The only way to get the Also S units produced, is to vote with your wallet. Do not buy any more products from anyone until the Alcos are produced. Easier said than done, but that is really the only way to make it happen. If Atlas and Kato see no sales in the recycled models they keep churning out, then they will have to figure out what will sell or else go out of business. Ruthless I know, Mean I know, but someone had to say it, and I will be the punching bag for it!
Atlas has some good, though somewhat dated, S series switchers in HO. That in theory means they have anything they would need to scale down into N scale. Maybe somebody can jump over to the Atlas forum, and put a bug in Paul's ear.
Don't look to Arnold for anything US. Hornby (the current owners of Arnold / Rivarossi) started to revive the US N line last year and sugsequently killed it before it came out.
It's already pretty DCC friendly. I have 2 that came with a Marklin DCC set I bought from BLW in the very early 1990's (Command Station, Controller, 2 S-2's for around $500). The S-2 has a circuit board under the metal body and Arnold had 2 versions of the board - one for DC and one for DCC. The motor is already isolated. The very small decoder went in the cab and nearly filled it up. Now you could put a Silver Mini, DZ125 or Z2 in it and still be able to see through cab windows. Wiring to the DC circuit board is just a matter of cutting a trace or two and soldering the 4 wires to the proper point on the board. About as simple as a TCS CN decoder install. The only thing you'd have to change it the wheelsets to make them c55 friendly. NWSL had replacements which I think you can still get. The only other thing might be some kind of path through the body to add a headlight. Mine are packed away but IIRC they don't have working lighting.
I have the Arnold loco but would definitely buy a new, improved version. Even better IMO would be an FM H-10-44 or H-12-44 to replace the old Minitrix unit.
While the major manufacturers are only sending out re-released units right now I think that once money starts moving again you'll see newer models start hitting the streets. The molds and tooling for a model is really expensive and it's cheaper to repair older tooling than to design a whole new piece. When the economy improves and companies can afford to take a little risk you'll hopefully start to see newer designs. Atlas gets told constantly to build SW1500s, Alco switchers, and various steam engines on thier own forum. They get it but there just isn't enough disposable cash to justify a new model when overall spending is down. We can all say what we want but how many of us really have the $100+ each laying around for a handfull of switchers? If you haven't noticed the price of a new unit, even a re-release of an older model, has gone up at least 10-20% in the last couple years (the amount of time I've been paying attention anyway). The Dec 06 Atlas GP30/35s MSRP was $100, the current release is $120. The GP38/40s are the same way MSRP was $110 in Aug 08, current release coming in Aug is $120. The GE Dash 8s have a $20 price difference just between cab/sill designs of the same release.
HA! Not buy anything Atlas for 6 months? I have already preordered my 40' boxcars, a couple cabooses, and of course am waiting for the preorders to open up for those DB-equipped GP9's that Caboose Hobbies says are coming-but I wanna buy from BLW. So yeah, as much as I'd liek an ALCO switcher I'd take a GP9 in 3 fresh road numbers first My diesel facilities will be overbooked! I plan on running prototype service tickets and realistic service days around the roundhouse..... I already have, say... 20 NP locos? IDK
We do need Alco, Baldwin and Fairbanks-Morse switchers. Why can't the N-Scale manufacturers produce these? I keep hearing they can't find motors small enough. What about the motors in Z-Scale locos? Wouldn't they work for N-Scale diesel switchers? As well as small steam switchers. I know this isn't the only reason.It is perhaps a perceived notion by the manufacturers that they wouldn't sell.Only they could tell us that. Just thinkin, Wolf
Although I'm championing the GenSet right now, I've got a soft spot for Alcos as well. They've got really no place on my modern layout, but I like 'em and I'd probally buy a couple as well.
Atlas can't use the 'small motor' excuse because they already make an RS1 which is just an Alco switcher with a short hood, they only need to shorten the mechanism, the RS1 even gives them a head start on the tooling for the cab and long hood.
Arnold Dcc Link? Any chance you can pass along that link? I have an old Arnold with a decoder in it - but I can't seem to access it via JMRI (maybe an old Marklin - I bought the switcher in Europe) so I was looking to swap out and replace with a newer decoder - but I can always use better info before cutting... I'll bring the vodka.
Count me in for new switchers from the manufacturers. For those interested in installing decoders in their Arnold S-2...I did it last year by distilling information from the web and magazines. Here is the article I wrote...
