Springfield Mini Show Report 2020

[daniel_leavitt2000]

MTL - worst kept secret is finally out. Single window coaches feature full roof detail relief and 4 or 6 wheel trucks as per prototype. NYC, PRR out first.


Atlas - GP40-2W on display. Looks great. Features correct sized fuel tank. Talked to one of the reps a bit. Here are a few tid-bits:

1. They are using a different chassis for the GP40-2W than other GP series. They don't know if they can use it for the standard line GPs (they had not thought about it). Hey, just as long as they make the frame and tanks available as parts.

2. No intention to retool any Walthers rolling stock at this time. Ugh.

3. TLT/LL Canada sold a lot of tooling to Atlas recently. This includes the C424 and GP9 choppers. Maybe if IM dosen't get to building the GP10, these would work as a stand in? I asked if this included the newsprint cars, but they didn't know.


JL Innovative Design/Railway Express Miniatures - closing or selling business. get what you need now.


ESM - Bugged Bryan for more Conrail. As I always do. 36" wheels coming. They may do .553" axles (something I always need more of) but the .540" axles are selling so fast that they are focusing on those for the time-being.

[reinhardtjh]

3. TLT/LL Canada sold a lot of tooling to Atlas recently. This includes the C424 and GP9 choppers. Maybe if IM dosen't get to building the GP10, these would work as a stand in? I asked if this included the newsprint cars, but they didn't know.

W00t!!!  If they release a C425/424 with the chassis modified for ESU Loksound then I have a pile of LL ones that will go

[Joetrain59]

It would be nice if Atlas at least offered new paint schemes for the FA's.
 Like E-L gray/maroon/yellow.
 Joe D

[squirrelhunter]

That kind amazing in a bad way that Atlas is going to tool up a new 4 axle chassis that can take 2,600 gallon vs the full size 3,600 gallon fuel tanks when people have been asking them to do that for their existing line AND they redesigned the 4 axle chassis for sound. If they had moved the speaker slightly back from where they put it, it could have easily taken a 2,600 gallon tank.

Glad for everyone getting a GP40-2W,  but I can't figure out why GP38/39/40 owners are stuck with a one size fits all tank.

[lock4244]

The chopped GP9's are excellent locomotives from what I can remember (my fleet has been stored for years). I recall using one as a switcher on my old layout and it has no issue shoving 18 cars up a 2.2% helix, were good runners. The CN cab's windshield profile is unique to CN, so the CP unit would be best for a CR GP10, though the models only came with DB.

I have all the TLT paper boxes I'd ever need. So if Atlas bought them and did a few runs, I'd wind up having far more than I'd ever need. I went to some effort to lower, body mount, and BLMA truck them (that's 56 cars), so given the time, effort and cost, I bet they have the tooling.

[nkalanaga]

squirrelhunter:  Because, in injection molding, a significant retooling is almost as expensive as making a new tool. 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

squirrelhunter:  Because, in injection molding, a significant retooling is almost as expensive as making a new tool.

Yeah but they already retooled the chassis and parts for sound. It would have taken nothing extra to tool the short tank version.

Now that they have the ex Walthers GP38-2 and a new GP40-2W that BOTH feature short tanks and would need minimal tooling changes that NEED to be trolled anyway for sound... This is totally unacceptable.

Oh I forgot to mention... Atlas is planning on retooling most modern engines with ditch lights. These will be on models like the SD60M and are similar to the ones on the C40-8Ws where each light is controlled by an LED.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Some pics... [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Atlas Paul]

The chopped GP9's are excellent locomotives from what I can remember (my fleet has been stored for years). I recall using one as a switcher on my old layout and it has no issue shoving 18 cars up a 2.2% helix, were good runners. The CN cab's windshield profile is unique to CN, so the CP unit would be best for a CR GP10, though the models only came with DB.

I have all the TLT paper boxes I'd ever need. So if Atlas bought them and did a few runs, I'd wind up having far more than I'd ever need. I went to some effort to lower, body mount, and BLMA truck them (that's 56 cars), so given the time, effort and cost, I bet they have the tooling.

It was our intention to retool the GP38/40 frame with the capability to offer the smaller fuel tank AND have ditch lights, however the factory owner tooled the new chassis on his dime without consulting us and during one of our factory visits he pulls out this model complete with sound to demonstrate - so - that is what got offered on the initial sound runs, and we went ahead with our retooled chassis that is under the GP40-2W anyway.

[Scottl]

@Atlas Paul the GP40-2W looks excellent, very happy to see these in n scale.

[mu26aeh]

Glad to see the expansion of the use of the separate LED light board for ditch lights.  I bought a couple a few years ago to use them in projects that I still have on the back burner.

[bman]

Is that CR shell a B30-7R Daniel? 

[Point353]

It was our intention to retool the GP38/40 frame with the capability to offer the smaller fuel tank AND have ditch lights, however the factory owner tooled the new chassis on his dime without consulting us and during one of our factory visits he pulls out this model complete with sound to demonstrate - so - that is what got offered on the initial sound runs, and we went ahead with our retooled chassis that is under the GP40-2W anyway.

Any possibility of that factory owner deciding to tool up an N scale Alco RSD-15 on his own dime?
Cory - remember him? - promised that they were going to be made.

[squirrelhunter]

Atlas Paul, thank you for the info. I'm sure your factory was trying to be kind, but I can't imagine how frustrating that must have been.

But to clarify- yall are planning to update the GP38/39/40 series with short fuel tanks and ditch lights? If so that is excellent news!!! I have 3 MKT GP38's and GP40's on old Walthers chassis for the short fuel tanks and I'd love to replace them with sound equipped short fuel tank chassis from Atlas!

[asarge]

All I would want from Atlas is some high- hood Geep 30's and 25's. I'd be ecstatic enough with that.