NEW TRAINWORX TRUCK RELEASE.

[coosvalley]

That's the problem, only some parts are left, not enough to build a truck..

[peteski]

Part of the problem is that not only are model railroaders getting these, so are vehicle collectors and truck drivers .  When the cattle haulers came out, I ended up getting one because a friend of mine use to haul cattle in the same set up, white/blue cab and trailer.  Not sure what parts you are looking for, but there are some still available on MTS website.  Some T800 items and the 350/351 cab kits.

Hopefully by now Pat at Trainworx realizes the extra demand and runs larger quantities or multiple runs of his models in the future. He could be making more money (instead of the speculators).
I'm looking for the aluminum wheels (especially the steer wheels).

[haasmarc]

MB Klein has all the trucks back in stock.

Get 'em while they last.

[mu26aeh]

Oh do I trust I get my order filled at BLW or jump on a couple here ? 

**** good, someone bought a couple and I'm not going to order just one

[haasmarc]

I had the same dilemma.  I just ordered the two trucks from MBKleins figuring that if I ended up with extras I should be able to sell them.
 

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  Thank you.  Mine is likely to end up "stacked", with the logs on a flatcar, at my standard gauge log transfer station.  I'll also have to measure the distance between the stakes.  My narrow gauge log cars were designed to hold a truckload of logs, but they matched some now-gone kitbashed log trucks.  I may have a bunch of new log bunks to build...

No word from Chuck on these yet, I hope he didn't get shorted.

[cfritschle]

Hopefully by now Pat at Trainworx realizes the extra demand and runs larger quantities or multiple runs of his models in the future. He could be making more money (instead of the speculators).
I'm looking for the aluminum wheels (especially the steer wheels).

Peter,

I hate to sound snarky, but there has only been two limited runs of trucks from Trainworx.   

The initial release in June of 2015 consisted of 2,500 models.  500 examples of each movie/TV truck were produced.  The release of the two Bicentennial trucks in June of 2016 was more limited with 200 examples of each truck.  All of the rest of the releases have had pre-order periods open for nearly two months, with delivery nine months to a year out.

I realize it can be hard to budget for hobby items a year in advance.  However, if a manufacturer gets stuck with excess inventory that takes months or even years to dispose of, we will wind up with even fewer  models to choose from in the long wrong.  This happened a lot when manufacturers did not take pre-orders, and tried to guess how many models they might be able to sell.  Modelers are really a fickle group when it comes to trying to determine what will be a popular model.   

I apologize to those who are not in a position to pre-order hobby items like these trucks, but I am afraid this is today's reality, and it is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.   

And, since Trainworx has so much tooling that has not even be used yet, I really doubt if we will be seeing any reruns of previously released models (at least in the same paint schemes) anytime soon.

Finally, I don't think you will have to wait too long before the aluminum wheels are available once again.   

[coosvalley]

Peter,

I hate to sound snarky, but there has only been two limited runs of trucks from Trainworx.   

So, all other trucks from Trainworx are still available?...If they're no longer being made, then that basically defines a limited run, does it not?

I get limited run trucks. I do not get limited run parts to make your own truck, keep that stuff in stock, or at least as close as possible. The parts that are left basically will do me no good unless I can get the other need parts to make a complete truck...

[jpwisc]

So, all other trucks from Trainworx are still available?...If they're no longer being made, then that basically defines a limited run, does it not?

I get limited run trucks. I do not get limited run parts to make your own truck, keep that stuff in stock, or at least as close as possible. The parts that are left basically will do me no good unless I can get the other need parts to make a complete truck...

No manufacturer makes "unlimited runs". They want to sell out, if they don't, they have product sitting on the shelves and that is money lost.

As for the parts, another run is coming. Be ready to buy when they hit the shelves, I'm sure they will sell very well.

[coosvalley]

No manufacturer makes "unlimited runs". They want to sell out, if they don't, they have product sitting on the shelves and that is money lost.

I know, that's my point. I didn't say there have only been 2 limited runs, I quoted someone who did. They were all limited runs, as in, more than just  two releases.   I suspect he means limited production(we are only making this many) vs. limited run(we are making enough to fill all orders) however...

[peteski]

Peter,

I hate to sound snarky, but there has only been two limited runs of trucks from Trainworx.   

The initial release in June of 2015 consisted of 2,500 models.  500 examples of each movie/TV truck were produced.  The release of the two Bicentennial trucks in June of 2016 was more limited with 200 examples of each truck.  All of the rest of the releases have had pre-order periods open for nearly two months, with delivery nine months to a year out.

I realize it can be hard to budget for hobby items a year in advance.  However, if a manufacturer gets stuck with excess inventory that takes months or even years to dispose of, we will wind up with even fewer  models to choose from in the long wrong.  This happened a lot when manufacturers did not take pre-orders, and tried to guess how many models they might be able to sell.  Modelers are really a fickle group when it comes to trying to determine what will be a popular model.   

I apologize to those who are not in a position to pre-order hobby items like these trucks, but I am afraid this is today's reality, and it is likely to continue into the foreseeable future.   

And, since Trainworx has so much tooling that has not even be used yet, I really doubt if we will be seeing any reruns of previously released models (at least in the same paint schemes) anytime soon.

Finally, I don't think you will have to wait too long before the aluminum wheels are available once again.   

Snarky?  Neah Carter - you're fine. 

As others have already chimes in, every Tranworx is a "limited run".  I realize that the days of N scale where Atlas/Kato RS3 and RS11, or Kato RDC  models were plentiful and available for years are long gone, but I would hope for something in between the old days and the very small runs produced today. I also remember that Bryan Bussey explained (for a manufacturer's perspective) that there are many reasons in today's outsourced-manufacturing world why a certain number of models is produced in a run (which might not be enough to have leftover models).

I also  know that by now, going by Trainworx's instant sellout record of every truck run they produced, Pat could be a bit more optimistic in his estimates of how many models to produce.   I highly suspect that even if he doubled the number of models in a run (or ordered 2 runs) they would still sell out.

I spoke to Pat at the NSE convention and even presented some of my ideas (like selling truck parts packaged in larger quantities to reduce packaging costs and to give better price, or simplify packaging on items liek the cab assemblies) but he didn't think that those would be viable options.

Oh well, back to pre-ordering or looking for inflated prices on eBay.   

Yes, Pat told me that the wheels are coming. As usual, production and/or logistics delays. 

[cfritschle]

It looks like we have some different interpretations of the terminology being used. 

My interpretation of a limited run is that the manufacturer determines the number of units that will be produced based on their own projections of the market.  The model is announced only after the production run is completed.  This is what Micro-Trains monthly releases appear to be based on, although I have heard sometimes a significant number of items are rejected as a result of problems in the manufacturing process.  That results in fewer models available than what they had expected the market would handle, and they are left with an unexpected "short run" of a particular model.

What I consider a regular production run is when the manufacturer gives the potential customers the opportunity to pre-order items, and then the number of units produced is based on the number of pre-orders received.  Nearly all of the other model railroad manufacturers seem to use this method to determine how many units to produce.

However, some manufacturers appear to set the size of the production run on other unknown factors.  GHQ is an example of a manufacturer that appears to create an inventory from a single run that will last for years.  Perhaps they simply have a minimum run size they adhere to, and if they produce more than what the customers want, they wind up with more models than the current demand, and a lot of unsold inventory.  While this is handy for the modeler, it does not seem conducive to promote a lot of new product. 

Having an inventory of parts on hand at all times has got to be one of the most challenging aspects of "manufacturing" when you do not control the plant that manufactures the parts.  This applies to all but a handful of model railroad companies.

And finally, most model railroad manufacturers are in this business because they themselves have an interest in the hobby.  They could probably use their skills and talents in some other industry, and make far more money.   

[haasmarc]

I got my John Zwergel Kenworth K100 today.

Couple of observations:

1) Wow.  This truck looks better in person then in the pictures.  I hope Pat uses the same construction techniques to make some cars.  He could capture the N scale car market easily.
2) The rear mudflap was not fully installed.  Easily fixed.
3) The etched handrails have an issue.  The front handrail's mounting pins are too long an won't let the front handrail seat all the way down.  I removed the handrails and cut about half of the front handrail's pins off and re-installed.  The handrail seats down properly now.  You could also use a pinvise and drill the holes deeper into the inner cab structure.
4) I was amazed when I looked at the license plate with a magnifier.  Not only can you clearly read the numbers but you can also clearly read the year of the plate printed even smaller below the numbers.  The plate reads 1977 which is after my time period.  I don't think any visitors will pick up on that...
5) Did I say wow!

[cfritschle]

Are the log truck and trailer stackable?

Yes.

Here is photographic confirmation for the question, and Bryan's answer.   



These are truly amazing models!
 

[cfritschle]

I got my John Zwergel Kenworth K100 today.

Couple of observations:

1) Wow.  This truck looks better in person then in the pictures.  I hope Pat uses the same construction techniques to make some cars.  He could capture the N scale car market easily.
2) The rear mudflap was not fully installed.  Easily fixed.
3) The etched handrails have an issue.  The front handrail's mounting pins are too long an won't let the front handrail seat all the way down.  I removed the handrails and cut about half of the front handrail's pins off and re-installed.  The handrail seats down properly now.  You could also use a pinvise and drill the holes deeper into the inner cab structure.
4) I was amazed when I looked at the license plate with a magnifier.  Not only can you clearly read the numbers but you can also clearly read the year of the plate printed even smaller below the numbers.  The plate reads 1977 which is after my time period.  I don't think any visitors will pick up on that...
5) Did I say wow!

Marc,

My OptiVISOR was not strong enough to read the year on the license plate, so I had to resort to a photograph.



WOW indeed!