Baldwin 'Babyface' Interest Survey

Hello!

Recently, I have been developing a business based around producing replacement diesel shells in HO scale. These shells would be used to allow the modeling of a different prototype on an existing chassis. I have been in contact with a manufacturer and am now gauging market interest for my first product: a Baldwin DR4-4-1500 'Babyface' cab unit.

This diesel has only been offered in brass and a very short-lived Anthracite Railroad Historical Society resin kit, which is practically unavailable today. The DR4-4-1500 'Babyface' was used extensively by the Central of New Jersey railroad, as well as a handful of units to Missouri Pacific and New York Central.

This shell would fit over a Bachmann RF-16 chassis, but could be modified to fit other chassis. Initially, only an A-unit would be offered, but a B-unit would be offered later if there is sufficient interest. More particulars are explained in the form below.

If you have interest in this kit, please fill out the form below. Feedback from this form will be hugely important to the future of the kit.

Form:
https://goo.gl/forms/Ehbyco7yuq1G89ez2

Thank you for your time,

Jonasguy

 

friscobob,

Thanks for the reply. As I understand it, the Anthracite Railroad Historical Society has accused Big Dawg Originals of pirating their design on the DR-4-4-1500 'Babyface' and selling it as his own. While I will not comment on the veracity of that claim, Big Dawg's website is no longer up and he changed the name of his eBay. Take that as you will. I can only comment that I am not associated with either Big Dawg or the ARHS.

Regards,
Jonasguy

 

Even though I'm strictly ATSF, and won't be getting any, I'm glad to see that particular engine get some attention. I'd sure enjoy seeing models of them on a layout set in the northeast!

I think models of the old Baldwins are very rare for very good reasons. The prototypes were rare too, and there was so much variety between orders! BLW sold the bigger 2000 HP engines to four railroads, and none of them looked the same.

In fact, the MoPac version of this engine (DR 4-4-1500) was four feet longer than the others, to make room for steam generators. I'm not sure how, exactly, those carbodies compare with the SAL DR 6-4-1500, which had idler axles, and were also passenger service equipped. Customization like that is a challenge to make up volume on! But they are fascinating history, and God bless you for preserving it.

 

acptulsa,

Thank you for the kind words. The DR-6-4-1500 was actually about five feet longer than the DR-4-4-1500 used by the MoPac, but looked almost the same (except for the different trucks, of course). You are right about the volume issue though. That is one of the reasons that I am making this form, in order to see which roadname is the most popular and produce that one first. If the others are not sufficiently popular, then it would not be economically viable to produce them. I do enjoy the MoPac version myself, but it is the least popular option so far. I believe this is because the MoPac had so few.

Regards,
Jonasguy