General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Jacktal:

How come we never hear of such engines in N scale?Sure would save to get one....well...I'll keep on dreaming....for a long long time I guess.

If you like steam locomotives instensely, maybe you chose the wrong scale.

Mark

selector:

This is not going to be very welcome news for many of you, but BLI has the Q2 listed for delivery late this year!  That was the 4-4-6-4 Duplex which was the most powerful non-articulated steamer every produced. 

I bet BLI will turn it into an articulated, even doubly articulated.  Anyone dare to challenge that opinion?

Mark

blownout cylinder:

Paul3:

Barry,
How many switchers do you want?  Proto 2000 already has made several runs of 0-8-0's & 0-6-0's.  Spectrum has decent 0-6-0T's, and Mantua has 0-6-0T's and 0-6-0 Camelbacks.  What's the problem?

Paul A. Cutler III
*******************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*******************

All kinds----look. If large loco collectors can have their fun---eccentrics like moi should be allowed ours!!

So there-----HHAAAARRRUUUMPH

Moi? Is that French? (Canadian?)

Crandell must be thrilled! THIS news on O-Canada Day!

There's no doubt in my military mind, Mark. They'd sell one out of very four if they listed it for 26" or above, and even then it would have to be doubly articulated. 

I am curious how BLI will treat the blast pipes on their version of the UP 9000's.

loathar, I have to admit that the description and specs is mighty intriguing.  I am just afraid how many burgers I'm going to have to flip to get one.

-Crandell

selector:

I am curious how BLI will treat the blast pipes on their version of the UP 9000's.

I'm afraid to ask.

Crandell-I like mine rare with mayo, catsup, and lettuse. Let me know how many I must consume for you to reach your lofty goal!

PS-At least it's not another 2-10-2!

Gosh, they only made 25 of this type and they operated no longer than 7 years (not past 1951).  Powerful? Yes.  Successful? Marginally.

Mark

 Does that finally mean, that we will always see MTH and BLI releasing the same loco into the market?

If my memory does not play tricks on me, the PRR Q2 was already available from MTH some time ago.

Edit: 

- I goofed, it was in O scale!

 well... not for me...

i doubt the box would fit in this closet they call an apartment .

At least I was able to get my hands (hopefully) on a (very) few of the last-run locos out of Bowser....  

andrechapelon:

Yes, it probably will look very much like that 4-12-2 articulated abomination MTH recently put out. That was a classic example of turning a scale model into a toy train.

CNJ831

And why, pray tell, would this (the Q2) be a case of pandering to a collector of scale locomotives as you stated earlier?

You're right, the MTH UP 9000 is an abomination. No collector in his right mind would want one of those, so how do collectors end up being targets of misplaced outrage?

Andre

Here is where the collector market really gets funny

The thing to note here is the Novelty of the train. I know of at least 6 people up here who got all excited about the dang Q2 only because of the "Wild idea that it should do a 22" curve!!" And they propose to buy it!

Right mind? I'll say this. After working in the antiques field as long as I have, I do not estimate the ability of a collector to use that right mind. If they love what they see---out comes the wallet

markpierce:

selector:

This is not going to be very welcome news for many of you, but BLI has the Q2 listed for delivery late this year!  That was the 4-4-6-4 Duplex which was the most powerful non-articulated steamer every produced. 

I bet BLI will turn it into an articulated, even doubly articulated.  Anyone dare to challenge that opinion?

Mark

Articulated? Knowing that some have already argued for this----I'll be watching for boiler overhangs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BTW--Loather: Moi, is sorta French--Canadian. And I'm being a satirical guy there----heeheehee

Snooze.

Wake me for a USEFUL steam model.....

orsonroy:

Snooze.

Wake me for a USEFUL steam model.....

What would that be, then?

If we don´t tell the industry, how should they know? As you all know, a good marketing person sells freezers to the Innuit...

Seriously, most leading European model railroading magazines conduct a poll each year, which is taken seriuos by the industry - it is not a "dream list", where you can enter just any crazy idea, but it is categorized and channelled "a little". It helps to reduce double developments, like we see from MTH and BLI.

Btw, Barry, Marklin´s famous Class 44 2-10-0 was "articulated", having a split, but linked frame - they still do that with their bigger steamers, so they can negotiate that infamous 14" radius!

andrechapelon:

Yes, it probably will look very much like that 4-12-2 articulated abomination MTH recently put out. That was a classic example of turning a scale model into a toy train.

CNJ831

And why, pray tell, would this (the Q2) be a case of pandering to a collector of scale locomotives as you stated earlier?

You're right, the MTH UP 9000 is an abomination. No collector in his right mind would want one of those, so how do collectors end up being targets of misplaced outrage?

Andre

The HO collector of today is not synonymous in interests with the brass collectors of the past. The latter wanted absolute accuracy in their models and models of all sizes. The great majority of today's HO collectors just want big, unusual and generally impressive-looking items. That these engines also make noise and blow smoke like the Lionel toy trains of yore is to them a plus. The absurdity of MTH's 4-12-2, articulated and split at the steam pipes from the cylinders, is a perfect example of accuracy not mattering to modern collectors. Undoubtedly, the new BLI offering will have to go much the same totally unrealistic route to operate on 22" radii.

The prices also clearly put these models in the collector's arena, rather than as models for the general layout operator. The situation was not a significant problem in the past, when brass manufacturers were separate from those making locomotives for the actual model railroad hobbyist. But now it is the source of modelers' engines that are increasingly turning to the collector market and away from the general hobbyist for their customers. I can appreciate the manufacturers' position of a search for profit but it becomes yet another factor slowly choking out the real model railroaders of the hobby.  

CNJ831

CNJ831:

[ I can appreciate the manufacturers' position of a search for profit but it becomes yet another factor slowly choking out the real model railroaders of the hobby.  

CNJ831

Truth, nothing but the truth - that is very well describing what we see in good old Europe for some years now - locos in the price range of 500  - 1,000 $, limited runs only, and when you have finally saved up ´nuff cash, there gone!

One of the reason I gave up modeling European prototype...

... and certainly also the reason why all of the European makers had financial problems in the past.