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Where is all the N scale old stuff?

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Where is all the N scale old stuff?
Posted by darrel480 on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:17 PM

I have been seaching for new releases of 60s and earlier N scale freight cars and cabooses. They are next to impossible to find without dealing with used e bay stuff.  Why can't MT, Atlas and other companies produce "old Stuff"?  And even harder to find is anything with CB&Q road name, engines or freight cars. Please manufacturers, please produce old N scale freight cars and cabooses. The market would be huge.  Be nice if they were weathered too.  I especially need two CB&Q cabooses, one steel and one wood.  Hard to find at swap meets too. 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:23 PM

The problem with reproducing old models is that customers want the prices to be the same as they were a decade ago.

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At the price point that they would need to charge for old castings with crude details, I believe the manufacturers will do better with higher quality models with better detail at a higher price.

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Also, I doubt they want to compete with the used market at swap meets for the same model.

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-Kevin

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:31 PM

I just looked at Micro Trains web page and found plenty of freight cars abd "cabeese" suitable for modelling the 1960s.

Same for Atlas.

I assume you are talking about production re-runs of the stuff released in the early days of N scale model railroading. They were still rather crude and I doubt they would sell at 2020 prices.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:38 PM

darrel480
 Please manufacturers, please produce old N scale freight cars and cabooses. The market would be huge. 

I doubt that.  I take it you don't like Ebay?

I can't even imagine asking Athearn to make me some blue box locos. Confused

Mike.

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Posted by tstage on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:51 PM

Uhhhhhh...Maybe I'm wrong but I think the OP is asking for prototype rolling stock that is from the 60s era and older; NOT manufacturing cruder and less-quality stock that was available in that time period.

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, January 5, 2020 1:56 PM

tstage
I think the OP is asking for prototype rolling stock that is from the 60s era and older; NOT manufacturing cruder and less-quality stock that was available in that time period.

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I think you are correct. It looks like I read it incorrectly.

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-Kevin

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Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, January 5, 2020 2:07 PM

tstage

Uhhhhhh...Maybe I'm wrong but I think the OP is asking for prototype rolling stock that is from the 60s era and older; NOT manufacturing cruder and less-quality stock that was available in that time period.

Tom

 

If that is correct (why shouldn´t it be?), than the OP needs to take a closer look at what´s in the market.

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

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Posted by Boiler-man on Sunday, January 5, 2020 2:33 PM

Needs to look at MT's Offerings in the 60's freight cars, they have alot and in many road names as well.

Even the early old rolling stock from the 60's era that is crude by todays standards is able to be had at reasonable prices on the bay and on the book and if you convert it over to MT trucks and couplers all looks and runs good!!

Boilerman
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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, January 5, 2020 2:34 PM

mbinsewi
I can't even imagine asking Athearn to make me some blue box locos. Mike.

Mike,I would jump for joy if they did a run of BB handrails for the GP38-2 and GP40-2.  I'm sick of those new plastic hands warping or leaning toward the hood.  Some BB GP7 Blomberg B  side frames would be nice. I need these to replace my BB GP38-2s  side frames.

Larry

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Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, January 5, 2020 3:37 PM

I haven't looked on eBay specificially for 50's N scale freight cars but have found some decent deals on 60's and 70's freight cars.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by darrel480 on Sunday, January 5, 2020 3:58 PM

Thanks all for your thoughts.  Yes there are some decent 50-60 freight cars on e- bay but most need updated couplers or are missing parts and are way over priced.  Also I'm looking for CB&Q and it's very hard to find, especially cabooses. I wish just once I could go to a new release ad for N scale and find 40' box cars and cabooses. I would pay higher prices for new good stuff.

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Posted by wjstix on Sunday, January 5, 2020 10:29 PM

Normally it's much easier to build a good-running diesel model than a steam engine, especially in a smaller scale. Although things are changing for the better regarding N-scale steam, N-scale seems to have been primarily a diesel-era scale pretty much from the start. That would be part of the reason freight cars have tended to be of more modern models.

That being said, a quick E-bay search came up with a fair number of "brand new" N-scale 40' boxcars, and I suspect a visit to the LHS or a model railroad flea market would turn up quite a few 'new in the box' items...

https://www.ebay.com/sch/69814/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=40%27+boxcar+N+scale&Year=1910%252D1944%7C1945%252D1969&rt=nc&Grading=C%252D10%2520Mint%252DBrand%2520New%7CC%252D9%2520Factory%2520New%252DBrand%2520New&_dcat=69814

...and CB&Q freight cars.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=Burlington+Route+N+scale&_sacat=69814&LH_TitleDesc=0&rt=nc&Grading=C%252D9%2520Factory%2520New%252DBrand%2520New%7CC%252D10%2520Mint%252DBrand%2520New&_dcat=69814

Stix
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Posted by richhotrain on Monday, January 6, 2020 5:59 AM

BRAKIE

Mike,I would jump for joy if they did a run of BB handrails for the GP38-2 and GP40-2.  I'm sick of those new plastic hands warping or leaning toward the hood.   

LOL 

Yes, exactly.   Yes

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, January 6, 2020 7:11 AM

wjstix
Normally it's much easier to build a good-running diesel model than a steam engine, especially in a smaller scale.

I guess you never ran a Kato steam engine? They tell me the newer N Scale  Bachmann steam engines are smooth runners. 

When I  was  in  N Scale I was 100% diesel.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, January 6, 2020 12:40 PM

If you regularly peruse eBay, I bet you'll find some good 50's and 60's freight cars for decent prices, as in $10-15 each. I've found by regularly scanning eBay over a period of months, you usuallyl find what you need.  Patience and persistance is your friend.

Also go to train shows, you'll often find good deals on N scale rolling stock.  You may need to swap out trucks in some cases with Microtrains couplers but for $5 to $10, it may be worth it.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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