Blackstone is taking a new, more detailed survey about which engine models and model numbers they should produce. Please participate and try to be honest. Here is the link to their website: Blackstone Models The rather conspicuous survey button is to the lower left.
And once again us C&S modelers are left out, and have to continue using unreliable brass or scratch built locomotives. :thumbs_down: But I am happy Blackstone is moving out of only D&RGW things.:thumbs_up: Alex
I'd like to see one of the following: -a Baldwin 10-24E -a Baldwin 8-18C -a Baldwin 8-16D -one of the two Brooks 2-6-0 designs -a Porter-Bell Type C The engine available in the common colors of the day (wine, lake, olive green, and/or maybe Ivy Green), as well as a version with an 11" Air pump, an electric light, steel cab, straight stack, and black finish...for 20th century modelers. The Baldwin 10-24E was the 28t 2-8-0 design common to dozens of NG roads (among them the D&RG, DSP&P/C&S, SPC, TC&Stl, and SRR). The D&RG Class 56 and C&S B-4-A. The 8-18C was the Eureka, Sonoma, and numerous engines on nearly all the major California & Nevada NG properties, plus the Oahu Railway, the D&RG, the TC&Stl, and plenty of other operations. This is the B-man 1:20.3 4-4-0 prototype. The 8-16D was the mogul version...also quite common (one operated within a mile of my house)...a is B-man's 1:20.3 2-6-0. The Brooks moguls were the most common versions of the most common of all NG locomotives. They have never been offered commercially, except as C&S #21 and #22 which weren't really Brooks engines (having received new boilers, frames, cylinders, cabs, brakes, stacks, domes, headlights, and drivers...they were really C&S shop built locomotives...following a Cooke design). The Porter-Bell Type C 0-6-0s where used from Martha's Vinyard to Santa Cruz...as tank engines and as tender engines. One of them with Washington State ties survives. These are equivalent to the USRA and Baldwin catalog models which where introduced into HO starting in 1998...most have value to nearly all prototype modelers...but allow a freelancer to have something which is truly generic AND accurate. You may note from my links that examples of all of these survive...especially the 8-16Ds. Model drawings have been published as well...and many prototype drawings have survived. We really have it nice today, between Blackstone and Bachmann. Blackstone has really helped HOn3...and Bachman has really moved large scale into something for both very serious and light hearted modelers...as well as injecting new lift into On30 & On3. Michael
Demand for non-DRGW NG models? A brief look over the fence: In On3, San Juan has updated their "Past Collection" list of sold out RTR models. Past SAN JUAN CAR COMPANY The list includes the numbers produced of each car number. And SJ bases their production runs on the number of preorders plus a few more. The Gramps tank cars are the ones produced in highest numbers. The RGS boxcars are by far the model with the lowest production. And I assume their parallel issue of C&S boxcars was about equally low. Yet, those C&S cars are not even sold out yet. Thus, there is obviously not much demand for any NG models other than DRGW. Small wonder then, that manufacturers are very hesitant to produce such models.
This is purely my opinion... I reckon blackstone should not do any standard gauge locos. If they wish to diversify then they should rather do other HOn3 raods like the eastern railroads (EBT, Tweensie) as well as SPNG and other Colorado roads like the C&S. I think the standard gauge market already has some decent locomotive manufacturers, HOn3 only really has Blackstone for RTR. They should stick to the HOn3 market.
I think we will see more out of Blackstone but unlike the standard gauge side, the narrow gauge segment of our hobby is quite small when compared to the other side. I think this will change somewhat due to what they are doing, a non brass option and non craftsman kit option on the freight car side. I think thier cars are a bit steep price wise myself, but then I enjoy building the craftsman kits. Thier K27 has destroyed the brass sales of that model, Caboose hobbies has an arse load of brass K27's that are not selling. I applaud them for the infusion of new HOn3 modelers they are turning to the dark side. I would love to see C&S, SPng and the rest of the D&RGW fleet, but lets see working class lights on the K class Mikes! They can do it on Std gauge models from MTH and I add them to my brass with cored brass castings from PSC.
On the HOn3 Yahoo group, it's being reported that the tank cars are reaching the stores. Hang onto your wallets!
That is certainly true, but there are also all the details in a very fine and delicate version already applied. At this point, I'd rather buy less cars but enjoy the few I get. The advantage is that NG trains usually had been rather short anyway. But the manufacturer has to take this reduced number into account as well.
As long as there is not a readily available basic set of sectional tracks and turnouts, there is no chance for any change, I'm afraid. So far, the NG models are bought by the layout builders and the rolling stock collectors. But there are others who would like to see their stuff rolling along, without having to spend their time on landscapes and track work. And I presume that's where additional customers could be "recruited", hopefully some younger fellows as well.
