The "N" Crowd

[nscaler711]

I got new pics of my SP GP40 # 9725 up.

ive been modifieing a cheap dummy locomotive that Readers Digest gave to people.

[nscaler711]

I did more work on the Geep yesterday....She now has a plow a fuel tank (finally sheesh )  and a horn.....i will upload more pics soon.....camera decided to stop working otherwise they'd be up now

[CSXFan]

I got new pics of my SP GP40 # 9725 up.

ive been modifieing a cheap dummy locomotive that Readers Digest gave to people.

Wow it looks pretty good considering what you started with. I have the same set and was wondering if I could ever use it. I figured it would just be used for a weathering dummy. Please keep us posted on your progress, I'd like to see what you can do with it. 

[PB&J RR]

You can get a digital camera at Walmart for less than 20 bucks, Don't shoot your daughter's wedding pictures with it, but it would be fine for this.

[PB&J RR]

Most everyone here uses photobucket, its free and the price is rightand we have better things to spend money on Athearn released a Big Boy

[pcarrell]

Well, I've been working on the backdrop this week. I've enlisted the help of my son to hang it. Here's what we have so far. The dark places are wet putty to cover seams and staples.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-070.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-071.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-072.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-073.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-074.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Autumns%20Ridge/7-22-075.jpg

[RR Redneck]

That geep looks perty good, correct me if I am wrong, but aint that a High Speed Metal Products GP38?

[nscaler711]

to tell you the truth RR Redneck i dont know wether to call it a GP38 or GP40. and it is a High Speed loco #418

But what i do know is my model is almost completly finnished....other than the fact it needs Lights, and a pair of handrails (front, back porches) 

ill post pics As Soon As Possible. 

[nscaler711]

Its a Gp35

link here
http://www.visi.com/~spookshow/gp28.html

 

 

[nscaler711]

WOO HOO PICS ARE UPLOADED!!!

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1217.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1225.jpg  

 http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1219.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1222.jpg  

 http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1224.jpg

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa303/nscaler711/106_1220.jpg  

 

[Blue Flamer]

Well, I've been working on the backdrop this week. I've enlisted the help of my son to hang it. Here's what we have so far. The dark places are wet putty to cover seams and staples.

Lookin' good, Philip. It's good to have an extra pair of hands around, isn't it?

Blue Flamer. 

[NS2591]

Phillip that Code 55 looks great. Only thing I don't like about mine is that I have to replace all the wheels on my Rolling stock.

[pcarrell]

Thanks Blue Flamer, Jay!  It's coming along......slowly!

Phillip that Code 55 looks great. Only thing I don't like about mine is that I have to replace all the wheels on my Rolling stock.

I look at it as a necessary evil.  It helps that a lot of stuff comes with lo pro's already now-a-days.

[mls1621]

Phillip that Code 55 looks great. Only thing I don't like about mine is that I have to replace all the wheels on my Rolling stock.

 

I know it's too late for this information, but Micro Engineering code 55 can handle the deeper flanges.  The tie clamps that hold the rails are much smaller than those on the Atlas code 55.

A second advantage to the ME track, is that it can be gotten pre-weathered.  I used their code 70 pre-weathered track on my layout and it saved alot of time and bad fumes in the train room.

[pcarrell]

Phillip that Code 55 looks great. Only thing I don't like about mine is that I have to replace all the wheels on my Rolling stock.

 

I know it's too late for this information, but Micro Engineering code 55 can handle the deeper flanges.  The tie clamps that hold the rails are much smaller than those on the Atlas code 55.

A second advantage to the ME track, is that it can be gotten pre-weathered.  I used their code 70 pre-weathered track on my layout and it saved alot of time and bad fumes in the train room.

Yeah, I looked at that.  I even bought some of the unweathered code 70 and the unweathered code 55 bridge track. 

The weathered stuff you have to scrape the weathering off of the ends to get a good solder joint, and so it has to be reweathered in those places.  On top of that, since my rails are used for many different things and are in many different states of repair, I'll need to weather all of them differently anyways.  To top that off, ME code 55 only has #6 turnouts and it is expensive and tough to find sometimes. 

On the other hand, Atlas code 55 has lots of turnouts and crossings, and it's reasonably priced and readily available.  My rolling stock either already is RP25 compliant or is easy enough to convert.

I'll still use the ME code 55 bridge track as it's great.

The rest of the ME stuff is great, but that was the way I reasoned through it.

Your setup looks awesome though.  If I'd have seen that I may have gone the other way!

[NS2591]

Phillip that Code 55 looks great. Only thing I don't like about mine is that I have to replace all the wheels on my Rolling stock.

 

I know it's too late for this information, but Micro Engineering code 55 can handle the deeper flanges.  The tie clamps that hold the rails are much smaller than those on the Atlas code 55.

A second advantage to the ME track, is that it can be gotten pre-weathered.  I used their code 70 pre-weathered track on my layout and it saved alot of time and bad fumes in the train room.

Yeah, I looked at that.  I even bought some of the unweathered code 70 and the unweathered code 55 bridge track. 

The weathered stuff you have to scrape the weathering off of the ends to get a good solder joint, and so it has to be reweathered in those places.  On top of that, since my rails are used for many different things and are in many different states of repair, I'll need to weather all of them differently anyways.  To top that off, ME code 55 only has #6 turnouts and it is expensive and tough to find sometimes. 

On the other hand, Atlas code 55 has lots of turnouts and crossings, and it's reasonably priced and readily available.  My rolling stock either already is RP25 compliant or is easy enough to convert.

I'll still use the ME code 55 bridge track as it's great.

The rest of the ME stuff is great, but that was the way I reasoned through it.

Your setup looks awesome though.  If I'd have seen that I may have gone the other way!

I will never use Micro Engineering track. I've tried the ME Track in HO, Any times I had problems it was always on ME track. The HO MRR Club I'm in is attempting to replace all of the ME track becuase it causes problems. Another reason why I won't use anything but Atlas track is everything else is overpriced. I have a hard time Justifying (In any scale except O and G) 7 dollars for 3 feet of track. the N scale club I'm in we don't usually have problems and I belive a majority of the track there is Atlas and Peco. I've heard good things about Peco. and I do like their switches, But its still too much for the track

As far as the wheels go. I usually get Low-Pros on my new cars, but I have bought a few older cars that didn't have low-pros. I guess I just got used to the standards in HO. 

[BMRR]

Philip, that's a nice looking layout. Keep us posted on your progress.

Stan. 

[pcarrell]

Thanks Stan.....will do!



And Jay....$7 for a 3 foot section of track! Holy cow! I think you're being robbed my friend. I can buy ME code 55 flex for about $4 a section.

[R. T. POTEET]

I came online today with the expectation that I was going to find The 'N' Crowd literally alive with excitement over some recent announcements - or speculations if you prefer - emanating from the National Train Show in Detroit.  Instead I find I have to go clear over onto page 6 to find it and there seems to be a considerable quiescence involving these announcements.

Well I think that there is reason for excitement; as most know I am not a PRR fan but I am happy to see that those fans are getting - or supposedly getting; all I have detected so far appear to be WARs - a GG1; I will not be buying one of these but I am, nevertheless, happy that these PRR fans are going to get something that has been a strong 'wish list' item second only, I am led to believe, to that symbolic K4s. Neither, for that matter am I an Espee fan but I am happy that those fans are going to get a Daylight passenger train and a GS4 to lug it around; I will not be buying one of these either. There is an announcement that Bachmann is going to introduce a heavy USRA mountain with a large tender; my interest caters more in this direction than to the GG1 or GS4.

Add these to Athearn's recent issuance of their Challenger and their announcement of a Big Boy and it appears as if Intermountain has a Cab-Forward in the offing, and, I guess, Precision Craft's PRR M1a/M1b which is, supposedly, emerging from the vapor where it has resided since Custer was a Plebe at West Point but will be here shortly and Bachmanns recent upgrading of their Uncle John's Northern to Spectrum standards and these offerings raise a considerable increase in the number of available N Scale locomotives. We will have to see what comes from this, if anything, but let's hope that this is indicative that the manufacturers may just be getting off of their duffs and paying some attention to the N Scale locomotive market!!!

Where would you like to see the N Scale locomotive manufacturers go next?  Keep this in mind: one of the reason's that there has been a plethora of diesel locomotives available in recent years is because diesels tend to be more generic and therefore more acceptable to the general public; I know that if you are modeling steam them's fightin' words. We all have our favorites but keep in mind that the greater cost of steam locomotives vis a vis diesel locomotives reflects the fact that the tooling expenses are greater. As much as a manufacturer might like to produce the famous XYZ Railroad F-2 Class Pacific the volume of sales for such a unit at a competitive price might prohibit such an offering. Athearn is bringing out a Big Boy because it is a totem of that thing we label 'Big Steam'; the same can be held true for Espee's Cab-Forward.

It is difficult, I know,  to keep this kind of a subject from degenerating into a specific prototype 'wish list' but I have been, of late, giving some thought to abandoning my Class 1 ambitions - I have my own Class 1 'wish list' which I will not expound upon at this point in time - and going to an industrial/shortline/regional modeling theme; in this vein I will say that I would like to see more diesel switchers on the market.

Let me return to my question of a few paragraphs back: assuming the manufactures are on a 'roll' where would you like to see them go next?

[Dave Vollmer]

Hey, RT, I'm still recovering from the shock...!

It's not just a GG1, either...  It's the entire Broadway Limited! 

Although I'd been piecing together some of the cars from the 1950's consist (B60b, PS10-6, Mountain View, etc.), I figured some would have to be foobies or very painful kitbashes (such as the twin diner/kitchen dormatory carset).

But now, whether I pull it with a matched set of E7s or the GG1 (running off the invisible catenary that didn't exist on the Middle Division), I know I'll have the right consist.

[PB&J RR]

Well my pet project, The PB&J- the railroad I am doing for a family project book, is underway... I finsihed the final track plan last night and if all goes well getting the Christmas villages off my train table then I will be able to begin surface prep and laying roadbed on the late summer class break next week...

What I wanted from the railroad was simple... and the purists will hate me for it no doubt, but I've always said, learn all you can about your interests and pursue them in your own way...

I wanted a yard that I could use not only to store rolling stock and engines, but if I got in the rare mood where I actually wanted to switch it by the (slightly modified 1:160) book, then I could do so, and if I want to close switches and run two trains on east/West and just watch them snake through the landscape I could... or open the crossover and let one train traverse the neatly hidden figure eight configuration I could.

I have small children, (all girls) and their interest is watching the trains, and they like to run the lionel Santa Fe Special I have set up for them, both are afraid of the n scale trains and shouldn't be... So the project in my book, is actually a series of projects.... to teach the different aspects of the hobby (outside the hum drum oval).

Their little friends marvel at the trains, and one child who is exceedingly good at one of those train video games, gets excited because the model trains bring something to him that he can't get from his game... he can touch them and it then becomes real...

I am off to finish Christmas villages so that I can get this show on the (rail) road.

[R. T. POTEET]

Hey, RT, I'm still recovering from the shock...!

It's not just a GG1, either...  It's the entire Broadway Limited! 

Although I'd been piecing together some of the cars from the 1950's consist (B60b, PS10-6, Mountain View, etc.), I figured some would have to be foobies or very painful kitbashes (such as the twin diner/kitchen dormatory carset).

But now, whether I pull it with a matched set of E7s or the GG1 (running off the invisible catenary that didn't exist on the Middle Division), I know I'll have the right consist.

Dave, again, I am not trying to be a party pooper but . . . . . . . . . .

I looked in at a number of internet discounters to see who was taking reservations and found no one; I went to a couple of forums that I look in on occasionally including idiotstbrddotcom where there are a couple of internet discounters I guess but even they are avoiding this GG1; it looks suspiciously like Kato has yet to make any kind of official announcement.  The only place I found a GG1 at all was over on atlassrrdotcom where somebody had a picture of a Kato flyer which showed a green GG1 and an indication that an N Scale model of this was coming; Kato used to supply these to hobby shops but I remember that when they were announcing their SD40-2 the flyer showed up 24 to 30 months before the model did.  I really hope this is not indicative but with nothing official from the manufacturer I do not look for this for awhile. As I said there seems to be a lot of WARs floating around at this particular moment in time.

NOTE: in 1977 when Uncle Sugar sent me out into the middle of the Atlantic a WAR was circulating that Kadee was working up some diesel body shells designed to fit somebody's mechanism but for the life of me I can't remember just whose at this particular time. This rumor created a considerable amount of interest but it soon died aborning because, unlike Athearn mechanisms which stay in production for years and years and years, N Scale mechanisms - with the exception of Bachmann's steamers - are usually short term and small quantity production. I seem to recall seeing somewhere where the old original Sekisui/Kato PA done in the 1960s for Mr C. was produced to more than 23000 units and that is the largest single N Scale production item ever. Do you realize that when Con-Cor first offered that model they were asking I believe it was $29.95? and so soft was the N Scale market in about 1967 that they had to reduce the price to $16.95 to get it to sell. 

[Dave Vollmer]

RT,

From the National Train Show:

Otherwise it's an elaborate hoax.

Two dealers I know had known this was coming but had to keep it under wraps.

I also wouldn't expect Kato to update their website on a weekend.

[Wdlgln005]

Don't have a cow, man. Kato isn't like con-cor or Bachmann to produce vaporware.

However, it appears the GS4 & Daylight may appear in Nov-Dec this year & the GG1-Broadway may appear 6 months later, or in time for the 2008 NTS/NSC shows. This is from attendees at the NTS. There are pictures on other Forums. This will give Dave some time to save some $$ or work some OT between now & then.  THis would account for the reason both models were not announced to dealers in the same press release. I see no reason to preorder a train model more than 6 months in advance. 

In the meantime, check out what the Zscalers can do with the Hallmark AFT Ornaments. With a little work to correct the trucks/couplers, it is possible to make a very nice heavyweight train.  

 

 

[NS2591]

I can't wait for the Daylight. I'm also going to get some Blackstone K-27s

[R. T. POTEET]

Dave, the flyer you post is the one that I saw in a photo over on atlas; Kato used to supply flyers with this format to hobby shops ten fifteen years ago. Sorry, but I learned that the date printed at the top has about as much significance as a campaign promise. I have yet to meet the manufacturer who is always above the vapor and, unfortunately, that holds true for Kato!

This will give Dave some time to . . . . . . . . . . work some OT between now & then.

Obviously, Wdlgln005, you have your tongue-in-cheek when you make this statement because it has got to be one of the funniest that has appeared in this or any forum in a long, long, long time. All you former or current members of the Armed Forces tell Wdlgln005 the going rate Uncle Sugar pays for OT!!!; I should be rich!!!!

Dave, how much money did you get for your last OT????

[nscaler711]

Before.....

After.....

 

And a Neat Photo of my AMTK P42.....

[Dave Vollmer]

Dave, the flyer you post is the one that I saw in a photo over on atlas; Kato used to supply flyers with this format to hobby shops ten fifteen years ago. Sorry, but I learned that the date printed at the top has about as much significance as a campaign promise. I have yet to meet the manufacturer who is always above the vapor and, unfortunately, that holds true for Kato!

This will give Dave some time to . . . . . . . . . . work some OT between now & then.

Obviously, Wdlgln005, you have your tongue-in-cheek when you make this statement because it has got to be one of the funniest that has appeared in this or any forum in a long, long, long time. All you former or current members of the Armed Forces tell Wdlgln005 the going rate Uncle Sugar pays for OT!!!; I should be rich!!!!

Dave, how much money did you get for your last OT????

Yeah, the Air Force pays lots of overtime....  right?  Since I'm on duty 24/7, what would overtime be?

RT, feel free to be as pessimistic as you want.  But I've got a lot more faith in Kato than some other companies (can you say PCM???).  We'll just wait and see, I guess...

[R. T. POTEET]

Dave, the flyer you post is the one that I saw in a photo over on atlas; Kato used to supply flyers with this format to hobby shops ten fifteen years ago. Sorry, but I learned that the date printed at the top has about as much significance as a campaign promise. I have yet to meet the manufacturer who is always above the vapor and, unfortunately, that holds true for Kato!

This will give Dave some time to . . . . . . . . . . work some OT between now & then.

Obviously, Wdlgln005, you have your tongue-in-cheek when you make this statement because it has got to be one of the funniest that has appeared in this or any forum in a long, long, long time. All you former or current members of the Armed Forces tell Wdlgln005 the going rate Uncle Sugar pays for OT!!!; I should be rich!!!!

Dave, how much money did you get for your last OT????

Yeah, the Air Force pays lots of overtime....  right?  Since I'm on duty 24/7, what would overtime be?

RT, feel free to be as pessimistic as you want.  But I've got a lot more faith in Kato than some other companies (can you say PCM???).  We'll just wait and see, I guess...

Pessimistic or not I will concede that you are going to get your GG1; a lot of the speculation this weekend has been over the color scheme to be offered.  I don't fully understand all of the color schemes involved but I am going to guess that that is going to be predeterminate of the Broadway's consist and visa versa.  So I guess that we are in a waiting game for Kato to make some kind of official announcement.

And yes, PCM does seem to be coming mañana.

[nscaler711]

R.T. POTEET,
Lets not go through what you and I went through earlier this year, remeber our little brawl? ;)
Again. But with different people.
So if we may, can we please get back to N-scale (although it is about N-scale but ya'll catch my drift)

Sorry to say that.

 

And yes PCM cannot do any thing right when it comes to planning for a new item. 

Althogh i think Kato has taken my and other peoples request for a GG-1, I kinda would like to see it in Brunswick Green with 5 gold Feathered Stripes along the sides.