Jim T.
Here's a 19000 series caboose I built (styrene plastic kit) by Waterlevel Models.
The kit was a BEAR to assemble. I came close to throwing it against a brick wall. Will NOT be building another.
John.
Here's my wish list and I'm not holding my breath for any of them...
Walthers to paint their Northeast Caboose (old P2K model) in Reading steam era scheme.
BLI or someone to do Reading steam era offset side hoppers. Then offer them in multiple road numbers. The Kadee model is nice but they only have offer one road number.
Same for Reading steam era steel boxcars. I am building up a fleet of F&C resin kits, but a painted styrene model sounds superb. I prefer RTR but kits would be just fine.
Bowser to do the passenger version of the Reading AS16. As well as additional road numbers of the Reading AS16.
I'd like it if BLI decides to retool their Reading T1 model to have a diecast metal boiler and tender. Plus more wire and metal details. Plus get rid of the smoke units. Such a model would pull long, heavy freight trains ala the prototype. No smoke units would make for a bit more reliable model too. DC-only versions that allow people to choose their own decoders sounds great to me too.
Alvie
JOHN C TARANTO Jim T. Here's a 19000 series caboose I built (styrene plastic kit) by Waterlevel Models. The kit was a BEAR to assemble. I came close to throwing it against a brick wall. Will NOT be building another. John
John
VERY nicely done, John.
I have five of those Waterlevel Models NYC caboose kits in my closet that need assembly. What did you find to be the most challenging aspect assemblying them? I thought that the background information included with the assembly instructions was very informative.
John, perhaps in order to not detract from the direction of the thread, could you PM your response instead of posting it here? Thanks!
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
oldline1It's hard to understand the rathionale behind a companies decision to produce something. Squeeky wheels? Owner's priority? Ability to use parts from a similar item they already make and save some big bucks? Who knows.
I had pretty good sucess with providing documentation and asking nicely, then patiently waiting 2 months. I got a reply and a product added to a manufacturers line. It fell within the realm of product already in manufacturer's line, new paint scheme was an easy addition.
I will probably have to wait a year or two to get them, but it was not the highest priority for me.
oldline1 ATLANTIC CENTRAL Roger, It matters not how good the European models are if a person is not interested in them - I'm not, not to any degree that would get my wallet out. Sheldon, I understand and wasn't trying to convert you or anything. I model Western Maryland and have a smattering of many other roads. I was just trying to point out they have some fine RTR models and kits over there. DJH has 2 US engines that we might want to explore as new additions to our rosters. People lament the loss of the lousy Mantua and Bowser kits. Well, here are 2 American prototype designed and built 2-8-0 engines produced as fine kits in the UK. The Roco is an RTR US engine that many here would be interested in having too. A much higher quality engine than any Spectrum, Athearn or MTH engine I've seen. No pressure or demands to buy them just information for those who may be interested and not be familiar with them. Roger Huber Deer Creek Locomotive Works
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Roger, It matters not how good the European models are if a person is not interested in them - I'm not, not to any degree that would get my wallet out.
Sheldon,
I understand and wasn't trying to convert you or anything. I model Western Maryland and have a smattering of many other roads. I was just trying to point out they have some fine RTR models and kits over there. DJH has 2 US engines that we might want to explore as new additions to our rosters. People lament the loss of the lousy Mantua and Bowser kits. Well, here are 2 American prototype designed and built 2-8-0 engines produced as fine kits in the UK. The Roco is an RTR US engine that many here would be interested in having too. A much higher quality engine than any Spectrum, Athearn or MTH engine I've seen.
No pressure or demands to buy them just information for those who may be interested and not be familiar with them.
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
Roger,
I assume you are refering to the USATC S-159 (DJH) and S-160 (Roco) 2-8-0s. While the prototype locomotives were designed and, at least some of them, built in the US, they were intended specifically for use in Europe. After WWII, only a few ended up in the US, some in Alaska and a few in Army bases. While these models (especially the Roco S-160) are beautiful, I do not see a wide appeal for US modelers.
doctorwayne Mheetu Might be a long shot but i wouldn't mind seeing some 4-8-0 either in late 1800's or 20th century versions You mean something like this? Wayne
Mheetu Might be a long shot but i wouldn't mind seeing some 4-8-0 either in late 1800's or 20th century versions
Might be a long shot but i wouldn't mind seeing some 4-8-0 either in late 1800's or 20th century versions
You mean something like this?
Wayne
yea kind of like that but i was more thinking of the old Mantua ones also
Well, the other 2-8-0 is the Pershing 2-8-0 of WW I vintage. Many were used in the US and found their way to various shortlines. The S-160 was the WW II version of that military 2-8-0. They were produced for use in the Europen area but I think enough stayed here to create an interest. Lots of folks remember them and saw/rode/worked on them at Ft. Eustis and were exposed through the Alaska RR and other places. I understand they weren't in the same popularity realm of the N&W J or Pig Boys but there are a lot of freelance modelers looking for smaller engines to run. Both of those engines serve that purpose.
The Alaska RR is nearing completion on the restoration of their S-160 #557 and the GSMR has the #1702 running again. Many people see restored engines and want one so there is a portion of folks interested in the models too. There has been mention in several posts here about the N&W #475 that people enjoyed at Strasburg. Models of D&RGW narrow gauge equipment sells like crazy when tourist season opens in Colorado/New Mexico every year.
Even many Ma&Pa modelers want an S-160 to run since the US Army and Franklin Equipment Co. converted the #2628 (later #611) to use Franklin rotary poppet valve gear and tested it on the Ma&Pa for almost 2 years before it went to Ft. Eustis.
Re: the Krauss-Maffei ML-4000...
Mel - that's a pretty neat Athearn/Rivarossi kitbash you've got there. If I get desperate enough and don't have a ton of other modeling projects on the list, I might have to give that a try.
BMMECNYC The lack of variety of road names and numbers severly limits manufacturers. Most manufacturers wont run something in plastic with very narrow appeal.
The lack of variety of road names and numbers severly limits manufacturers. Most manufacturers wont run something in plastic with very narrow appeal.
Two words: "Big Boy"
More words: DDA40X, UP's Gas Turbines
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
JOHN C TARANTO Here's two that are on my wish list. Both have been offered in brass (HO scale) but not in plastic. New York Central class H-10b 2-8-2 Mikado New York Central class L-2a 4-8-2 Mohawk *Both photos courtesy Richard Leonard's Steam Locomotive Archive As I have mentioned in another thread, I would love to see Broadway Limited Imports produce either or both of these. I believe both would be popular models.
Here's two that are on my wish list. Both have been offered in brass (HO scale) but not in plastic.
New York Central class H-10b 2-8-2 Mikado
New York Central class L-2a 4-8-2 Mohawk
*Both photos courtesy Richard Leonard's Steam Locomotive Archive
As I have mentioned in another thread, I would love to see Broadway Limited Imports produce either or both of these. I believe both would be popular models.
Would also like to see manufacturers offer cars painted and lettered, but not numbered. Include some decals for that so modelers could easily build a fleet with a minimum of painting or decaling work. Walthers did this with their Proto line of passenger cars and it was(is?) great!
Mike
I sent you a PM.
Believe Me, every road out there is someone's favorite.
Seaboard System has a good fanbase, so make some more Family Lines and L&N U-boats, I'll take an M5 Steel Caboose in Grey/Red/Yellow.
How about that Unique GE BQ23-7? I think Atlas should release a new run with at least two numbers and make them DC/DCC Ready.
The Seaboard has appeal, It's out there.
ATSFGuy Believe Me, every road out there is someone's favorite. Seaboard System has a good fanbase, so make some more Family Lines and L&N U-boats, I'll take an M5 Steel Caboose in Grey/Red/Yellow. How about that Unique GE BQ23-7? I think Atlas should release a new run with at least two numbers and make them DC/DCC Ready. The Seaboard has appeal, It's out there.
It may have appeal, but it doesn't sell, which is why the importers do not make much in Seaboard, ACL, L&N etc. If it sold out quickly then they would make more, Bowser is using the SCL C-430's as parts supply for the other railroads that bought C-430's that sold out.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
When It comes to model railroading, it's like less than 10-15% of certain roadnames sell and the rest are ignored.
There's a number of locomotives and cars to draw from, but it's a shame the manufacturers continue to release the same road names into the ground.
BTW, Santa Fe had some U-boats, C30-7's and the SF30C, but I have yet to see Atlas release any!
I'm done ranting, I feel better now.
If Atlas did a new release, I'll gladly take two Seaboard System BQ23-7's.
Maybe a pair of Atlas L&N B23-7's while I'm at it.
ATSFGuy If Atlas did a new release, I'll gladly take two Seaboard System BQ23-7's. Maybe a pair of Atlas L&N B23-7's while I'm at it.
Atlas never made a BQ23-7, those were by Botchmann, which is why you will never see any, we had them at our shop and could not give them away!
ATSFGuyC33-7
C33-7? Must be a rebuild. How's about a C32-8? (ready to go...not the RailPower do it yourself variety)
stokesdaTwo words: "Big Boy" More words: DDA40X, UP's Gas Turbines
Yep, all UP models which is an exception, like PRR and NYC. All of those are well known locomotives.
As a counter point I had never heard of the Krauss Maffei until I watched MME on Brasstrains.com. Its a neat looking locomotive, but I have no use for it. Most of the people who would buy them already ordered the brass (there is only a handful remaining of one road number).
I want a Pacific Coast Shay in HO. I have and will continue to shout as much from every rooftop that presents itself.
Stu
Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!
In N scale, it would be great to have a U33C or U36C, an SDP45 in both GN and EL versions, Gensets, PRR H25 and H39 hoppers, wood Erie and Lackawanna cabooses, and EL air horns.
In HO, I'm in on the NYC H10's and Mohawks. I'm also waiting impatiently for the BLI streamlined K4s.
The reason nobody wanted those Bachmann BQ23-7's was because they were cheaply made and totally wrong for Seaboard.
As my focus is on the Santa Fe in the transition era, I know that I am already blessed with a variety of motive power. My wish list:
1. for Athearn Genesis (or Walthers):
GP7 (zebra stripes) with "torpedo tubes"
GP7B (zebra stripes)
It would seem logical that Athearn Genesis will produce these items at some point, but I would like to accelerate this process.
2. Smaller steam. At the moment, Santa Fe steam locomotiv models in "plastic" are models of large engines, such as 4-8-4, 2-10-2, and 2-10-4. BLI announced that they will produce a 4000 class 2-8-2, but this is still a relatively large Mikado. What about a "plastic" version of the arguably most common brass steam engine, the Santa Fe 1950 class 2-8-0?
3. Gas-electrics ("doodlebugs"). The "plastic" Bachmann version of the M.131 is generic and not a good representation of the prototype. The Hallmark brass versions are improved, the ones from Key are top notch. However, especially the latter carry a stiff price tag. It might be worthwhile for some company to explore the possibility to produce doodlebugs "in plastic", just as Rapido did for the RDCs.
Atlas did make Santa Fe C30-7's years ago. A friend has several. It was before the Classic Series. They have fat black handrails and are not nearly as nice as more recent units, and as a result are a tough sell.
Why do we need a plastic Santa Fe 2-8-0 when it is THE most common brass engine, generally runs well, and is often available dirt cheap??? There are easily well more than 10,000 brass PFM United Santa Fe 2-8-0's out there, perhaps more like 14,000, some have said.
The BLI Santa Fe mikado will be a good seller. I dont generally like Santa Fe steam but will very likely get a BLI one anyway. It will go nicely with other mikados like my Rock Island K67b and K68b.
I have yet to see an SP 4-8-2 in plastic.
Athearn has done the SP 4-8-2 in a wonderful Genesis version, both unstreamlined and streamlined. I owned two of the unstreamlined version. They were really nice.
Some things i would ike to see produced would be NYC WWII war emergency caboose, troop sleeper caboose( as used by lines like Bangor & Aroostook and Detroit & Mackinac), more data only freight car kits, decals for walthers' cornerstone series structure kits and vehicles, modern propane tank cars, perhaps ones once mad by walthers.
dti406 ATSFGuy If Atlas did a new release, I'll gladly take two Seaboard System BQ23-7's. Maybe a pair of Atlas L&N B23-7's while I'm at it. Atlas never made a BQ23-7, those were by Botchmann, which is why you will never see any, we had them at our shop and could not give them away! Rick Jesionowski
You can get the cabs on shapeways. Dont know much else about the locomotive, but I imagine you could convert from a standard B23-7?
I want to see this in HO
Probably not an easy sell though as I think only Cargill and ADM have those type of cars.
Also this style of hopper w/ smaller holes on the sides.
Again hard sell even especially w/ the generic paint on the car.
I generally don't reply to these sort of topics because they almost never go anywhere, but many others have so why not . . .
One word: containers.
My new layout has a moderately large intermodal yard and a deep-water port with the very large container ship Albatross docked at the quays. I need containers, a lot of them; certainly hundreds, maybe a thousand or more. Not individuals, but groups. Clusters. Stacked like so much firewood. Clusters that are four or five containers long by three or four containers high by three or four containers deep. Clusters of 40 or 50 or more. Or less. Maybe only 3 by 4 by 2. Or even 2 by 2 by 2. Or for that matter, even 1 by 2. Something other than individuals glued or taped together.
Buying them as individuals would not only cost a ridiculous amount, but it would waste all the detail, paint, and decals on the interior. No. What I need is some manufacturer to produce right-side panels that are detailed and decorated of some modular size and various matrix layout. And left-side panels. And top roof panels. And front panels. And rear panels. Bottom panels aren't necessary. The tooling shouldn't be too difficult (standardized containers after all), it's the paint and decals that need to be different.
Kinda like the modular DPM generic building pieces and parts.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK I generally don't reply to these sort of topics because they almost never go anywhere, but many others have so why not . . . One word: containers. My new layout has a moderately large intermodal yard and a deep-water port with the very large container ship Albatross docked at the quays. I need containers, a lot of them; certainly hundreds, maybe a thousand or more. Not individuals, but groups. Clusters. Stacked like so much firewood. Clusters that are four or five containers long by three or four containers high by three or four containers deep. Clusters of 40 or 50 or more. Or less. Maybe only 3 by 4 by 2. Or even 2 by 2 by 2. Or for that matter, even 1 by 2. Something other than individuals glued or taped together. Buying them as individuals would not only cost a ridiculous amount, but it would waste all the detail, paint, and decals on the interior. No. What I need is some manufacturer to produce right-side panels that are detailed and decorated of some modular size and various matrix layout. And left-side panels. And top roof panels. And front panels. And rear panels. Bottom panels aren't necessary. The tooling shouldn't be too difficult (standardized containers after all), it's the paint and decals that need to be different. Kinda like the modular DPM generic building pieces and parts. Robert
Robert, I don't model your era so I don't have any need for these. But I'm sure there are lots of others who would find these very attractive, and I suspect there would be a market. The idea isn't new. Several years ago, Westerfield produced the PRR G22 gondola with cement containers. He provided individual containers, but he also provided an optional complete load that represented many containers, joined into one solid block. It sounds like a variation of the same idea.
ACY Robert, I don't model your era so I don't have any need for these. But I'm sure there are lots of others who would find these very attractive, and I suspect there would be a market. The idea isn't new. Several years ago, Westerfield produced the PRR G22 gondola with cement containers. He provided individual containers, but he also provided an optional complete load that represented many containers, joined into one solid block. It sounds like a variation of the same idea. Tom
Hey Tom-
Yes, I'm sure I'm not the first person to run into this problem. I checked out the Westerfied website and that is kinda what I'm looking for. Thanks for the info.
I'm also aware that there is a kit-bashing solution. For example . . . start with four ordinary off-the-shelf ready-to-roll (so to speak) containers. Carefully cut them apart. You have four right sides, four left sides, four roofs, four front ends, four rear ends, and four bottoms. These parts can be re-assembled into a block of eight containers in a 2 by 2 by 2 arrangement. Twice the number for the same price. I'm sure other, larger mathematical solutions are possible.
I'm all in favor of kit-bashing, and I'm not afraid of the work involved, but I need hundreds of these fiddly bits. What I'm looking for is some manufacturer who produces pre-arranged matrices that can be easily and economically assembled by the casual modeller. In kit form or as finished ready-to-stack assemblages.