So I ordered a few things from Anthony as I have been meaning to for some time but you know how funds go. Big box kit from Stonebridge, signal tower from Animek and parts for bashes. Anyway, I notice that the Amtrak f-7 was released and it looks mighty fine. However, the passenger cars are all sold out. So...here is the question, how many people are like me, and might have got the f-7 if passenger cars were available? Trust me, I get it business is business, z is a small market, supply demand, pre orders, better than what we have had before etc etc...and all that. This is NOT a complaint, rather an observation. Like everyone else, my hobby money has diminished over the last couple years as I took a salary cut, but every now and then I have a few bucks to spend, and if I don't spend them, something will come up...IE the wife will find something...and I do not have it later. Anybody out there feeling like me? And yes, the AZL mikado is the only thing I have a couple hundered stashed away just waiting...
Another consideration is to keep your eyes open for an old set of Marklin Amtrak cars. I have a set that includes an observation car and the rounded end last car. No, they are not all the exact same BUT it looks extremely typical. You won't find them "tomorrow" but they show up at train shows periodically. Also since they would never be uncoupled I Just left the Marklin couplers on except for the front end of the first car. Are they perfect "lookers" -NOPE - but they look pretty good mixed in with other consists. ...don
UP Painting Error Micro-Trains | The Ultimate in N and Z scale model trains - Z Scale Union Pacific Runner Packs Painting Error #994 00 023 UP/Pullman (Sleepers) (Nov.’10 rel.) #994 00 026 Union Pacific (Coach) (Feb.’11 rel.) It appears both the UP Sleeper & Coach Runner sets were painted with incorrect silver roofs instead of the gray. MTL will be replacing them. I suppose modelers that choose not to return them for replacement can use them for something else.
engine but no cars ? i agree with joes .... i have been wondering why they released alaska and amtrak, when the passenger cars for those roads are mostly sold out. why didn't they do ic? there's tons of ic cars out there. i'm no businessman, but i'd be willing to bet that the all time best selling loco is the atsf warbonnet f-7. release that in ab sets and watch it fly off the shelf, with or without passenger cars.
I think this was a very smart move actually by MTL. IF you were modeling the time period when Amtrack came into being, 71-76 ..you could run those engines and almost any passenger car out there. On almost any road. Just look at pictures of early Amtrack trains and you will see all kinds of cars. The only beef I have now is, I was snagging up Maerklin Amtrack cars here and there, to repaint for another project, and I would find some pretty cheap. Now that MTL has come up with the engines, there goes the market for finding them. I am very tempted to get the Amtrack engine, and have them pull the UP, IC,CB&Q and Amtrack fleet of mixed cars, and know it would be prototypical. I just have to be around 1972 Oh by the way, the IC did not have F-7s as far as I know. IF MTL would do that, it would be pretty, but NOT accurate. I have a bunch of IC cars too, but I will wait for the E units.
Oh by the way, the IC did not have F-7s as far as I know. IF MTL would do that, it would be pretty, but NOT accurate. I have a bunch of IC cars too, but I will wait for the E units.[/QUOTE] WICT 901 If MTL does any F's in IC colors, they need to do shortline & short lived WICT. They may look ok pulling a set of coal hoppers for the UW power plant. At least the pictures fit a 1980 to 2003 or so time frame.
Whole bunch of railroads they could do, don't mean they will be correct. I would love it if they did the Mopac, as the F-7s were used up untill the 70s, and is a very easy scheme to do. Trouble is the 1 headlight vs 2 headlights. But that has never stopped them before. It is nice that MTL is letting people trade in the passenger cars that were painted silver and not grey. They did same mistake with the CB&Q GP-35s, but since it seems I am the only one that models that railroad, I never got offered the chance for a repainted one. You would think they would have done better QC on whoever does the grey/silver painting when they messed that one up. I just glanced over the list..think I found 1 F-7 IC got from GM&O, long after the IC gave up passenger service. http://www.illinoiscentral.net/rosters/alltimeroster.html You all can look if you want. maybe I missed somthing. WITC is not the IC. Pretty but...
yeah we noticed it but they really need to re do the NYC and green nose UP and my all time favorite western pacific metallic silver and orange with small feather logo on side panel doors.
Not making excuses...well maybe I am.) we should have caught that and many other mistakes, but stuff happens. we have a smaller than usual staff with a work load that is not any smaller, so things get buy us like the cb&q and UP Passenger cars. I was upset too when CB&Q hit our shelves and I noticed the colors were wrong. I do that road as well and repained mine. As of last week we put in place a few more safeguards including me looking things over as well, to avoid as many color mistakes as well. Hopefully we can get thing in order. Interested to see the IC f7...are those real or museum pieces. If real I don't see why we couldn't drop those in the que. Cheers Joe
Hi Joe. I know these things happen. It's just some of us have waited so long for the CB&Q to pop up in any engine and they turn out to be wrong. I have no option except to try to repaint them myself or send them to sombody to repaint (more money) PLEASE NO IC. F-7 IC is just as wrong as a silver roofed CB&Q GP-35. Pretty does not equal correct!!!! Now if you really want to set things right with the CB&Q fans, you could throw the CB&Q F-7s in the que. The off white ones. IF the R&D and paint departments need pictures and data, how they were numbered ect, I would be more than happy to send you guys that info.
mistake: no ic f-7 i mentioned an f-7 in ic. there weren't any [as someone pointed out]. but you know what would be great? rock island ... in the old maroon with white stripes (60's era).
Oh, I forgot to mention. I think it is great that they are releasing A and B units at the same time. I think it is smart marketing. Sure, I was able to say no this time only because there were no passenger cars. Now, when they release something ridiculous, like a Penn Central AB they'd get a guy like me. Hard to ignore your earliest train memories!
No IC F7...) The Off White CBQ is in the que, you should see those soon...least I could do. Contact me at Mtl and I will see what I can do to help you with the GP's Cheers Joe MTl
Will there be any CN scheme scheduled soon? I mean, even the Europeans are asking for a F7 CN scheme. Ben
I ordered an A and B. Marklin Amtrak cars are available if one knows where to look. Given that they already have 2 other Amtrak locomotives and no Amtrak passenger cars, I wouldn't hold my breath on MTL releasing any.
Joe that is above and beyond. Thank You. I will be looking forward to F-7s in CB&Q, and also the E units when they come out, of course in IC colors. Who would not like to own and run the "City of New Orleans"
