Micro-Trains June Newsletter - SW1500 kits w/flexi-coil trucks

[jmarley76]

Thanks for the share!

Any takers on that White Christmas Delivery train set? It definitely exceeeds Plate H...

[ljudice]

I'm also surprised that Roco is producing them, since after the Roco-Fleischmann merger few years back Roco seems to be out of N scale. Well, some of their models have been sold under Fleischmann name, but not many.

Hmmm...  I beg to differ!  I think much of the Fleischmann catalog is ex-Roco - ie.  the Eurofima and SBB passenger cars, the OBB 1044, and a lot of others - many upgraded...

- Lou

[johnb]

Anyone know what the difference is between the version 1 and version 2 shells?

Version 1 is for wannabes, Version 2 is for the real railroad, the Southern Pacific

[peteski]

Hmmm...  I beg to differ!  I think much of the Fleischmann catalog is ex-Roco - ie.  the Eurofima and SBB passenger cars, the OBB 1044, and a lot of others - many upgraded...

- Lou

But are they still sold under the Roco brand?

[ljudice]

But are they still sold under the Roco brand?

No N under Roco at all anymore. Sort of like Atlas/BLMA if Atlas decided to call all N-scale stuff BLMA.   

But the main company is still Roco.

[mplsjct]

Version 1 is for wannabes, Version 2 is for the real railroad, the Southern Pacific

Is the version 2 shell appropriate for any roads other than SP? I assume the UP repainted a few, after acquiring them.

Thanks for your reply, by the way.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Huh?  When did Hornby buy Fleischmann/Roco?  Are you maybe thinking of Rivarossi?

AFAIK, (as I mentioned in the post above yours) Fleischmann/Roco are still doing well.

I thought Roco was swallowed up by Arnold after Riv took over.

[peteski]

No N under Roco at all anymore. Sort of like Atlas/BLMA if Atlas decided to call all N-scale stuff BLMA.   

But the main company is still Roco.

I disagree. Fleischmann's N scale product range (especially all their locomotives) was much larger than Roco's.  Take steam locos. Roco had maybe half a dozen of N scale steamers while Fleischmann has dozens of different locos.  With rolling stock they are a bit more equal, but I think that FLeischmanns range was still a bit larger than Roco's. I think that is also the reason that the parent company of both brands decoded to sell all the N scale models under Fleischmann's name (its name was well established in N scale with a wider range of products).

I thought Roco was swallowed up by Arnold after Riv took over.

Not quite. Modelleisenbahn GmbH owns both brands.  Roco went bankrupt in 2007 and then Fleischmann went bankrupt in 2008.

[Angus Shops]

Not for me, but it strikes me that $19.95 is a very reasonable price...

Geoff

[ljudice]

I disagree. Fleischmann's N scale product range (especially all their locomotives) was much larger than Roco's.  Take steam locos. Roco had maybe half a dozen of N scale steamers while Fleischmann has dozens of different locos.  With rolling stock they are a bit more equal, but I think that FLeischmanns range was still a bit larger than Roco's. I think that is also the reason that the parent company of both brands decoded to sell all the N scale models under Fleischmann's name (its name was well established in N scale with a wider range of products)

I think we're in agreement...  My point was that Roco bought out Fleischmann and re-branded all Roco N as Fleischmann...     

[tehachapifan]

Is the version 2 shell appropriate for any roads other than SP? I assume the UP repainted a few, after acquiring them.

Thanks for your reply, by the way.

Former SP SW1500's were acquired by many, many roads all over the place....large and small including UP. I think SP had around 240 of these. Do a search somewhere like RR Picture Archives or Locophotos and enter SW1500 and you will see lots of them. If they have the numberboard box on the cab, it's a former SP unit. Many different lighting changes have occurred on several units since their SP days, with some beyond just removing the gyralights, but the numberboard box is a dead giveaway.

[alcors110]

i hope they still make the bnsf sw1500 eventually

[squirrelhunter]

What mechanism could be used for the SW-1500 shells? I presume an LL/Walthers SW-1200 mechanism could be filed/ground down to fit?

[tehachapifan]

What mechanism could be used for the SW-1500 shells? I presume an LL/Walthers SW-1200 mechanism could be filed/ground down to fit?

The Walthers/Lifelike SW9/1200 frame is a direct fit with no modifications needed. The cab weight may not fit though (I typically remove cab weights so cannot recall).

[squirrelhunter]

Thanks tehachapifan! I can find used SW1200's at area train shows for reasonable prices.