Uncertain future for more US-prototype N scale models from Arnold/Hornby

[Philip H]

As a U boat fan i'm sorry to see them go.  I will probably get one or two at some point on the secondary market.  But it is what it is - and the N scale diesel locomotive market isn't exactly shriveling up at the moment.

[CBQ Fan]

This may be more to do with Hornby's ongoing financial losses and the resulting restructuring to focus on it's strengths in the "home" market.

This is only a guess.

Mark

I think this drives it more than anything from what I have seen.

[CBQ Fan]

I didn't think Rivarossi (by name only, since Hornby acquired their assets in the '90s) produced any N scale models for decades. What was the newest N scale model under Rivarossi label?

Doesn’t the new iteration of Rivarossi produce HO American prototypes?

[johnb]

I honestly gave up on waiting on them to release a Southern Pacific SW1...

[delamaize]

I think that IF they made that SW in more popular roads, they would have sold more. It seems like they were awesome runners.
I know I love my U boats....

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Not sure what you are getting at Jerry.

Doing them as Clinchfield would be huge foobies... CRR never had any, the only U-boats they did have were the U36Cs and they were peddled off to Seaboard Coast Line after a couple of years do to lack of understanding about how to maintain 4-cycle engines.

[nkalanaga]

Were the U28Cs every released?  I know they were announced, but I don't remember seeing anyone mention having one, Chuck didn't list them on his website, and I don't have any reserved anywhere.

Does "not investing in any more models" mean no NEW models, or no American N scale at all?  It seems that, as long as they already have the tooling, rereleasing the existing models would cost very little.  The SW1 could be run for years without repeating a scheme.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I didn't think Rivarossi (by name only, since Hornby acquired their assets in the '90s) produced any N scale models for decades. What was the newest N scale model under Rivarossi label?

I was actually referring to Riv HO models which mimics Arnolds N scale line. I haven't seen those fly off the shelves either.

[Ike the BN Freak]

If you are going to do a foobie unit that is based off a U36C, I'd use the Kato U30C as it is much closer to the U33/36C than the U28C could ever be

[thomasjmdavis]

Doing them as Clinchfield would be huge foobies... CRR never had any, the only U-boats they did have were the U36Cs and they were peddled off to Seaboard Coast Line after a couple of years do to lack of understanding about how to maintain 4-cycle engines.

I apologize, Jerry, that was "my bad" (as my kids used to say, I have no idea what the current equivalent is).  I misread both you and the poster you were responding to, and in any case, I shoulda had the good sense to look up a Clinchfield loco roster before posting, because I locked into the mid 50s in terms of my own expertise on diesels.

[Mark5]

Were the U28Cs every released? 

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N-Scale-U28C-Locomotives-s/3933.htm

BLW still has some:

http://www.blwnscale.com/hornby-u28c.htm

[wazzou]

Were the U28Cs every released?  I know they were announced, but I don't remember seeing anyone mention having one, Chuck didn't list them on his website, and I don't have any reserved anywhere.

Does "not investing in any more models" mean no NEW models, or no American N scale at all?  It seems that, as long as they already have the tooling, rereleasing the existing models would cost very little.  The SW1 could be run for years without repeating a scheme.

I have a couple of the NP U28's.  The paint color was much improved on these but I don't think there are any physical differences other than the correct Rd. #'s for U28's verses 25's.

[Mark5]

I have a couple of the NP U28's.  The paint color was much improved on these but I don't think there are any physical differences other than the correct Rd. #'s for U28's verses 25's.

The phase 1 U28C should be externally the same as a late U25C. During phase 1 U28C production GE switched to a two pane windshield (CB&Q #564-577 are the only phase 1 versions like this I think). Phase II is a different animal altogether and built on a longer frame.

[OldEastRR]

I think the SW1 is a neat little switcher but the NH never owned any, so I got an Atlas S-2 instead (and am very happy with it, DCC/sound). But wait ... I know! Walthers will buy up the SW and U-boat tooling! We're saved!!!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The biggest issue with the SW-1s was road name and paint scheme choice.

What were they thinking with the Amtrak ones? I'm sure both people who model Amtrak coach yards in N were very happy, but... \

It's exactly the same as the Kato RDCs.