Another "new" item for the 027 traditional market

[Dr. John]

The "Buddy" should prove to be another winner for RMT! I plan to purchase both of the PRR versions. I hope they will provide an undecorated version down the road for our private road names.

[brianel027]

Thanks Allan! Your last paragraph sums it up pretty nicely.

For a long time I've been speaking out for some product on the traditional size/affordable end of the train spectrum. When one looks at the vast amount of new product tooling/development that has been done in the past decade, it is overwhelming slanted towards the scale size/more expensive side. I'm sure this is in some part due to the intense competition between the companies themselves... there's far more kudo's to be gotten from high end products. But I suspect there could be some strong sales to be gotten from products on the traditional/affordable end. Even Lionel's own statements have indicated an increase of sales on the affordable/stater end product spectrum.

When you stop to think about it, only MTH has brought out a modern diesel model in a smaller size in the past decade. Though many of them are still a little large (the FP, Genesis, Dash 8), the new SD90 MAC in the current new MTH catalog is I think one of the best shrunk down proportioned locos they've done (followed by the SD-45). And it's available in just a horn and bell version in some current roads for $180 list. A tad high in price for my liking, but when compared to the single motored, mostly plastic diesels from Lionel at $140 list, it doesn't seem so out of line - especially since it's a current modern diesel model with more die-cast components.

Though to give Lionel credit, the last two "027" U36B's (the WP and the CSX) were cataloged as having a single motor... they both have dual motors instead. I wish Lionel had done the Conrail one that way (oh drat!). I'm still waiting for Lionel to reissue another Conrail one with dual motors. And the new starter-level Lionel rolling stock is greatly improved as far as paint quality, paint schemes and finally after all these years - a few modern roadnames (CSX Waffle Box Car, NS Hopper and BNSF Ore Car).

[Anonymous]

I agree that RMT is being very smart in tapping a portion of the market too long overlooked--at least in recent years--by most manufacturers, with the exception of Williams and, to some extent, K-Line. Only more recently have Lionel and MTH (and MTH seems to be slipping away by making their RailKing stuff scale-size) awakened to the potential that's there for those of us who enjoy traditional-size equipment that can be operated on smaller layouts without looking strange.

I have some eight or so BEEPs already on-hand in different paint schemes, and likely will be buying a few more. And I'll also be picking up a B&O "Buddy" or two when they become available--just the right size for my small O27 layout. The price alone--$70 retail--screams out for multiple purchases of these neat little items.

Expanding his run of Buddys, I hope Walter will also include a MARC version at some point since I used to ride MARC RDCs (former B&O) into Washington on a regular basis back when I lived in Laurel, MD.

I'm glad that the scale-oriented guys and the big spenders are getting what they want from MTH, Lionel, K-Line, Atlas, 3rd Rail, Weaver, and the others, but I'm especially delighted that at least some manufacturers--with RMT and Williams in the lead--are devoting attention to what I assume is still the larger market--real and potential--for O gauge. These are the products that will help O gauge grow; $1,200+ locomotives will not do that over the long term.

[Anonymous]

Now I have a source of cheap mechanisms to power my stock of Kusan RDC shells. Also, with some surgery, these things can be made into low cost rapid transit cars. Now RMT is on the right track.

[brianel027]

Oh absolutely Roger, which is the wonderful thing about them! Here you have some train items that please conventional 027 operators because of their less than full-scale size. And they are affordable and still with some reasonable degree of quality. And they affordable enough so that those who choose can add the electronics they want without going broke. Ah, the best of both worlds!!!

It's great that there are companies who are making these add-on electronics for the trains! What's a drag is when someone like me, who doesn't want the electronics, has to pay more for the engine, only to end up ripping out all the additonal stuff that you just paid extra for.

It's nice that a couple companies see a market for some basic affordable trains. And just as nice that a couple more companies see a market for additional electronics for these trains... this is what makes the hobby really great! Choice, affordability and selection. I've long thought that Williams was on to the right idea... now they've got company: RMT.

[Roger Bielen]

The Beep and upcoming Budd are not only for the traditional/conventional operator. Reading one of the mags. I see TAS now has an upgrade for these to convert them, and other small units, to TMCC operation.

[brianel027]

I read a mention of a new companion product to the RMT "Beep" locomotive. So I went to the RMT website and found this:

http://store.yahoo.com/readymadetoys/rmt-toy-trains-br-buddy-rdc-cars.html

Now granted, this again, is not a totally new product. And the illustrations shown on the RMT site are preliminary. But given what RMT did with the former Kusan/Williams tooling on the "Beep" I look forward to seeing what they will do with this. Certainly this looks like it has its' origins with the MARX/K-Line Budd Car. Still, it's very nice to see some attention being paid to an end of the market that has been a little overlooked lately, as far as new product introductions go.

The price on this is certainly right for modelers on a budget and there is a variety of roadnames that were largely ignored when K-Line produced their similar Budd car. A lesson shown by Williams that success can be had with limited product releases, but "limitless" roadname availability.