Traincat brass items

[sd45elect2000]

If that is not obvious in my post... I really don't want this to escalate here so I will refrain from further comment.

Identical situation here. I ordered a bunch of stuff several years ago now..


RS

[randgust]

It's a bit OT but I had grand intentions of doing etching and got the Micro-Mark system.   It worked....actually....sorta, but I was looking to make a significant number of parts for kits and that's just the wrong tool for the job.   But I did convince myself I could actually do it.

But I will say, even after I got usable parts, if your're going to work with hazardous chemicals, in the dark, suited up in protective clothing, goggles, and with ventilators running...with the intention of making something worth selling, go for the real money and cook drugs instead.

If I discovered something, it was that inventing an all-plastic etchant solution stirrer out of Knex motors, shafting, and a Lego plastic propeller made a huge difference in the quality and speed of the process, as the bubbler process was just completely worthless and inconsistent and I gave up on it.   

I ended up designing my own with CAD and sent them to a commercial photoetcher and got really spectacular results, without any of the mess.  But then again I wanted stuff by the hundreds, not a one-off.   

Chris333 is one of the true masters on this forum, he helped me through it, although it sounds like he's had his fun with it as well.   

[71jeep]

Identical situation here. I ordered a bunch of stuff several years ago now..


RS

Yup same here 50 bucks down the tubes I am very sorry for all that has happened to him just wish I got what I ordered that is alll.

[towl1996]

It seemed after his last postings here, there was the possibility he was going to restart the business. However, given the length of time that has now passed, I don't think that will ever happen. 

If he has no intentions of ever reopening the business, it would be nice if he would be willing to sell the artwork so the products could be available again.

I bought a ton of his stuff and would like to get more.

[Bob]

I keep dreaming of getting three of his double track Pratt thru girder bridge - they are almost a perfect match for the 3 spans of the 1894 B&O bridge that crosses the Potomac at Harpers Ferry and that is in service til this day!

[Bill H]

I keep dreaming of getting three of his double track Pratt thru girder bridge - they are almost a perfect match for the 3 spans of the 1894 B&O bridge that crosses the Potomac at Harpers Ferry and that is in service til this day!

Hi Bob:
As much as a lot of Bob's (TrainCat) products look superb in HO, and by the way, all the instructions are for the HO models, the transition to - in very complex products in N such as bridges - left a lot to be desired. Missing parts on sprues where there was no place for them to exist so they did not fall off, missing rivets, missing details, parts that were never going to fit correctly etc. made assembly frustrating to say the least. As a fellow B&O modeler who once contemplated the OML I can lament the missing bridges, but I would not wish the assembly of that Pratt bridge on a friend or even my middle school math teacher...

There is an earlier thread on the TrainCat skewed double track plate bridge you might want to peruse... Of course - you did say dream...

Kind regards,
Bill

[Bob]

Thanks Bill - I've never corresponded with anyone who actually tried one of these - I guess the photos that had been posted were of the HO scale version?  Oh well.  Maybe someday a thru truss that is nicer than the Walthers version will come along!

[mmagliaro]

Well, I built the single track Pratt truss bridge, and I thought it was magnificent.  I had no problems with missing pieces or mistakes in the instructions.  It just took a long time to build, as it has about 800 pieces.

[DKS]

Related: Many TrainCat kits for sale.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46468.msg607445#new

[SandyEggoJake]

My question would be how do you get hold of Bob?

I tried and actually did connected with him about 2 years ago now.  But he was not pleased that I didn't go through his website.  But after several attempts of no replies, it was my Hail Mary.  I asked him to name his price and offered to pay him cash to a license a few of his designs (some that he even discontinued) to have his producer make a new run.  Seemed like "money for nothing" wasn't his need.  He didn't have any interest. 

It seems Brad at Texn'rails knows him better than most and carried his product line at some shows.  But even he told me he has had challenges communicating and with fulfillment.  Best we can hope for is he licenses his designs to another to return them to the market.  Sad.  He really did some great designs. 

[Cajonpassfan]

All I need is one of these... [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Mark5]

This was on my list, as N&W used this platform design in some places:



But, I have pretty much resigned myself to the idea that I will have to scratch build all of my signal bridges.

Mark

[Bob]

Mmagliaro - that is one beautiful bridge!  Really impressive!  Did you paint and weather it?  If so, would love to see a photo!

[Bill H]

Well, I built the single track Pratt truss bridge, and I thought it was magnificent.  I had no problems with missing pieces or mistakes in the instructions.  It just took a long time to build, as it has about 800 pieces.

Hi Max:
Glad to hear you had a better experience than I did building his skewed plate girder bridge kit. See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=46127.msg600598#msg600598 In that thread, it appeared that I was not the only one with the same problems with that particular kit.

FWIW, I am currently finished with the kit, waiting for time to apply the primer and then will apply some Archer rivet decals where many of the rivets were missing.

Cheers,
Bill

[sctroy]

Yup same here 50 bucks down the tubes I am very sorry for all that has happened to him just wish I got what I ordered that is alll.

Same here as well.

Steve  Troy