There may be fewer modern locomotive models being manufactured, but with all the power sharing going on, a modeler can buy gevos/aces from multiple road names and run them together, while still being "prototypical".
ho modern modelerI would like to see an AC6000 DC version for under $200. R.I.P. Blueline
Russell
JORDAN ROSAI have just recently discovered that Broadway Limited Imports will be the 6th manufacture of the ES44AC. ... Economically I don't understand why these companies are doing what they are doing.
This same disscussion has been around and around multiple times with different units. I remember the F units and everyone griping they wanted more modern units, and for a while everyone had a GP7-9, the SD40-2 units, the 4-8-8-4s etc, etc.
BRAKIE dti406 we can have GP38-2's, GP39-2's, GP-40-2's, SD38-2's, SD40-2's, SD45-2's, Rick, Every one of those EMD locomotives you mention are still in use today so,they would be right at home on the CSX,NS,BN,KCS and UP. SW1500s are still very active on today's railroads as well..
dti406 we can have GP38-2's, GP39-2's, GP-40-2's, SD38-2's, SD40-2's, SD45-2's,
Rick, Every one of those EMD locomotives you mention are still in use today so,they would be right at home on the CSX,NS,BN,KCS and UP.
SW1500s are still very active on today's railroads as well..
I know that and you know that, but most of these modern guys only want the latest and greatest, but my comparison was the newest are the ES-44 and SD70ace, there are not many other choices for NEW motive power other than rebuilds of the old stuff. So while the importers could pick among a lot of motive power in the 70's there are just two to pick from now.
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
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Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Metro Red Line I'm an N scaler, and we have two manufaturers doing these (Kato and Fox Valley Models). I guess that's the equivalent of market saturation in the N scale world, comparatively speaking :) The GEVO and the ACE are the most common locos found on today's railroads, so I can understand why every manufacturer wants to get theirs out and market what they feel is the best version of the model. But six manufacturers is pretty silly. I can understand 2 or 3.
I'm an N scaler, and we have two manufaturers doing these (Kato and Fox Valley Models). I guess that's the equivalent of market saturation in the N scale world, comparatively speaking :)
The GEVO and the ACE are the most common locos found on today's railroads, so I can understand why every manufacturer wants to get theirs out and market what they feel is the best version of the model. But six manufacturers is pretty silly. I can understand 2 or 3.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
dti406we can have GP38-2's, GP39-2's, GP-40-2's, SD38-2's, SD40-2's, SD45-2's,
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I would have run to agree with you except I kept tripping over all these F units on the way.
That slowed me down some.
Personally my choices are a bit more simple. The video review of the Bachmann showed it to be a POS. I won't buy from MTH unless they are the last manufacturer on Earth (they don't support their products and refuse to answer emails!) . That leaves only the Athearn SD70ACe and the Athearn and IM GEVOs and both are quite good. I wish somebody would update their Dash 9s with a later cab, etc. Both Athearn and Kato have the older cab.
There was a similar situation a long time ago. Everyone wanted an Alco roadswitcher in plastic. Low and behold we got an RS3 from Smokey Valley, and RS3 from Atlas and an RS3 from MDC.
As far as BLI? After waiting for them to produce some non-Pennsy steamers, I won't hold my breath on their new projects.
I would like to see an AC6000 DC version for under $200. R.I.P. Blueline. This past year I've noticed that a lot of the older more stagnant (i.e. same-old-same-old) manufacturers have made some effort or stab at bringing their offerings up to date. This should be a good sign for the hobby.
Mine doesn't move.......it's at the station!!!
It does seem frustrating, but it's really not much different now than any other time. Back in the late 50s early 60s, the choices were Athearn, Varney, MDC, Penn Line, etc., and each offered just a few locos. Athearn just had the F7 and the GP7 (labeled as a GP9), and yes, the Hustler, but that was pretty much it. Today, there are so many more choices. The Manufacturers probably did a market study and came up with the current offerings based on projected sales. Each is trying to get market share. Is it right? Dunno! But to maintain their own profitability, they all offer pretty much the same thing. BTW, there was a time when you could get a brass loco from PFM for $32. That was a long time ago!
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
It takes quite a while for a manufacturer to produce a locomotive. They may have all started around the same time, neither knowing what the other one was working on.
However, this may be to OUR advantage, as the market will be flooded soon and sales will drop for individual manufacturers. So in a few years you may be able to buy one or more of these locomotives cheap.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Well, for the modern railroaders those are the only two engines that count, so each importer (they are not manufacturer's) wants to get their portion of the market.
For those of us who model the 70's we can have GP38-2's, GP39-2's, GP-40-2's, SD38-2's, SD40-2's, SD45-2's, U23B's, U30B's, U33B's, U36B's U30C's, U33C's and U36C's. So every manufacturer/importer could carve out their own niche.
It seems to be a quite normal procedure of the industry - wherever you look. Manufacturers will always market those engines they think to be "best sellers". These are usually the ones people see when they watch trains or which are known also to the non-railfan. If manufacturers would cater strictly to the model railroader, we would not have a Big Boy from Rivarossi and Athearn, a PRR K4 from BLI, MTH and Bachmann, not to mention the countless executions of the F7.
I agree with you on this. it seems like there are soooo many and you start getting sick of them cuz you see them everywhere. There should be a limit on 3 manf per model maybe. I know that could be a bad thing as well but still
I have just recently discovered that Broadway Limited Imports will be the 6th manufacture of the ES44AC. Why can't the manufactures create locomotives that have not been done. I believe in competition but I believe that this is going a little to far. I believe the quantity supplied will be much more than the quantity demanded. They don't see the market as a consumer and haven't explored other possible locomotive designs that they can produce and set them apart from their competitors. Why not do a locomotive that hasn't been done in a while like the Dash 8's 9's and AC4400's. Also if several companies want to produce the same run of a product, why wait 3 years to come out with a locomotive to compete when consumers have already stocked up on the locomotives from the other companies. For example, it took several years for Athearn to come out with a competing product to the Intermountain ES44AC/DC and then MTH, BLI, and Bachmann decide to run their own versions. Economically I don't understand why these companies are doing what they are doing.