ScaleTrains HO and N Amherst "pre-announcement" announcement

[jereising]

Back to the SD40-2 and the N variant - there are at least 400 of the N model - probably more.   And if I'm reading the roster reports correctly, there are now only a couple of -2s left - the rest have all been sold or converted to Ns.  Nothing to sneeze at.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think there are segments that can support multiple models of the same prototype. F units, GP7/9 GP38/40/-2 SD40/45 and SD40-2 are certainly among them. And I really like the "this is our take on a popular model" idea. You get to see the model makers philosophy and innovation. And the SD40-2 is a great example.

Kato - dedicated to providing the smoothest performance out there with their floating axle truck design. It is fragile, buy it runs amazing. Tooling is crisp if a bit basic. It's like a Lexus... Maybe not the most innovative out there, but it bleeds quality.

Intermountain - a focus on details where you see them most. Etched fans but missing frame. Money is spent on what you see and hear most. You get the feeling there are budget constraints, but over all an excellent model.

BLI - literal bells and whistles over prototype fidelity. Phases don't match the paint. Details are baffling (add on  grabs on the nose, molded in the rear!?". You get the feeling they get to a certain point and say "good enough" without resolving systemic issues. The detail is there, but it's like they just don't care about getting it right.

Bachmann - "Hey I can delete details from 15 year old tooling, double the price and call a crap model premium"

Con-Cor - "Hey look I can turn the rear truck in my SD45 around and make a new model"

[thomasjmdavis]

What Otto said.

[basementcalling]

That is an interesting take on those models. Can someone explain to me why model manufacturers keep on duplicating their efforts and producing multiple versions of several locos and rolling stock (F-units, and such), and yet there was only a single model of the ATSF Northern, and few poorly rendered models of ATSF caboose produced?  After all, Santa Fe and UP are also probably the two most popular roadnames in N scale.

The truth is manufacturers feel safe turning out the same old crap because people still buy it. There is a sucker born every minute, I guess. I've been one for the Bachmann 4-8-4. Most disappointing model I ever bought, but then again the Spectrum SD-40-2 is a close second, although by then I should have known better.

Companies make those cheap - well, used to be cheap - models because they sell. Lots of people getting into the hobby chose the "money saving" route, and don't invest a lot of denero in an Atlas or Kato engine, or UniTrak, or quality rolling stock. There are far more hobbyists at that end of the spectrum than at TRW a$$hat end.

That is the truth, and some companies know it.

[peteski]

The truth is manufacturers feel safe turning out the same old crap because people still buy it. There is a sucker born every minute, I guess. I've been one for the Bachmann 4-8-4. Most disappointing model I ever bought, but then again the Spectrum SD-40-2 is a close second, although by then I should have known better.

What I was alluding to is not why Bachmann keeps pushing the same crappy old ATSF models, but why other manufacturers have not duplicated that lone Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern loco.  With ATSF being one of the most popular roadnames, I'm sure the market would welcome and swallow a 4-8-4 produced by another manufacturer to the contemporary standards.  But nobody's biting.  Is it because it is a steam loco?  Both FVM and BLI are more than capable of producing this type of a model.

And to set the record straight, I don't model either ATSF or UP. I'm mainly into B&M and some Amtrak, but I also own other models unrelated to B&M or Amtrak - just because I find them interesting.

[draskouasshat]

I can say the same thing about a quality ATSF 37XX or 29XX Northern. MEH.  I will purchase a couple NW2s if BLI produces any in the 5 railroads that I model.

Have you tried painting or having someone paint any of the 2 previous manufacturer's of NW2s? That's the point we're making home slice. Not that you want an NW2 in a certain paint scheme.

Drasko

[draskouasshat]

It's also interesting that we will have 2 operating santa fe boehme by separate organizations yet still no model in N.
Ill buy the models but i don't even really need them since ive built my own from brass/kato fef mechs and gs4/ detailed Bachmann shells.
My complaint is that one of the more popular roads isn't getting any attention in the steam category.   

Drasko

[thomasjmdavis]

I think the solution is to photoshop photos of the desired steam locomotives into Warbonnet paint scheme. No manufacturer can pass up making a locomotive if they can paint it in Warbonnet.

It's also interesting that we will have 2 operating santa fe boehme by separate organizations yet still no model in N.
Ill buy the models but i don't even really need them since ive built my own from brass/kato fef mechs and gs4/ detailed Bachmann shells.
My complaint is that one of the more popular roads isn't getting any attention in the steam category.   

Drasko

"boehme"?

[draskouasshat]

I think the solution is to photoshop photos of the desired steam locomotives into Warbonnet paint scheme. No manufacturer can pass up making a locomotive if they can paint it in Warbonnet."boehme"?

Damned auto text lol. Northerns is what i meant but apparently my phone put the last name of one of my now retired signal supervisors lol

[basementcalling]

What I was eluding to is not why Bachmann keeps pushing the same crappy old ATSF models, but why other manufacturers have not duplicated that lone Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern loco.  With ATSF being one of the most popular roadnames, I'm sure the market would welcome and swallow a 4-8-4 produced by another manufacturer to the contemporary standards.  But nobody's biting.  Is it because it is a steam loco?  Both FVM and BLI are more than capable of producing this type of a model.

And to set the record straight, I don't model either ATSF or UP. I'm mainly into B&M and some Amtrak, but I also own other models unrelated to B&M or Amtrak - just because I find them interesting.

It's not a USRA steam loco, or there would be a half dozen versions.

Heck, Peteski, we just got the manufacturers used to stepping on each other's diesel releases without getting worked up about it. It may take a long time before they duplicate steam offerings.

[peteski]

It's not a USRA steam loco, or there would be a half dozen versions.

Heck, Peteski, we just got the manufacturers used to stepping on each other's diesel releases without getting worked up about it. It may take a long time before they duplicate steam offerings.

Actually some of us *ARE* getting all worked up at all the N scale diesel loco duplicity (and GG-1 too).    We also get all worked up about the lack of duplicate models of steam locos. We get all worked up about everything. 

[kiwi_bnsf]

What I was eluding to is not why Bachmann keeps pushing the same crappy old ATSF models, but why other manufacturers have not…

Glad I'm not the only one who has to edit my posts because of #AutocorrectFail 

[kiwi_bnsf]

It's also interesting that we will have 2 operating santa fe Northerns by separate organizations yet still no model in N.
I'll buy the models but i don't even really need them since ive built my own from brass/kato fef mechs and gs4/ detailed Bachmann shells.
My complaint is that one of the more popular roads isn't getting any attention in the steam category.   

Drasko

THIS. There is at least nice Kato NW2 tooling available now (multiple locos and shells available for reasonable prices via eBay). If you want to create an ATSF Northern in N today, you need a lot more skill than repainting an eBay purchase.

BLI's NW2 duplication might be a new phase and new road numbers, but from the photos it doesn't even look like an improvement on the Kato tooling (unless you subscribe to the Rolling Thunder excitement).

[sirenwerks]

...I'm sure the market would welcome and swallow a 4-8-4 produced by another manufacturer to the contemporary standards.  But nobody's biting.  Is it because it is a steam loco?  Both FVM and BLI are more than capable of producing this type of a model.

SP GS4. UP FEF3. Both are Northerns. Heck, I wish I could lay my hands on one or two affordable Bachmann newer S2s. Everyone wants THEIR road's locos modeled faithfully. Probably never gonna happen. Where is a model CB&Q O5A? It ran later than the ATSF Northern. The truth is, a few concerned Shapeways designers could help us out by creating shells to fit existing chassis, or you could be like Max, and painstakingly model your own.


Just go diesel, less frustrating. Unless you happen to have to deal with Alco Century phases or want FM or Baldwin models.

[Lemosteam]

"The truth is, a few concerned Shapeways designers could help us out by creating shells to fit existing chassis."

Just go diesel, less frustrating. Unless you happen to have to deal with Alco Century phases or want FM or Baldwin models.

@sirenwerks I have no beef with you at all, but folks, this mentality has to stop.  People need to understand how time consuming that task really is. 

I have mentioned before that the time I spent on my K4 kit is likely worth $10,000 at a mere $10 per hour (definitely not my hourly rate!) and that was because I had all of the research I needed already available.  It would have been much longer if I had to research a road that I am completely unfamiliar with.  Yes I spent nearly 1000 hours perfecting that model. 

To create and perfect a design for a specific road with all of it's unique details without drawings or detailed information is an insurmountable task that most fold here would not be willing to front with $$.

With the SF Dyno car, Adam traded valuable parts that I wanted for my time, so that balanced, but I'm telling you a Loco and tender shell is no small task.