How do I approach a model train manufactrer to create a speial run?
Pushing a wheelbarrow full of money.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN Pushing a wheelbarrow full of money.
Hockessin Railroader How do I approach a model train manufactrer to create a speial run?
What is it that you are wanting to propose to them?
Athearn use to make special runs of paint schemes for cars or locomotives they already made. If your club wanted a run of boxcars with your name on them they would do it at a reasonable price. They also have done containers and truck trailers. Try contacting them through their website.
Here is a refer I bought from the Pasadena club when I visited their Sierra Pacific layout at an open house about 15 years ago. I added some graffiti to it.
If you wanted something from another manufacturer you can ask them.
Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Athearn use to make special runs of paint schemes for cars or locomotives they already made. If your club wanted a run of boxcars with your name on them they would do it at a reasonable price. They also have done containers and truck trailers. Try contacting them through their website. Here is a refer I bought from the Pasadena club when I visited their Sierra Pacific layout at an open house about 15 years ago. I added some graffiti to it. If you wanted something from another manufacturer you can ask them.
were those actually produced by Athearn or were they Athearn kits repainted by an aftermarket company like Bev-Bel?
to the forum. Your posts are delayed in moderation for a while.
In the old days there were always listings of MR Clubs' boxcar or whatever in MR. Few and far between these days.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
For special runs, you would probably have the best results with Bowser, they do a lot of that kind of thing.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
If you have decals, you can get "brown" boxcars with data only, from Accurail. Other car types have other colors, like grey for covered hoppers. You'd have to supply the roadname & any graphics. Obviously won't work if the special run you're interested in would be in a different color.
The best thing to do is select your favorite manufacturers and approach them directly, preferably by old-fashioned "snail mail." At this point in time a hard-copy letter in a traditional business format is going to attract more attention than an e-mail will, most probably are blitzed with e-mails and yours might get lost in the shuffle. DO put your e-mail address in the letter for a quicker response if they choose to contact you that way.
If you can approach them as a representative of a modeler's club, the larger and more prominent so much the better. If your club has a newsletter enclose a copy for added impact, and if the club has a website show that as well.
Bear in mind they'll need to produce a certain quantity to make it worth their while and handful isn't going to do it. At least 75 or more typically are needed for a special run. For example I belong to the Virginia Train Collectors Association and MTH produced a special O Gauge club car for us but the order was for 85 cars.
Don't be surprised if the cost is higher than regular production pieces. Be flexible, and don't take a refusal as an insult. It CAN be done.
Good luck!
Hello All,
to the forums.
Your first few posts will be moderated so there will be a delay in seeing them.
What type of "special run" are you thinking about?
Locomotive; diesel or steam, rolling stock, structure?
Often times clubs/organizations/museums will have special runs produced for them in their livery and sell them to the public.
Without knowing what you are specifically looking for it is a difficult question to answer.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
There's two wildly different answers. The one is if "special run" means of an existing product (which I am presuming it is) and another is if "special run" requires tooling. The later isn't impossible. Witness the Rapido BART release for that one. I'd presume that an out of production, but once available, car might have more in common with the second kind.
But the first? Accurail, Bowser, and Tangent have done it. Accurail tells you everything you need to know right here: http://www.accurail.com/accurail/custom.htm Accurail is pretty common these days for custom runs. I have no idea what premium they charge for setting up the art work. I'd imagine that it varies a bit based on complexity and what you can supply them with.
Why not call and ask? If they say "no," find another place.
The Accurail "48 cars or more" order form as a PDF:
http://www.accurail.com/accurail/48cars/48cars.pdf
dbduck Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Athearn use to make special runs of paint schemes for cars or locomotives they already made. If your club wanted a run of boxcars with your name on them they would do it at a reasonable price. They also have done containers and truck trailers. Try contacting them through their website. Here is a refer I bought from the Pasadena club when I visited their Sierra Pacific layout at an open house about 15 years ago. I added some graffiti to it. If you wanted something from another manufacturer you can ask them. were those actually produced by Athearn or were they Athearn kits repainted by an aftermarket company like Bev-Bel?
Both - Athearn has done lots of special runs. I have hopper cars done for the Severna Park Model Railroad Club way back in the late 70's.
Not sure if they are still willing to do that work.
Athearn also sold undecorated kits in bulk to lots of companies who decorated them and sold them, BevBel, Karline, Bowser, Greenway Products and many others.
Today Accurail and Bowser are both open to custom runs last I heard.
Sheldon
Pretty sure it was printed by Athearn. I have several Bev-Bel cars and they all have a Bev-Bel Corp. sticker on the end of the box. This box had no label or printing on the end of the box but had hand written Sierra Pacific Reefer and the number. It was in the standard Athearn blue box with the steam loco on the top.
The club also had a different car that was made by Intermountain.
There is a gentleman on this site which is a member of the club. He might know more about it than I do.
Overmod The Accurail "48 cars or more" order form as a PDF: http://www.accurail.com/accurail/48cars/48cars.pdf wordle
http://www.accurail.com/accurail/48cars/48cars.pdf wordle
Create a proposal that outlines what you would like to create, how many pieces you need, what features you want, and any other specifications that you think are important. Be clear and concise in your proposal so that the manufacturer knows exactly what you are looking for.
Atlas used to offer this.