however ...  I, as do you, disagree with the premise of concentrating on new tooling at the expense of "modernizing" the existing tooling.  With the state of today's technology, the MTL tooling fidelity advantage no longer exists, and I feel it's more important to keep the existing models state-of-the-art so that they remain viable for years to come.  To put things in context - the 40' PS1 model will be 40 years old next year and has not seen any significant design changes since it debuted, which I think is akin to not having anti-virus protection on a laptop used to constantly surf the Internet.  And I also agree that this should apply to the trucks and couplers as well as the rolling stock.  At this point, with the other knuckle coupler designs in existence, it should be possible to develop a generic MTL 1015/2004 coupler that does not require a copper spring - which would both eliminate the oscillation and save noticeably on labor assembly costs.

I prefer looking at the long game, rather than the short game.

[sundowner]

Modern bulkhead flats and Modern depressed center flat cars would be nice.

[Denver Road Doug]

I also want to say what ever new tooling you do make sure it is like your latest PS-2's. I got the Rock Island one and it is an awesome car! I had not bought much MTL in the last few years but will continue to buy more if the new tooling is as good as those 4427's, correct ride height ect.

Ditto.

And, I echo those calling for upgrading existing tooling and also releasing new schemes or new numbers on existing tooling.

(and of course I will have my "I want I want I want" post coming up shortly)

[Frank Amato]

Corrected 40' PS1 boxcar and variants.   New correct-width doors, corrected roof, lowered body height and body-mounted couplers would keep the original MTL model viable for the foreseeable future.

+1, there are tons of prototype options here, across 1950s, 60s, and 70s.  The Kadee PS-1 is a great example of what's possible and accurate.

  Frank

[delamaize]

Now is the chance to break into N scale Steam!!! Go take mesurements of SP&S 700, and do up some NP A classes, SP&S E-1 Classes, and GN stuff!!!  ;D

what? One can dream right?

Personally I would like to see some more Transission era Gons, Transfer cabooses, SHORT CABOOSES!!! Like 24' ones, with mabey NP on the side? lol. Or how about more logging equipment? Honstly, as long as it says NP on it, and it is something that NP actually had. I am game!

[Tom L]

Can't resist an invitation like that.  

How about a PS-2 two bay that looks as good as the one Kadee does in HO?  The Atlas Trainman version is a little on the "think" side detail wise.  Heck, if you can do it in Z, N should be no problem.  Lots of people had em, and they are good from the 1950's through the 80's.

This one is a bit more esoteric but I don't believe anyone else has ever done it.  A wooden bay window caboose.  Pick a prototype that looks typical and go with with it.  Cabooses are hot right now, and these would span from the Steam era right up to the end of cabooses and beyond in work train service.  Lots of RR's converted their cupola's to these.

I second the converted Troop Sleepers.  Maybe at least make inserts for the window/door openings so I can block out my own to whatever configuration.  Maybe some smaller manufacturer could make these.


Thanks for asking

Tom L
Wellington CO

[Denver Road Doug]

Joe, First off, I appreciate you coming to the boards for input.  I don't know how much weight you put on this feedback, but I did go back and review the request you placed on Trainboard back in 2007 and a lot of those ideas are now in plastic.  Probably not THAT surprising since there is a pretty well-defined "short list" of cars needed in N and that meet most manufacturers criteria, and probably equally well-defined lists of "fringe" and "complete one-offs that got a bunch of airplay".  But nevertheless, you do *appear* to be listening and perception is everything, right?

[/suckupfilter]

So what do the millions of n-scalers want?
1. "Modern" 52ft Gons- Modern meaning probably built in the late 60's to early 80's???  I honestly haven't done a lot of research on what specific prototypes, but I --ahem-- we are trying to model rock/sand trains that have a dog's breakfast of "UP-Heritage" cars, including UP, MP, MKT, SP, CNW, DRGW and also RailGon and others.  So anything that would fit those cars would be great, and I we can certainly provide you with ridiculous amounts of research, photos, etc. if you decide to head down that path.
2. Carbon Black Covered Hoppers- This has been suggested to you before by me and others.  These are problematic because, like the infamous Model-T, they come in any color as long as it's black.  Plenty of "road names" although short of the Sid Richardson "Texas" scheme and maybe a couple of other logo'ed cars, they're pretty spartan in decoration.  But I'd say this could be a plus since your decoration costs would be minimal and if you priced them appropriately you could probably do pretty well.  They aren't unit train cars so they don't have to be crazy cheap either...I'd say if the detail was in line with the 4427's then I would pay a similar price.
3. "Modern" Tank Cars - Again, 70's-80's, maybe 90's cars.  Pick one, pick 20, there are plenty of variations, but like our Carbon Black friends above....don't have a lot of glamour and glitz.  I would love to see some sulfur cars, Hydrochloric Acid cars, et al.
4. Modern Ballast cars- gets a little tricky given many roads have pretty individualized MOW fleets.  The Walthers car, done to current standards, would still be great.  I personally would love an ATSF or BNSF prototype.
5. I echo the Airslides or the PD3000's.  The airslide would be fairly far down on my list since there are at least u/g kits for the Bowser/DV's, but I'd still probably be in line.

[jnevis]

I think the Troop Sleeper and modified Tichy Crew Car ideas are a good one but I'd take the step further. Most of the troop cars became MoW cars after the War and you've released a few of them.  Now you're more likely to see old reefers and box cars turned into MoW crew cars.  While cross-checking Google for a project, the "street view" showed the UP Niles Yard had a long string of MoW crew and other support cars that looked to be converted from 50-57' reefers (probably old PFE units) and 40-60' boxes.
Link to pics:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=30526
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=30398

[Dave V]

I agree with the Northeastern steel caboose (a dozen or more correct road names can be applied, to say nothing of similar-looking foobs) and upgrading the 40' boxcar.

Whatever you do, I also second (or third, or seventh) the sentiment that whatever it is should have body-mounted couplers and correct ride height.

[Dave Schneider]

Joe,

Thanks for asking! It is really a pleasure to have access to someone like yourself who has an interest in listening to modelers. A generic comment, proper ride height and body mount couplers should be standard in future offerings.

If you guys don't mind painting something in boxcar red, here is a model that is sorely missing. EVERY railroad owned these cars and the lived on forever in animal hide service and MOW applications. I would prefer steel ends to cover a larger time increment, and they could be offered with wood or steel doors.




Also, a big +1 for Bryan B's (at least one of them) suggestion for a horizontal seamed URTX meat reefer. A large variety of colorful schemes exist.
Some examples:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2246538
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=85253
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2166569
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=831544
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=83238

Best wishes, Dave

[esa123]

Thanks for the opportunity! 5 things:

1. I vote for the Airslide and modern bulk head flatcars (HO has them in all sorts of types but they are lacking in N scale).

2. Please work on the ride height and have body mounted couplers on any new releases. BLMA and Exactrail are leading the charge in this area and it's getting hard to justify buying models which you have to do a lot of modification work to have them meet these new standards (mention the added expense).

3. More modern cars in general from MTL. Most MTL releases are for transition era so there's a large segment of the modeling population which growing all the time that is completely being missed.

4. Along the themes listed above, a lot of other manufacturers are releasing modern equipment - especially flat cars (spine's, TOFC's, etc.) but there are very few vehicles in N scale so if you could produce modern truck cabs or even trailers that would go a long way toward filling those shinny new cars.  (oh, and while I'm on that, please produce bulk or multi kit packs as trailers/containers right now cost almost as much if not more then the cars themselves).

5. Finally, some sort of scale coupler in N scale.

Thanks and best of luck,
Erik

[daniel_leavitt2000]

19,000 gallon corn syrup tank These have not been done yet, and are more popular than the 17,000 gallon tanks.

52-53' gons BLMA's car in nice but too early. We need cars from the 60's and 70's

PD3000 Its a great looking car and no one makes it

PD5000 We really need this car. Walthers made an awful version of it 15 years ago and it hasn't been seen since. This car requires delicate details, and the Walthers version had ladders 24" thick.

Horizon/Comet II commuter cars Whats awesome about commuter cars? You can sell them in sets! These cars features only three body styles (coach, dinette and cab car) and were used by Septa, NJT, Metro North, Con-DOT, MBTA, Quebec (AMT) and Amtrak. Many cars feature advertisements over the whole car and would provide great possibilities for paint schemes.

Mini transfer caboose These were used on lines from Conrail to Mopac and no one makes them. Design a car without bay windows, but have the ability to have them added. You could even use the already tooled bays from the So-Pac car. Bonus points for an etched metal, see through platform.

53' sheet post trailer No one make this and it is currently the most popular trailer on the road and in intermodal. I would use a Stoughton, Trailmobile or Pines design as all three are very popular models.

PS trash/coal gondola MDC/Athearn makes a Thrall high side gondola, but we need other varieties as well.

Upgrades to existing tooling! Now that you have new wheels on your trucks, you should consider rebuilding past models to be more accurate. Include body mounted couplers and prototypical ride height.

[Roger Holmes]

Thanks for asking, Joe.  You are a brave man!

I stuffed your ballot box at shows for years asking for a three-domed tank car but I was hoping for a larger capacity car than the one which you ultimately did (of which I still bought several)  so that's still on the top of my wish list.

[TiVoPrince]

PC&F  
boxcars are not common enough and most SP guys need 36+ numbers.  Hopefully they will come available someday.  

Ride height matters, lo-pro wheelsets and body mounting options are all important and often make purchase decisions (by Mr. Wallet) completely without my input.  Models that meet all criteria will always be purchased, even if I have to stretch reality to shoehorn them in.

My vote is for common and mundane modern tank cars.  Paint scheme options really explode if you count plain jane, spreadsheet and conspicuity stripe versions.  There are plenty of things that need doing, many legitimate choices, cab on a raft cabooses would be fun and I'm in for SP #1 or an undecorated if you do those...