Wow track fiddler. Awesome stuff. Sorry about saying the UP wasn't popular everyone. I guess it just seems that everywhere I look, they are UP models. I am going to end up doing a custom GN paint job on, conincidentaly, a UP steamer. Haha!
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
I too have always found Great Northern (at a reasonable price) a bit scarce at times. Quite the popular Road name as guys like to hold on to those. I've found Duluth Mesabi Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific almost impossible to add to your roster anymore.
And the new brass recruit
One just has to keep an eye out through the years as they slowly come around. I only buy them when the 'Price Is Right'. I learned that one from Bob quite a while back
TF
Let's suppose you are a GN modeler. The manufacturer thinks he knows the market based on past experience. He also needs to take into account the current economic climate and makes a guess as ro the number he can sell which may be smaller or greater then the demand. You lost out on a smaller run of a GN loco last time. You jump on the next one produced causing it to sell out quickly. Does that mean there is a bigger market for GN products? Maybe. But your goal as manufacturer is to sell out as fast as possible to maximize your profit. PRR will always sell as it was the biggest railroad. Which one do you think would bring you more revenue and eventually profit. I am very surprised at some of the road names that manufacturers produce and not at all surprised they sell out quickly. It is also why many experienced modelers learn to be handy with an airbrush and decalling so they can turn an undecorated model into whatever they want. I do that even with PRR equipment even though there is a plethora of readily available models. My efforts now exceed the quality of most prepainted cars and locos. Surprisingly even undecorated rolling stock is becoming harder to obtain.
doctorwayne ...and, for my cousin Ricardo, a couple of scenes at Bertram's... Wayne
...and, for my cousin Ricardo, a couple of scenes at Bertram's...
Wayne
Ricardo
Alton Junction
If you can't find enough Great Northern stuff, one option is to make it yourself...that's why they offer undecorated cars, decals and dry transfers, paint and paint removers.
I've probably bought at least half of my rolling stock off the "used" (and sometimes abused) tables at various hobbyshops and train shows...that's over 200 cars.
I then altered, or repaired them, then made them into what I wanted them to be. Most of them didn't cost much, and model paint will go a long way. The added details can get a bit pricey, but you simply do what you can afford.
Here are some that you might not find in r-t-r form, or even as kits...
This one is a much-modified Train Miniature boxcar, converted into a door-and-a-half boxcar, and lettered with C-D-S dry transfers...
...this one's also a Train Miniature car with modified details and C-D-S lettering...
This one was an undecorated Accurail kit, but removing the cast-on grabirons and sill steps, then replacing them with metal ones made it at least a little more detailed. The lettering is decals from Champ, unfortunately no longer available...
Here's another undecorated kit from Accurail, this one lettered with decals from MicroScale...
This car is mostly a scratchbuild, although the roof is from Red Caboose, and the doors from Bowser. The lettering is from Wright-Trak...
If you want Great Northern rolling stock, look for photos of real cars, then search for models which are similar. They can be painted or not, but if you can find suitable Great Northern lettering, you'll be on the path to having a decent roster of GN cars. Here's a link to some Great Northern decals.
I think your looking at a supply and demand situation more than anything. and here I thought every layout had a Santa Ge warbonet with silver passenger cars...
JDawg I agree Ed. Popular railroads do sell faster. I'd just think than manufacuterus would hone in on this and make more of the popular stuff.
I agree Ed. Popular railroads do sell faster. I'd just think than manufacuterus would hone in on this and make more of the popular stuff.
They do. Note that Athearn did two runs of GN GP9's, not far apart.
The UP for example. Huge railroad. But, I don't know, it just doesn't seem super popular, but manufacturers pump out lots of models.
If UP wasn't popular, the product wouldn't sell. Athearn has done two runs of UP GP9B's, and there's another one coming along. If they didn't sell, they wouldn't make them.
And the reason they sell is that they're popular. So it appears your opinion of UP's popularity with modelers is incorrect.
If UP isn't "super popular", where do all the models go that you say manufacturers "pump out"?
Ed
Graham LineA local guy did a custom-painted run of GN GEVOS in orange and green and sold a couple dozen pretty quick.
GN? GEVOS? Must be Fantasy Island.
azrail Rio Grande
Rio Grande
Yep. The recent run if Intermountain GS drop bottom Gons poofed away fast!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Note: the 4014 models are different of course. Totally different category.
JDawg I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it. I'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it.
I'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
Great Northern is a popular railroad. It's popular all over the US. And elsewhere. Are you disagreeing with me when I say that, or are you puzzled over why that might be?
Popular railroads sell better than unpopular. Do you agree with that? Or disagree?
I'll add in that when I bought my first brass steam engine in 1963, it was Great Northern. So was my second. And my third. And my fourth. And.......
So I'm one of the guys who makes it popular.
JDawgI'd expect this in a Midwest state. But even in places like Florida, Texas and New Jersey, it still seems to sell fast.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
doctorwayne Nothing against Great Northern or C&NW, but my guess is that there are fewer models of those roads available, whereas Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and other big-name roads have a wider appeal to much of the modelling public. The model manufacturers are more likely to chase the larger market.
Nothing against Great Northern or C&NW, but my guess is that there are fewer models of those roads available, whereas Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and other big-name roads have a wider appeal to much of the modelling public. The model manufacturers are more likely to chase the larger market.
That was my assumption too, but I just don't understand why bigger roadnames don't sell quicker if that is the case. I've talked to hobby shop owners all over the country (quite literally hundreds over the years) and they all say the same thing. GN (and other select roadnames) sell 20-50% faster than other items. I don't get it.
Wayne, could you reposition that C&NW boxcar in front of Bertrams?
Rich
And, just to reassure you that I'm an unbiased observer, here's some Great Northern rolling stock...(click on photos for a larger view)
...and some C&NW stuff, too...
A local guy did a custom-painted run of GN GEVOS in orange and green and sold a couple dozen pretty quick. Kind of exhausted his decal supply, apparently.
JDawg So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used.
So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used.
JDawg Am I crazy?
Railroads are not equally popular.
Popular will draw more interest. And bidders.
If this is a problem for you, you might try researching what railroad is the least popular, and change your interest from GN to that one.
Am I crazy?
Yes, I think you are
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
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Are there other Roadnames people have notice this with?
So, this is purely speculation, but it seems to me that most GN models sell very quickly. When I look on eBay, I can find many steam locos and whatnot, but when I try to find GN models, they either don't exist, or are priced at super high prices. IE, an used BLI 2-8-0 in GN, $500, that's more than then original MSRP! A brand new in WP? $350. Is it my imagination or does GN stuff A- Sell out quickly when new, and B- Sell higher than average for used. Am I crazy?