Scaletrains game changer

[mmagliaro]

I'd like to see a steam engine that will actually pull 50+ cars. To me THAT would be a game changer !

Randy

There are a few... The Bachmann/Spectrum 2-8-0 can do it, the older Kato/Con-Cor 4-8-4 S-2 could do it.  And I'm talking unmodified engines here.

But as for whether this would be a game-changer, I disagree.  How many modelers, really, have layouts than can realistically accomodate 50+ car trains?   Clubs, NTrak shows, and a few massive home layouts, yes.  But your average medium-sized layout that fits in a single room just isn't big enough for trains that long to make sense.  So I don't think the impact on model railroaders would be very big. 

[wcfn100]

Where will the next innovations come from??

I remember an article in MR 10-15 years ago(?) that talked about what new technologies could be in the future.  All I remember from the list was AC stepper motors to work directly with DCC and remove the DC step.


Jason

[nkalanaga]

Eric:  The V-1 is a new on to me, and even Google can't seem to find a good picture.  The only reason I know about the FF-1 is that I have Bert Pennypacker's "Cross Continent Electrics" for t he GN stuff.  For two roads with no known corporate connections the GN and PRR seemed to share a lot of mechanical ideas, in steam and electric.

[Nato]

                :|I already own two Brass two unit Union Pacific GTEL 's and they were not cheap when they were released several years ago, but I bet "Donuts to Dollars" that they are doing an N Scale Turbine, it just makes sense since the already have the plans and can scale them down, now if they do both a low cost and a super detailed version with add-on's that would be sort of a game changer although modular locomotives would be even better. As for working class lights, Atlas did that on the FM H16 44 or what ever they are . Yes they do light up, change color with direction, you need a dark room, think layout in a closet to view this, the experiment was not repeated. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[peteski]

I remember an article in MR 10-15 years ago(?) that talked about what new technologies could be in the future.  All I remember from the list was AC stepper motors to work directly with DCC and remove the DC step.


Jason

That might have been someone's pure fantasy (they probably did not understand how steppers work).
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/alternating-current/chpt-13/stepper-motors/
Stepper motors still need source of at least 3  phases of DC pulses to step them forward or backward.   So the standard alternating polarity DCC power from the track still needs to be rectified for the stepper (and for the processor circuit too).  Steppers are also relatively noisy (as they cog at every step)  At least they have decent torque at all speeds. 

[GaryHinshaw]

I'd love to see a true hybrid-drive loco.  Could it be possible that they have engineered a 12 V, 100 mAH (or less) rechargeable battery they could embed in the frame and recharge from track power?  That would definitely be a game changer, but I think we'd see that in HO long before we saw it in N. 

[jpwisc]

Maybe it will be a real diesel motor. That would be great to go with my functional N Scale fuel truck.

Like was said before, it's the Turbine. I can't get fired up about that. Maybe they'll get something a little more modern.

[peteski]

Funny how this thread evolved from guessing about a new piece of N-Scale new rolling stock, to a full-blown what-if fantasy, all because of two words in the ad: game changer!

 

[coosvalley]

Something tells me this "game changer" is for a game I don't even play.. ....

[mmagliaro]

Funny how this thread evolved from guessing about a new piece of N-Scale new rolling stock, to a full-blown what-if fantasy, all because of two words in the ad: game changer!

 

And it generated a huge amount of buzz here.  So somebody in their advertising department is smart. 

[eric220]

I'd love to see a true hybrid-drive loco.  Could it be possible that they have engineered a 12 V, 100 mAH (or less) rechargeable battery they could embed in the frame and recharge from track power?  That would definitely be a game changer, but I think we'd see that in HO long before we saw it in N.

Hey! Maybe it's one step above hybrid drive. Maybe we're getting wireless power! Tesla coils to the train room!!!

[thomasjmdavis]

And it generated a huge amount of buzz here.  So somebody in their advertising department is smart. 

But now that they have the buzz going, they have to deliver.  If the "game changer" is a dud, or is a locomotive that has limited appeal and no real innovation, all that buzz will go negative in a hurry.

I mean, if Kato shows up with a sample TA (not saying it will happen, but clearly in the realm of possibility, given their recent poll), you are going to need something pretty cool to "change the game."

[eric220]

Eric:  The V-1 is a new on to me, and even Google can't seem to find a good picture.  The only reason I know about the FF-1 is that I have Bert Pennypacker's "Cross Continent Electrics" for t he GN stuff.  For two roads with no known corporate connections the GN and PRR seemed to share a lot of mechanical ideas, in steam and electric.

At the risk of further thread drift,

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/d6/8f/84/d68f849699c9c8f1729681a9e112483d.jpg

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?20144-The-Offical-PRR-Anonymous-thread&p=257453#post257453

And an N Scale model!
http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?media/pennsylvania-steam-turbine.114883/

[sirenwerks]

And it generated a huge amount of buzz here.  So somebody in their advertising department is smart. 

Or we're just obsessive and bored from waiting

[peteski]

Or we're just obsessive and bored from waiting

Hey, speak for yourself!
I'm not bored - I'm amused!