Yes, I would vote for the Baldwin BP-20. A manufacturer would have to consider the innate appeal of the engine, plus its connection to the always popular PRR. Those would be strong points in favor. On the other hand, the engine was only bought by PRR, and can only be justified in five basic paint schemes: Brunswick Green with 5 gold stripes on sides only; Same with five stripes extending to the nose; Tuscan Red with 5 dulux stripes; Freight Brunswick with single narrow Dulux stripe; and Tuscan with wide Dulux stripe and large lettering. Would a manufacturer decide this limits the market, or would he decide the market is enhanced by having that many livery options? I guess that decision could go either way.
Tom
Ed, I understand your desire for more heavy duty flatcars, but I still prefer the more common, more numerous cars. I find it amazing that Westerfield kits are the only option for somebody who wants a USRA triple hopper, as used by the thousands on the C&O and NYC. Meanwhile, we have AAR Standard twin offset hoppers by Athearn, Atlas, Accurail, and Kadee (thankfully, the Intermountain offset twin hopper is the Alternate Standard, which is a different car).
Kyle For the doors to look prototypical on a semi trailer, and open 270 degrees, they would have to be very thin and delicate.
For the doors to look prototypical on a semi trailer, and open 270 degrees, they would have to be very thin and delicate.
ACYYes, I would vote for the Baldwin BP-20. A manufacturer would have to consider the innate appeal of the engine, plus its connection to the always popular PRR.
Hi, Tom
Just a few observations about Broadway Limited and "one-of-a-kind" prototypes.
BLI seems to know their PRR market and they seem to work very closely with the PRRT&HS in the production of their models.
These days it seems many of the molds are modular so different options can be made. I have been following Jason Shron at Rapido and Lee English at Bowser in describing the production of their RDC and RS-3, respectively, with regards to all of the road-specific options that have to be accounted for.
So, If BLI has the nose contour and much of the side panel/radiator already worked-up from their "Sharknose" perhaps they can economically turn out a BP20?
They have already done some one-of-a-kinds, such as the S2 turbine and they have the "streamlined" K4, 3768 and the NYC Commodore Vanderbilt 5344 coming down the pipeline.
I assume they (BLI) are sitting on the NYC L-4a Mohawk tooling—which turned out to be a fantastic model—so maybe they could use the drive to produce other classes?
Both the Mohawk and Turbine were brass hybrids. How BLI can produce these in brass, with sound AND painting and lettering and still sell as reasonably as they do is pretty amazing, in my opinion.
Rapido is producing the EP-5 Jet and BLI the PRR P5a, both fairly unique locomotives with a rather limited geographical exposure.
So, I believe there is some hope for folks that are hoping and wishing that their favorite might someday be produced in a "mass appeal" format.
Who would ever have guessed that Bachmann would have made the B&O EM-1?
Road specific, not very many paint schemes, (1) large radius track necessary but, presumably, they sold pretty well! I, for one, am glad they did!
Regards, Ed
Ed, I agree that some of the tooling from the RF16 would probably be adaptable to produce a BP20. In particular, I think the cab, pilot, rear end, and parts of the paneling, exhaust ports, doors, etc. would probably be very helpful. However, the BP20 nose is significantly longer, which means the area between the "snout" and cab would have to be newly formed. The trucks shouldn't be any problem, as they're the same as PA trucks. It's certainly possible. I just don't know how much effort (and expense) would be involved.
By the way, the Bachmann EM-1 is an interesting case. It doesn't look bad on the straightaway, but details can be improved on every version I've seen, and I don't like articulateds that hinge in the wrong place. It can get around an 18" radius, but my Key and Challenger EM-1's can get around 19"! (Of course, they ALL look horrible while they're doing it.)
A reissue of the L-4 Mohawk? I'm all for it. I missed it last time around, and it's my favorite Mohawk.
BLI Centipedes sold well, Why shouldn't the BP-20?
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
steemtrayn BLI Centipedes sold well, Why shouldn't the BP-20?
That's a good point. UP Turbines also have been steady successes, and they were pretty limited in their prototype numbers and range. Only one road ever owned them.
Who wants to see a 2-8-2 Mikado lettered for MKT?
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Or how about MKT Alco PA's in Red/Silver?
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Steven Otte Not a model, but a service: Google Rail View. Like Google Street View, only for trains. They would put cameras on the front of all locomotives. Then we could use Google Earth to get a good look at all the trackside industries we want to model.
Not a model, but a service: Google Rail View. Like Google Street View, only for trains. They would put cameras on the front of all locomotives. Then we could use Google Earth to get a good look at all the trackside industries we want to model.
Most engines have cameras already. Maybe the railroads could sell the videos and replace some of the lost coal revenue.
ATSFGuy Who wants to see a 2-8-2 Mikado lettered for MKT? There's no denying the appeal of Katy steam locomotive architecture. I don't know of a single unattractive loco on the roster. But a correcty Katy Mike from any producer would be a hard order to fill, outside of brass. You might as well ask for a Soo or Monon Mike. Somebody might offer a "typical" 2-8-2, such as a USRA light MIke, in Katy livery; but the overall dimensions, as well as the cab, domes, valve gear, coal fuel, and lots of details would be wrong. Most modern manufacturers don't offer inaccurate liveries, although there are exceptions such as BLI's generic 2-8-0, which is intended to fill the kind of market niche you imply for the Katy 2-8-2. Some of the USRA's that are offered in multiple liveries are a bit of a stretch, since most USRA locos were modified during their service lives. You can wait till somebody does it, but you'll probably get that loco a lot faster by slapping some decals on an available model that's close. Some detail modifications --- especially conversion of the tender to oil --- would go a long way to make the engine believable. You could ask BLI to release their Mike in MKT livery, but you'd be standing in line behind a lot of others with similar requests for steamers of their favorite regional railroad. Your other request for Katy Alco diesels is somewhat similar, but easier to achieve if you are willing to do some painting and decaling. Alternatively, a letter or email to a manufacturer can't hurt. Tom " width="120" height="789" />
There's no denying the appeal of Katy steam locomotive architecture. I don't know of a single unattractive loco on the roster. But a correcty Katy Mike from any producer would be a hard order to fill, outside of brass. You might as well ask for a Soo or Monon Mike. Somebody might offer a "typical" 2-8-2, such as a USRA light MIke, in Katy livery; but the overall dimensions, as well as the cab, domes, valve gear, coal fuel, and lots of details would be wrong. Most modern manufacturers don't offer inaccurate liveries, although there are exceptions such as BLI's generic 2-8-0, which is intended to fill the kind of market niche you imply for the Katy 2-8-2. Some of the USRA's that are offered in multiple liveries are a bit of a stretch, since most USRA locos were modified during their service lives. You can wait till somebody does it, but you'll probably get that loco a lot faster by slapping some decals on an available model that's close. Some detail modifications --- especially conversion of the tender to oil --- would go a long way to make the engine believable. You could ask BLI to release their Mike in MKT livery, but you'd be standing in line behind a lot of others with similar requests for steamers of their favorite regional railroad.
Your other request for Katy Alco diesels is somewhat similar, but easier to achieve if you are willing to do some painting and decaling.
Alternatively, a letter or email to a manufacturer can't hurt.
Loking at both maps for both railroads, Soo and Monon didn't go to Texas, Frisco did.
Outside of Santa Fe, I decided to give the MKT a shot. That's when I fell in love with not just the railroads that went there, but the lone star state itself.
Bob Schuknecht Kyle For the doors to look prototypical on a semi trailer, and open 270 degrees, they would have to be very thin and delicate. I am not interested in operating doors. I would like to see a trailer modeled with the doors in the open position. That would be possible.
I am not interested in operating doors. I would like to see a trailer modeled with the doors in the open position. That would be possible.
If you are going have a trailer backed up against a loading door, you could take a regular trailer modeled with the doors closed, and add doors on the side of the trailer in the open position. Having the back of a dry van open were you could see it would be hard, but all weather doors, or with the back facing the backdrop would be fine. The doors on the side in the open position wiuld create the illustion that the back of the trailer is open.
Just make this whole grinding train - maybe with real sparking action? ;)
-Jon
LakeErieExpress Just make this whole grinding train - maybe with real sparking action? ;)