Hope for a P70?

[pjm20]

BLI just announced a P70 and P70R in HO Scale. Is a N Scale version in our future!? I sure hope so, because I will need oodles upon oodles of these.

Dr. Dave, summon the sign of the Keystone.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Well, I would say that folks need to email BLI and let them know of their interest... if enough support can be mustered it is a good possibility that they might do such for N as well.

[chicken45]

Maybe there will be an announcement at the PRR convention this weekend.

[muktown128]

A P70 would certainly make sense to release in 4 packs or 6 packs compared to the H32's.

If is not announced by November, I know what I'll be doing at Trainfest in Milwaukee...

Then all they need is to do a K4!

Scott

[Chris333]

They could do a Heavy Pacific in N and use the chassis for a K4 

[Dave V]

If I've figured this BLI thing out, we'll get the sound-equipped water tank before we see any P70s or a K4.

[CodyO]

I still have high hopes for BLI
After the M1 comes out and we all buy them up they probably look at doing more.
It seems the cars have done well and I could use the multi packs especially for coal hoppers just haven't bought any because of the M1 and Intermountain F units that are coming.

I need to rank up so my hobby budget can go up.

[bbussey]

SPFs are funny. 

I'd wager, if you tally all the prototypical models produced in N — whether considering the entire past 50 years OR just the 21st century years — that there have been more ready-to-run PRR-specific models than any other road.  Freight.  Passenger.  Motive power.  Structures.  In just the last 5 years alone, I can count nearly 20 PRR-specific models.  And I'm counting the tooled models only, not the numerous paint schemes that have appeared on them.

[Dave V]

SPFs are funny. 

I'd wager, if you tally all the prototypical models produced in N — whether considering the entire past 50 years OR just the 21st century years — that there have been more ready-to-run PRR-specific models than any other road.  Freight.  Passenger.  Motive power.  Structures.  In just the last 5 years alone, I can count nearly 20 PRR-specific models.  And I'm counting the tooled models only, not the numerous paint schemes that have appeared on them.

Bryan,

You've made this argument before, and yes, there's truth to it.  As an SPF I'm an outlier in that I agree with you that we're not realy in a position to complain relative to what's available in N for many other roads.

What you probably haven't considered, though, is that we N scale SPFs have seen every version of every single PRR prototype in every scheme and every era released in HO from locos to cabins and everything else...sometimes by multiple manufacturers!

We don't compare our availability to other N scalers like you might think.  Instead we stare longingly at out HO colleagues that have only to open a few boxes and have a perfect PRR roster for any part of the railroad in any era.  So--right or wrong--the fact that you don't have a fraction of the New Haven equipment available in N scale that I do PRR N scale doesn't enter into my calculus when I see Walthers offering RB50s and N6bs RTR in every scheme and 3 companies making K4s.

[pjm20]

Bryan,

You've made this argument before, and yes, there's truth to it.  As an SPF I'm an outlier in that I agree with you that we're not realy in a position to complain relative to what's available in N for many other roads.

What you probably haven't considered, though, is that we N scale SPFs have seen every version of every single PRR prototype in every scheme and every era released in HO from locos to cabins and everything else...sometimes by multiple manufacturers!

We don't compare our availability to other N scalers like you might think.  Instead we stare longingly at out HO colleagues that have only to open a few boxes and have a perfect PRR roster for any part of the railroad in any era.  So--right or wrong--the fact that you don't have a fraction of the New Haven equipment available in N scale that I do PRR N scale doesn't enter into my calculus when I see Walthers offering RB50s and N6bs RTR in every scheme and 3 companies making K4s.

Well said.

[pjm20]

As an example of Dave's point, Walthers Proto just announced their own run of P70s...

[glakedylan]

+1 to Dave Vollmer's post/point
not to mention how much fewer are those produced in accuracy to prototype
lots of steam get a PRR decal or paint on tender but that does not really count
same with passenger and freight cars
many more with the PRR name that are not PRR accurate, or able to be made so
from a collect and run anything PRR, to a SPF who now knows a little more
knowledge about what to look for to be prototypical PRR
sincerely--
Gary

[bbussey]

... What you probably haven't considered, though, is that we N scale SPFs have seen every version of every single PRR prototype in every scheme and every era released in HO from locos to cabins and everything else...sometimes by multiple manufacturers!

We don't compare our availability to other N scalers like you might think.  Instead we stare longingly at out HO colleagues that have only to open a few boxes and have a perfect PRR roster for any part of the railroad in any era.  So--right or wrong--the fact that you don't have a fraction of the New Haven equipment available in N scale that I do PRR N scale doesn't enter into my calculus when I see Walthers offering RB50s and N6bs RTR in every scheme and 3 companies making K4s.

Surely you see the irony in your statement, yes? 

Put yourself on the other side of the Hudson and apply the same criteria:  There is and has been a TON of New Haven models produced in HO over the last six decades — in plastic, in brass, in hybrid composites — you name it, it's been done, and it continues to be done.  It rivals the number of Pennsy prototypes that have been manufactured.  That probably is a common scenario across many roads, albeit not to the extent of Pennsy and New Haven.  So I would think that most N scalers experience "HO envy" at some point in their modeling years.

So, extending that reality, when there is an expansive selection of Pennsy prototypes in N scale that is far more extensive than for most other roads,  Pennsy modelers aren't being persecuted when it's pointed out they have riches well beyond those who model other roads.  There's nothing wrong with wanting more.  But there's a little bit of "entitlement syndrome" to not realize that modelers of other roads are not in as fortunate a position.  At least, over the decades, from the early years of N scale, there HAS been a K-4 Pacific, and there HAS been a P70 coach ... and a G36 gondola, and an N5 caboose, and an N6 caboose, and a GG1 electric, and a 10-6 roomette, and a sleeper-observation, and and and.  That's just the early years, and not counting the dozens of Pennsy prototypes available today (with more coming).  It's almost as if what Pennsy N scale modelers have been blessed with over the years isn't appreciated, or it isn't realized how great they have it — especially when the prototype has been extinct for nearly half a century.  So, the lack of a newly tooled K-4 and P70 ... maybe I feel your pain a tiny bit, but you sure seem to have most of the jacks and the marbles in the toy chest.

Conversely, I'm happy just to have some models of New Haven prototypes available and more on the way, as there weren't any 25 years ago.

[Dave V]

Bryan,

You're unique in that as a manufacturer of Eastern prototypes you're cognizant of the availability in N scale of prototypes for a wide range of roads.

I'm largely ignorant of what's missing in N scale for most roads other than PRR, PC, and CR (and the Colorado Midland, which is, actually, everything, as not a single correct car or locomotive for the Midland has ever been done in N scale  ) as I imagine are most SPFs.

I'm not saying that other N scalers have no right to be jealous of what SPFs have in N...in fact I am often the first and most vocal of the SPFs on the Railwire to acknowledge how good we have it, and that now is the golden age of PRR in N scale (in a large part through your own efforts, Bryan--thank you).  I can't speak for this idea that SPFs are ungrateful...I don't see it.  We see us making our needs known to the manufacturers.  I guess others see it as complaining or lack of gratitude.  Dunno.  Can't please everybody.

Surely you see the irony in your statement, yes? 

No I don't...  I guess it's supposed to be obvious to me but I'm missing it, unless you're just saying that you and everyone else in N feels the same way.  If that's the case, I don't think it's ironic...maybe just a little myopic.

But fundamentally there's no reason to expect that BLI will announce a P70 in N scale any time soon.

[Missaberoad]

The disparity between N and HO isn't just a PRR phenomenon, its probably more noticeable because of the relatively large market in either scale.
Even a small road like Soo Line or Missabe have a smorgasbord of products in HO. Enough to make me look with envy in my eyes...

Although its also part of the appeal of working in N... There's still some modeling frontiers to cross!