I was not trying to insinuate that things have to be exact, and the other more complicated part of the equation (for me) is I am trying to make a soon to be 13-year-old happy as well. I can appreciate your approach...
The 13-year-old likes modern stuff including Atlas NS Topgons (1990's rebuilt hoppers in a neat grey scheme), 1970's stuff, and also PRR Keystone stuff. He wants more Arrowhead PRR H-39's...and more Tangent PRR G43's...my friends who have passed on would have loved his tastes!
His motive power includes UP C44-9W's, E-L SDP45's incl. the bicentennial one, and the FEC blue/yellow SD70M-2.
I have big Alco's: C636's and M636's, and I want the PC/Conrail H39's which I am told should be out "sometime in 2020".
For me it would be too implausible to attempt to integrate all that stuff into one fictional railroad, especially given my Canadian and Mexican tastes.
Sheldon is going for believable realism, and I think my roster would just stretch that...a bit too far. edit: Early Conrail did lease 26 CN M-636's and freely mixed them with any builder's six-axle units available incl. EL and RDG but that still won't include modern UP stuff, lol.
John
Hello All,
I too was saddened by the loss of, dare I say, an iconic hobby store....Fair well to a new friend; Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado.
Whenever possible I try to support brick and mortar stores over internet sales.
I have tried to support the new Caboose store, but like many other comments on this thread, when I go there it can be disappointing. Both in the lack of stock on hand and pricing.
Yes, I understand the costs of operating a small retail business. I am a bike mechanic in the summer and work for a small family owned business.
When we are in Denver, and I need something for my pike, I always try to get it at Caboose. Unfortunately sometimes I am not successful and have to turn to the internet.
The bike shop I work for has moved away from retail and has refocused on service.
Yes, you can get that bike or part online cheaper but who will assemble, install or maintain that item you got cheaper than we could provide?
I wish there was a simple answer.
Until then, when in Denver, I will stop in- -see if they have the item(s) I need and if not then turn to the internet.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Well damn, since I can't seem to find any D&RGW locos, I will attempt a repaint on annother road. I just found some Athearn Genesis SD45-2 Santa Fe. I am going to buy that and repaint and decal with D&RGW. And even if its bad job I will weather it anyways.
https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/athearn/genesis-ho-scale/athearn-athearn-athearn-diesel-engines-1/sd45-2/athearn-g86184-ho-sd45-2-w-dcc-sound-sf-5687/
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Motleysince I can't seem to find any D&RGW locos,
What loco are you looking for?
There are couple on ebay.
Toy Train Heaven has a couple.
Hobbylinc has a couple.
Motley I will attempt a repaint on annother road. I just found some Athearn Genesis SD45-2 Santa Fe. I am going to buy that and repaint and decal with D&RGW. And even if its bad job I will weather it anyways.
.
Great plan. I love painting and decalling my own equipment. I hope you open up a new side of the hobby you enjoy.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Good, then you can do the stack of undec RS-3s I have
Actually, they are going to be super easy. Frame black, shell Pullman Green. No lines, stripes, etc. No paint masking. Another reason I like first generation Reading power, simple paint scheme.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker Good, then you can do the stack of undec RS-3s I have
If you are in no hurry, send them my way.
I will be airbrushing in mass again in 3-4 months when the humidity drops. Just diassemble them first. I am not going to break someone else's locmotives. I break enough of my own.
My friends who work at a hobby store here in Utah give me the impression that Rio Grande stuff just sells out fast despite all their best efforts to keep it in stock. Like Colorado, Utah is of course Grande country so its no surprise it has a big following here too. A search for Rio Grande on their website showing their current stock just showed a ton of sold out items. The ScaleTrains SD40T-2's were hot ticket items and really flew off the shelves for them (well a lot of ScaleTrains stuff tends to do that it seems). Also as mentioned before, some product launches are cyclical so while there may have been a big launch of GP30's and SD9's and GP9's all in Rio Grande a few years back, the manufactureres might be holding off for a few more years until they do another massive Grande launch, especially with those ScaleTrains tunnel motors hogging the spotlight right now. At the end of the day, the US model railroad market is a constant game of launch releases and products trying to enter a small market without canabalizing each other. We're not like Britain for example, that only had four major steam railroads for a large chunk of its existance and then one big national line; the US was for most of its history a large patchwork of Class One's and countless regionals and shortlines, only consolidating to a few major railroads within the last twenty-five years or so. Guessing when to release a Rio Grande unit or say a Seaboard Coast Line unit, Canadian National, or Penn Central unit instead is a crazy guessing game the manufacturers have to play constantly. Hit the market the same time as another person releasing Rio Grande you risk damaging both your sales. Hit the market with old tooling (like Athearn's tunnel motors) and you might completely loose the market when a new company (like ScaleTrains hot selling tunnel motor) enters with the same engine with better detailing at a competitve price. Hit the market to late, and the people who wanted to model Rio Grande may have moved onto another railroad due to product availability. Without getting political, just expect the recent US-China tarrifs to mess up that manufacturing/release game even more.So if you don't want to wait and see when the next Rio Grande wave hits, might as well start browsing train shows, swap meets, and eBay listings to see if any of the products from a few years back begin to start entering the market.
xboxtravis7992Hit the market to late, and the people who wanted to model Rio Grande may have moved onto another railroad due to product availability.
If they do that, they aren't real Rio Grande fans, but fair weather fans.
As I mentioned, if someone really want Rio Grande rolling stock, check eBay and train shows. Mostly eBay. It's out there.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761If they do that, they aren't real Rio Grande fans, but fair weather fans.
Fair Weather Railfans?
I wonder how many Santa Fe or Union Pacific modellers would jump ship to another prototype of they did not have an abundance of product to choose from.