OK so I've seen a lot of discussion about Traincat2 and Bob but most of it is now very old. Someone who says they have purchased a number of his models says he has also died. Can anyone confirm this? If so I am sad to hear that. Sorry to seem cold but if he has passed away, does anyone know what has happened to his artwork? If he is still alive has anyone heard if he will be producing kits anytime soon. Rick Yeates
I heard that at first he (Bob Knight) took time off to care for his wife, who later passed away. After that he started flying R/C planes (in 2018). I know of at least one person who offered to buy part or all of the business but he wasn't interested in selling and didn't seem to need the money. The website is still up and paid for thru 2023 although it does say he is on hiatus. I also know of someone who was trying to get some of his SP stock cars from him just a month or two ago with no luck. I have not heard of him passing on. I do agree that he produced GREAT items that filled a gap but it doesn't look like they will be coming back.
Recently there was a bad rumor circulating around that he passed away. That was a bad assumption on someone's part. There is no confirmation that he passed away and now the assumption is he is still around but away from MRR. Nothing, not even a rumor, that he will be back to making anything MRR related anytime soon.
I am relived to hear that Mr. Knight is still on this side of the daisies! His product is amazing and I hope he understands it isn't about the money. It's about getting it out there. There is still a demand! I initially found Traincat2 because I was looking for a good model of an electrical transmission tower. He had 2 and they were spectacular!! Some of his other product peeked my interest as well. I waited for quite a while hoping he'd come back. I have been off work for some time now and so I started drawing. I have been working on product "similar" to what he offered. I also see that N Scale Architect now has a fire tower. I would rather buy from Bob but if he isn't going to sell product then someone should. So far I have drawn two electrical towers, bleachers, picnic table, auto hauler, radio tower and I am working on drawings for a Pratt bridge. As soon as I have some cash flow, I would like to have negatives made and do some etching. Since this isn't an inexpensive process, I would need to sell a "limited" number of kits to make it worth my while. I am attaching images of what I have drawn so far. The images are of 3D test fit models. BTW my Pratt bridge is an absolute mess at the moment. Red denotes areas I need to work on. Images you see are of models that are basically ready to go. I have not created a model (yet) of the other electrical tower and I don't have a current image of the radio tower. I also have a baseball diamond in the works. Comments are welcome!
Now I don't know for SURE that he's okay, just going from what I have heard and seen. I DO wish he would either sell what he has or start selling again since he does have things that you cannot get anywhere else and they really are killer (I don't know how he did some of the things he did). So I hope he is fine and back to enjoying life and that things are moving in a positive way for him.
What stuff did you like? I am looking for inspiration!! I have had a request to do drawings for an autoloader.
This is an ongoing complaint among N scalers, and it needs to be addressed.It reminds me of when Jon Coots died, we were left high and dry for a number of good products at generally reasonable prices. And don't forget Sunrise models amazing line of detail parts. There needs to be a way for some organization to provide ongoing availability. It should be the NMRA, but don't hold your breath on that.
I learned a long time ago. If you like it and you want it get it! It might not be available tomorrow.
I have a bunch of his stuff. I paid for and never received his tank car loading platforms. I have several bridges, and a few railcars.
I want to do a rail car and I am researching it now. Its a Canadian Slab Side Covered Hoppers 6 Hatch Riveted - CP Script that I am interested. I want to see how others designed theirs. And I want feedback on the good and bad of how others have designed brass kits.
He is related to the guy who runs TexNRails.com. Perhaps he can shed a little light on the situation.
SP stock car, SP C-40 caboose, chlorine tank car, signal bridges, loading platforms. Luckily I was able to get one or two of the stock car, caboose, and chlorine tank car (it's a flat car that carries canisters of chlorine gas therefore it's classified as a tank car...where else would you get one of these?). His bridges were a thing of beauty, but not anything I wanted to take on. I bought what I wanted knowing that you never know when they won't be around again, but I always hoped to get more at some time. Sunrise detail parts are still the BEST parts ever offered. I miss them almost every day.
I have a bunch of his signal kits scattered around my layout as well as a construction site trailer/office (See Origins). Like others here I wish he would return to production. I would have liked to have gotten a couple of his auto-loading ramps.
Why are you drooling on your keyboard? As an IT guy I can tell you it isn't a good thing!! I wouldn't drool yet. Until I am working, I can't produce anything.
Glad to hear Bob is still around. I would love one of his Aggregate Conveyors (https://www.traincat2.com/d_aggconveyors.htm) if any has one sitting around that they don't need.
