it always seems odd to me that we don't see certain engines and cars made. These aren't items I would necessarly buy, just items that I am surprised they haven't made yet. Here is my list:
1. N&W cabboose. You can buy a Y3, Y6b, J, A, and K, but you can't buy an accurrate N&W caboose. At least MTH is coming out with passenger cars to go behind the J.
2. Little Joe. Maybe the second most popular electric behind the GG1. With Walthers doing both the Milwaukee Road caboose and Hiawatha passenger set, this seems a natural.
3. DM&IR Yellowstone. Walthers has the ore cars, steel mill buildings, and even a correct caboose they recently announced. Yeah, I know we have a lot of large steam engines, but why not this one instead of another Big Boy or Challenger.
4. SP, UP, or Pennsy 2-8-0. You would think one of these railroad's 2-8-0's would get made. The upside is that you can find brass models of these engine relatively cheaply.
5. Pennsy Broadway Limited set. My guess is that we will see this in the next 2 years.
Eric
Eric:
You're not alone in your surprise, at least as far as several of these items go. Every now and then one of our members posts an "I'd like to see" list and one of the top contenders for big steam is the Missabe Yellowstone. One of the arguments against it is that there were only 18 of them made and they spent their lives on a 'smaller' railroad hauling ore trains. Actually, during the winters of WWII they spent a lot of time on other railroads helping out with power shortages, most notably the Rio Grande, Northern Pacific and Great Northern--rumor has it that they even ran on the eastern portions of the Western Pacific. So they did quite a bit of traveling off of home rails. It was not uncommon to see them hauling freights in the Rockies.
Which kind of punctures the "Universally Popular Big Boy" balloon, since there were only 25 of those, and they spent their entire lives in Utah and Wyoming, LOL!
And yes, there are a LOT of requests for either a Harriman or Pennsy 2-8-0. And you're right, they can be got in brass at relatively decent prices (I've got a jewel of an SP 2-8-0 that didn't cost me much more than a Spectrum). And the Harrimans, at least, are extremely adaptable to other roads.
So at least on these two items, I'm still just as surprised as you are.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
How about a Reading 2-8-0?......They were the biggest of their kind on the planet.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Eric,I disagree with the Little Joe being the 2nd most popular electric behind the GG-1. Historically, I'd say the 2nd most popular electric would be the NH EP-5, if only because both Lionel and American Flyer both made (and still make) EP-5's for the tinplaters. And why not? EP-5's were successful, colorful, powerful, served one of the largest cities in the world, and had a cool nickname (the "Jets") based on their Boeing 707-like cooling blower sound effects. Little Joes have the cool nickname, and were also successful & powerful, but IMHO they were overshadowed out west by the even larger GN W-1's.
These days, one could argue that the No. 2 electric would be the Acela train sets, if only because of the TV and print ads one sees around...and the fact they are the only high speed train in North America and therefore get a lot of press.
I totally agree on the PRR Broadway Limited. If I had to guess, I'd say that would be the next Walthers train set (2011) after the UP trains of 2010.
My list of "surprising snubs" would be:1). FL9's. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm biased. But c'mon... The last F-units ever built, and some were still in revenue service this year, some 50 years after rolling out of LaGrange. They were in a very colorful NH scheme, and were also painted in AMTK, M-N, PC, CR, CDOT, NYC, M-E, M&E, and they are now trickling out to some shortlines, as well. They connected 3 state capitals through some of the most densely populated areas into both New York City stations (NYPenn and GCT). And we NH nuts need FL9's if we're gonna model the mainline after 1955.
2). NH Troop Sleeper conversions by Walthers. Hey, they've done just about everyone else, even B&M. Where's ours?
3). B&M P-4 Pacifics. Sure, Athearn made one for decades, but they haven't made them in decades, either. B&M fans cry in their pillows every night, wishing they had a modern model of this. Heck, there's a real one being restored right now at Steamtown, and they still can't get a decent model of one (not even in brass).
4). Brill 250 Doodlebugs. Why Walthers chose the much more rare EMD doodlebug to make is still an odd decision to me.
5). The SOU 4-6-2 that's in the Smithsonian. And no, the Franklin Mint version doesn't count.
Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
Bachmann used to make a Reading 2-8-0 that was not up to today's standards, but still not bad. You can find them occassionally on places like eBay.
I'm still waiting for an Alco switcher in N scale. The Arnold S-2 has been out of production for several years and it wasn't a good running loco.
Actually, I think Athearn dropped their early stream line some time before I graduated from HS (1964). IIRC, the original Athearn 4-6-2 was announced in 1959. OTOH, I'm old and the memory may be faulty.
Some years ago, I saw a pic of an Athearn that some guy had totally detailed, had replaced the non-prototypical box-poks with spoked drivers and somehow made the thing into a superb runner. In any case, it looked really good. Also saw a pic of one that had a skyline casing installed to make it look like a skyline equipped SP P-10. The original tender had been replaced with a Bowser semi-Vanderbilt.
I actually had an Athearn (the later one with metal drivers) and the one I had wasn't bad. It managed to haul 9 Suydam brass passenger cars on a 1% grade. Unfortunately, I gave it away when I joined the Air Force.
As Pacifics go, the B&M P-4 was a real looker. Much better, IMO, than the Southern Ps-4 and right up there with the Erie K-5a in its most modern form.
Andre
andrechapelon As Pacifics go, the B&M P-4 was a real looker. Much better, IMO, than the Southern Ps-4 and right up there with the Erie K-5a in its most modern form.
ac:
The K-5a was a really elegant creature, like a lot of Erie's steam power was, really. It's almost impossible to find an ugly Pacific, of course.
It's odd that Erie steam seems to lack fans and models, although years ago RMC had plenty of unabashed partisanship. I'm not sure who was responsible for that. They did dieselize earlier than some roads, and maybe that's it.
Bowser makes a 2-8-0 kit and a super detail kit for PRR 2-8-0. Or are you not counting kits?
If you're not a purist, IHC used to have GG1's decorated for a number of roads including the Milwaukee Road. - might find one on eBay
What I don't recall seeing is a narrow vestibule passenger car in any scale. Does anyone know if any of these were ever available? kit or RTR?
Enjoy
Paul
It's almost impossible to find an ugly Pacific, of course.
Wanna bet? Unfortunately, it's a negative, but this is one UGLY Pacific: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/05RRneg/screen/NW200410281616.jpg
And this ain't all that attractive, either: http://www.lner.info/locos/A/a2_2.shtml
IRONROOSTERIf you're not a purist, IHC used to have GG1's decorated for a number of roads including the Milwaukee Road. - might find one on eBay
I'm not a rivet counter by any means, but to have a GG1 painted in MILW is wrong on so many levels, and insulting to both MILW and Pennsy fans.
And concerning the other Pauls comments on the GN Electrics being more popular than a Little Joe, I have yet to see anyone ask for a GN W1, but I have seen many request for a Little Joe. GN had relatively low miles under cantenary, the MILW went half way across Montana into Idaho, and the western half of Washigton (although the Joes stayed in MT) much more miles of prototype to model if need be.Could be the circles I hang with though....
Of course today the Acela would be #1.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
elauterbach 5. Pennsy Broadway Limited set. My guess is that we will see this in the next 2 years.
I certainly hope so. Yes it does indeed surprise me that this has not been produced yet.
elauterbach 1. N&W cabboose. You can buy a Y3, Y6b, J, A, and K, but you can't buy an accurrate N&W caboose. At least MTH is coming out with passenger cars to go behind the J.
Didn't Atlas come out with accurate cupola cabooses? I got one of those and thought those were accurate to what I remember seeing going through Bucyrus, Ohio in the 1980s.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
aloco I'm still waiting for an Alco switcher in N scale. The Arnold S-2 has been out of production for several years and it wasn't a good running loco.
Absolutely right. Probably the most glaring motive power omission in any of the major scales is the lack of a quality S-1/S-3 or S-2/S-4 in N scale.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
American Model Builders makes an N&W CF class caboose; WrightTrak makes kits for 2 others.
Andrechapelon, I'm not sure your namesake would agree with you on either the Gresley Pacific or the negative one! I can see where you are going with the negative, which does appear somewhat disjointed, but the Gresley designs were considered distinguished by many. And Andre Chapelon's creations were up there too, in the pantheon of steam.
My favorite loco among the missing is a >79" driver Atlantic, as used by plenty of roads nearly to the end of steam. They are uniquely suited to model railroads, most of which cannot accommodate long trains. Not sure I want to go the E6s route with a fleabay Bowser, now that they are out of production. I have my hands full with their T1. My first HO steamer was an Aristo Craft C&NW 4-4-2, which took to the 15", 18", and 13" curves on my "pike" back in the days of yore. Drivers were supposed to be 81", but were actually 76", and boy, did they wobble. Unfortunately it succumbed to creeping Zamak cracks.
How about some C&NW steamers? The C&NW had track in the spotch I want to model my freelance in but I can't find anything for C&NW steamers to base my trains from.
That's not, strictly speaking, a Gresley. although the boiler is in the Gresley pattern. The A2/2 was designed by Edward Thompson, Gresley's successor. An attempt was made to address the shortcomings of the Gresley gear, but unfortunately that meant that the inside cylinder had to drive the first axle rather than the second as on a true Gresley design.
A.H. Peppercorn, Thompson's successor, revised the Thompson A2 variant design to produce the Peppercorn A2, which has a more conventional appearance and also uses Walschaert valve gear on all 3 cylinders.
http://www.lner.info/locos/A/a2peppercorn.shtml
Peppercorn's most famous locos were the Peppercorn A1's http://www.lner.info/locos/A/a1peppercorn.shtml which also utilze Walchaert gear on all 3 cylinders
There were 49 Peppercorn A1's built in the late 1940's.
The 50th (60163 "Tornado") was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and first steamed last year.
Video of 60163 in shop grey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0w06rSXTYg
60163 King's Cross to York excursion earlier this year. Repainted into early BR livery: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baQmgn1bxuA&feature=fvw
Now THAT's a beautiful Pacific.
I had the good luck to ride behind ex LMS #6201 "Princess Elizabeth" in 2002. The Brits know how to run steam excursions.
They obviously know how to scratchbuild steam locos in 1:1 scale.
Well, that is informative!
My only brush with Thompson has been a B2 4-6-0 in 3/4" to the foot scale, a rebuild of an earlier B17 for Royal Train working. Name: Royal Sovereign. A fast, free-steamer with more speed than anyone dared (160 scale MPH, 10 MPH actual) on the high lines of various live steam clubs throughout the Northeast US. But in traffic, not an easy engine to fire, with the stop and go and the erratic draft. I recall a 1" scale PRR G5s with a boiler like a tree trunk bearing down on me from behind as I blew up steam with the blower.
The live steamer was entered almost by accident in an NMRA contest, and was beaten out of first place by an HO electric steamer that had "more complete" brake rigging, nevermind that the brake rigging on the Royal Sovereign actually worked! (steam actuated on the engine, hand cranked on the tender). I never rode behind steam in England, but I did have some other steam adventures there years ago. You are fortunate to have done so.
MILW-RODR How about some C&NW steamers? The C&NW had track in the spotch I want to model my freelance in but I can't find anything for C&NW steamers to base my trains from.
Thats a good idea. I always liked the C&NW, at model shops, even their diesels are viewed as obscure. Its a fine railroad though.
Bowser may still have some Pennsy H-9 Consolidation kits in stock. There are detail kits. coal loads, etc also available. I got one a couple of months ago and have a G-5 ten wheller on back order. Check their in stock price list once you have the stock numbers. The crew and cab backing plate will have to be ordered as seperate pieces. They just finished a Pennsy 060 switcher kit. A couple may still be available.
elauterbach it always seems odd to me that we don't see certain engines and cars made. These aren't items I would necessarly buy, just items that I am surprised they haven't made yet. Here is my list:
These "howcum" topics inevitably morph into a "wish list" topic but a good point is nevertheless raised and boils down to a singular issue: why do the manufacturers elect to produce "other" models and not produce the one I desire? And I will admit that this really defies a definitive answer! At some time the board of, say, Athearn sits down around the board room table and raises issues of the future: Where are we going from here? What is our next offering going to be? Will it be a new offering or should we resurrect a past offering and offer it in different paint schemes? Sales appear to be lagging on our _________________ offering--should we drop it from our current production or continue production and offer new paint schemes? Will that increase sales? These decisions are going to effect Athearn's bottom line for a year or two into the future.
The marketing philosophy of any company is going to be: WHAT WILL SELL? And I think you will agree that, except for those individuals who say "Well, my road never really used those but I've gotta have one anyway" there are some things which are so corporately unique that they are going to have little marketing appeal to the majority of modelers. A case in point are Cab Forwards. These are naturally going to appeal to the Sufferin' Pathetic crowd and it would be reasonable to presume that the majority of sales will be made to that group. Most of the remainder will sell to that "just gotta have one" crowd. Unless that's you I question whether there is going to be much beyond exotic appeal for articulated locomotives on the St Louis, Omaha, and Sioux City Railroad or on the Beaverville and Missouri River Railway. This same reasoning would hold true for Milwaukee's famous Little Joe Electric locomotives; unless you are modeling the Milwaukee's Pacific Extension or I've-just-gotta-have-one then this is likely to be a rather limited seller and management, I am sure, would c*ck--I can't put an "o" in there because the edit program interprets that as a euphemism for the male pudendum; stupid isn't it?I discovered a couple of years ago that identifying a female canine elicits the same idiotic response--an eyebrow contemplating its marketability. Except for the Arnold model observe how long it took N-Scale to acquire a GG1 and the number of PRR modelers are, I am equally sure, far exceeds the number of Pacific Extension Milwaukee modelers.
I have absolutely no idea what
an accurrate(sp) N&W caboose
The DM&IR Yellowstone is one of those locomotives on my N-Scale wish list; I am a diesel modeler but that M-4, along with some other big lokes, if offered in N-Scale at an affordable price and as a halfway decent runner, could drive me into the loving arms of the transition era. There is a myth about steam which seems to be perpetuated here on the forum that myth being we all want to model steam. I don't have any exact figures substantiating what I am about to say but I don't think that the majority of modelers active in the hobby today have had any exposure to steam other than observing locomotives in excursion service. Admittedly UP has staged various hokum photo-ops of 3985 lugging a string of double-stacks over Sherman but, as I stated, that is all hokum. I do remember the steam engine--I am 69--but my interest in railroading from a hobby standpoint dates from a date when the steam locomotive had long since departed from the Class I scene. My interest in modeling mainly grew out of my interest in railroad History. There are some younger modelers who have a powerful interest in modeling the steam era and there will always be those with that interest but I think that manufacturers realize that today's technology centers on the internal combustion engine and 50' cars and piggyback and stacks. When a new offering is made, whether of a diesel locomotive, or a well-car, or a 53' trailer and that--opinion--is where the primary modeling interest is circa 2009.
And addressing the issue of Harriman-boiler or Belpaire firebox lokes: I don't know the exact status of the old Roundhouse line of MDC zamac boiler kits but they were provided in both Harriman boiler and Belpair firebox and at least provided a starting point for superdetailed conversions.
There is one thing that does bother me and which is an extension of your posting: unless it was offered way back in the stone age of model railroading--at least HO-Scale post-WWII model railroading--it is completely beyond me why manufacturers have singularly neglected offering a Santa Fe 1950 class Consolidation which is the most popular brass model locomotive ever imported.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Even more than an Uncle John 1950 class Consolidation I would like to see a Zulu! This is another of those models that seems to have been confined to brass imports.
andrechapelon It's almost impossible to find an ugly Pacific, of course. Wanna bet? Unfortunately, it's a negative, but this is one UGLY Pacific: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/imagebase/05RRneg/screen/NW200410281616.jpg And this ain't all that attractive, either: http://www.lner.info/locos/A/a2_2.shtml Andre
I stand corrected. Of course, both of those are hacked rebuilds, and Thompson's monstrosity started out as a very handsome Gresley P2 Mikado before he butchered it!
The other one wouldn't look so bad, if not for those hideous cylinders. What on earth were they thinking? The loco has outside valve gear, so why incline them so severely, and why bring the exhaust through that weird bend? Whose loco is this, anyway? Is it a N&W Pacific of some type?
A point not often truly addressed/appropriately criticize is the outlook adopted recently by most manufacturers that they are only interested in selling high dollar, essentially "collectible" locomotives, when it comes to steam. This translates into doing only very large locomotives from the biggest named roads and offering them at top dollar. This approach becomes highly counterproductive when considering steam for 2nd class railroads, or small steam in general, since the manufacturers understand that they won't sell well in the marketplace if priced at $300-$500. I was told straight out at the NTS by a major manufacturer's rep that they had no future interest in producing small/moderate-sized steam locomotives at other than top dollar prices.
Concerning another matter, I tend to find it amusing that some of the above posters bemoan the fact that their favorite, relatively obscure, engine hasn't be done. Look around for representative steam from any of the Anthracite Roads. Here are a whole host of railroads with well known names, a wide diversity of locomotives by size and type yet quite similar design, that have been virtually without any accurate representative steam models (outside of brass) for years, the BLI Reading T-1 being the main exception. And they are popular railroads among actual modelers in the northeastern states. Nevertheless, you are not going to find hords of these folks that are willing to run out and pay $500 a shot for such mostly quite modest-sized models. Those are collector prices and you can have custombuilt, exact replicas made for that price!
CNJ831
Nevertheless, you are not going to find hords of these folks that are willing to run out and pay $500 a shot for such mostly quite modest-sized models. You can have custombuilt, exact replicas made for that price!
Checked Eddystone's prices lately? Most go for more than $500. In fact, most go for $700 or more with DCC and sound being extra.
Just as a ferinstance, the Reading P7sb 4-4-2 goes for a base price of $700.
Here's the order form: http://www.eddystonelocomotives.com/orderform15.htm
Don't take my word for it. Here's Eddystone's home page: http://www.eddystonelocomotives.com/
Eddystone's product list: http://www.eddystonelocomotives.com/products.htm
Eddystone's order list page: http://www.eddystonelocomotives.com/howtoorder.htm
BTW, if you want a Rutland K2 Pacific, it starts at $800. Optional equipment extra and no discounts from mail order houses. http://www.eddystonelocomotives.com/orderform23.htm
andrechapelon Nevertheless, you are not going to find hords of these folks that are willing to run out and pay $500 a shot for such mostly quite modest-sized models. You can have custombuilt, exact replicas made for that price! CNJ831 Checked Eddystone's prices lately? Most go for more than $500. In fact, most go for $700 or more with DCC and sound being extra. Just as a ferinstance, the Reading P7sb 4-4-2 goes for a base price of $700.
Indeed, Andre, Eddystone's prices have shot up dramatically over the past couple of years, to the point that they are double now what he was charging not awfully long ago.
However, Eddystone is by no means the only game in town and I'm aware of other, perhaps less well known builders, willing to custom build the locos in question for the ~$500 price charged for the latest MTH offerings. There are also custom RE-builders of older brass models out there providing better and likely more accurate models (relative to what MTH is likely to offer in the way of a ten-wheeler camelback) for prices in the same neighborhood.
The negative is of an N&W E class Pacific. According to steamlocomotive.com they were retired between 1934 and 1939.
N scale is still lacking a USRA or similar 4-6-0. Astonishing, considering how many real ones were in use throughout a large portion of steam's history. The Fleischmann model is a no-go. First, it came out in 1972, so it's pertty low quality by todays standards. It also has huge flanges, and it's hard to find anymore. And the brass version thats out there (same model by several different manufacturers) is not that great either, but at least it's good and expensive!
For that matter, lots of other steam is missing in N scale.
How about a decent Decapod? No, the Minitrix model doesn't count. First, it's old technology (huge flanges, improper proportions, lackluster or flat out wrong details). I'm not a rivit counter or anything, but I'd kinda like my steam pipes to come somewhere near the cylinders for example.
What about an Atlantic? Virtually non-existant.....thats a shame!
How about ANY mother hubbard? Nope, it's not going to happen.
Three Truck Shay? Nadda, zip, zilch, zippo, outa luck.
And people say that N scale isn't a scratchbuilders scale.........it is if you want any of these loco's!
Generalities and unsubstantiated claims of expertise cut no ice with me. I've provided specifics, how about you do the same by providing the names of some of these "well known" builders willing to do it for $500? Or are you just going to mouth generalities? Why do I ask rhetorical questions?
One re-builder I'm aware of is DTA Models (Dave Ayers). His rate, on his website, is $25/hour. OTOH, his website doesn't appear to have been updated since May, 2007. 'Course, if you're going to supply him a loco to fix up for you, you first have to buy the thing and probably have to spend at least $200 unless you get a real basket case.
You never know. I might like to have one of these bargain basement custom builders build me a Southern Pacific P-6 4-6-2. It shouldn't be too hard to do since they were built to the same plans as UP's Harriman Heavy Pacifics and it's just a matter of taking one of the brass UP models, shortening the smoke box, finding a proper 90R-1 tender , stripping the boiler and re-piping it, altering the cab, making sure the mechanism is smooth and quiet, etc. I've even seen one done just that way. I doubt it could be done for less than $8-900 (without sound and DCC), but I'm willing to be proven wrong.
But maybe that's not fair. A Bowser K4 or Mantua chassis probably could be used, although it would be a compromise. I could probably get a Mantua for $50 or less, with a Bowser K4 going for a bit more. The P-6 had 77" drivers. Greenway has them and it would only be $54 for a trio of wheel sets (plus shipping of course). The boiler would have to either be scratched from brass or a resin casting made (who knows, someone else might want one). Naturally, we'd want a smooth mechanism, so a Helix Humper would probably be in order. That's $40 plus shipping. We need a brass trailing truck. Greenway's got a Hodges for $45, but the 31010 PSC kit is listed at $12.25 in the PSC catalog. However, the catalog I have is probably 10 years old. Cal-Scale is supposed to have a trailing truck, but it's not in the price list. A Hodges isn't really correct, but it'll have to do unless I want to pay for a scratchbuilt one.
What have we got so far? Let's say $40 for a Mantua Pacific, $40 for a Helix Humper, $54 for a set of 77" drivers. Let's split the difference between Greenway and PSC on the trailing truck and call it $27. By my reckoning, we've already got $161 in. I've got a Harriman cab from MDC. Not brass quality, but we're trying to save our money here and I can mail it to the builder. OK, we need a 90R-1 tender. Those aren't that easy to come by unless there's a locomotive attached (like, say, a Westside P-1 in 1915 profile). Well there's always scratchbuilding, so I need to figure out how much brass and/or styrene sheet is going to set me (or rather this mythical custom builder) back. Oh yeah, I need tender trucks. The closest I can find to SP's are from Greenway at $22.50/pr. Greenway's not cheap. They want $18 for what looks to me like the right size smokebox front. Best go with a PSC 3072 ($3 in catalog) since the Greenway includes a (wrong) headlight, headlight bracket and bell. Let's call it $200 in cost to date, including the materials for the tender.
Now things get really interesting. We need parts. Lots and lots of parts. Pyle headlight with visor and associated bracket. Generator. SP style stack. Corrugated pilot (this is post war). Train indicators. Blowdown spreaders, whistle, pop valves and bell. Lifting injectors and vertical check valves. Power reverse. Air compressor. Piping brackets and maybe some assorted unions, elbows and tees. Brake hangers and shoes. We need to change the cylinder saddle casting over to Alligator crossheads and we need a proper style valve gear hanger (PSC #3292 looks close for this engine) and we're assuming the Mantua valve gear can be used. We need brass sheet for the boiler (I insist on it). Now that I think of it, I want #2454 to look like it did prior to the removal of the Worthington BL FWH, so we're going to need one of those, or rather the PSC kit which includes various other parts. Oh yeah, we need wire of different sizes for various pipe runs. Near as I can figure without painstakingly looking up each part price, we've just added at least another $100 (and I'm assuming that some of the piping wire and brass sheet is on hand and that full packs won't be used for the locomotive). Rats. Then there's decals and couplers. There's probably some other stuff I forgot.
We've got over $300 in material already. What the heck, let's round down to $300. OK, let's assume this guy only charged $25/hour for his highly skilled labor. In order to get me my locomotive, he's got to build, paint and test the thing in 8 hours, which includes a scratchbuilt tender because a brass 90R-1 is going to cost probably around $80-100 if one can be found loose.
Now if this guy is a custom builder, I would think he'd be able to do resin casting and would want to be able to reproduce the boiler and tender so he could make some for other people and that would lower the overall cost. However, even taking that into account, I don't think I'd be able to get an SP P-6 for $500 from a custom builder either as a brass rebuild or using a Mantua or Bowser chassis as a base.
Please prove me wrong. Find me a custom builder who will build me a P-6 for $500. It doesn't have to have DCC and sound, just be DCC ready.
Specifics, dude, specifics. No more vague generalities.