Sounds like someone got into my head about a year ago! I don't think I talked about it here, but I had an idea for manufactures to do sort of an a'la cart steam locomotive line, where they would have a few basic mechs, like a x-4-x, x-6-x, x-8-x, x-10-x, with a "Large," "Medium," and "small" wheel diameter options (basicly, diffrent mech for each wheel size due to spacing issues.) Next you pick the approprate pilot and trailing truck, valve gear, boiler and details, Pilot, Headlight, cab style, etc. The locos would be set up to take advantage of the Bachmann tenders. when you placed your order, the mech, pistons, and valve gear would be assembled, quatered, and tested. The rest would be up to the buyer to assemble and add the provided details. if this is what is going on, COUNT ME IN!!! this would be a kitbashers/scratchbuilders dream come true! More information is needed!! PLEASE!!!
PLEASE!!! if this is what is going on, COUNT ME TOO!!! A smoth running 0-6-0 ( SP s12 ?) switcher is not existent in N sale! And I guess everybody need one or two at least?
I'm all for any of the wheel arangments! that is the only way those of us who don't model SP, SF, or UP are going to get anything even close to prototypical. Myself, I want BIG STEAM! Northerns a plenty! I want to make me at least one version of each of NP's A class locos, Including Timken Four Aces!! Of course articulates will be welcome also! I wants me some Z class stuff!!
A lot depends on what you want, I paid $600.00 (Australian) for my Con-Cor GS4 many years ago and $500.00 (Aust)for a Con-Cor 2-10-2, at the time, the dollar was not favourable against the US$, but if you wanted the locos, you paid the prices (Pre Kato GS4 by the way).
Yes, I would BUT a level of quality would have to be there AND it would have to be something I would like to run. I would not pay $300 or more for the privilege of having to fix the darn thing just to get it to run the way it should have when it left the factory. I am fine with adding road-specific details to a point, but if the thing is being advertised as a GIVENROADNAME CLASS ?-% whatever I want it to be reasonably well detailed as that prototype. For example, if it is supposed to have a particular type of window I expect to see that type of window, and I would want the domes to be in the right places. If I am adapting it for another road (e.g., if I am buying a GN or NP model and re-detailing it for SP&S) I know that I am going to have to change a certain amount on my own and I will decide if it seems reasonable given the hassle and expense.
This is EXACTLY what I mean - all the major details correct (domes, windows, cabs, air pumps, etc.) and some hand applied (at the factory) details. Not a GN S-2 trying to stand in for a CB&Q O-5 for example. Andy Tetsu Uma
If Kato or Fox Valley or some new manufacturer made a detailed and REALLY good running B&O Cinncinatian, then I would probably save up my pennies and pay as high as $300- although it would be stretching. But it would need to be a REALLY good loco.
I would pay an MSRP of $300 for a correct, well detail, made in Japan, DCC equip C&O 2-6-6-6 Alleghenie.
If I had a million dollars, sure! But since I don't then I highly doubt it. Not when I could buy 3 or 4 Kato diesels for that much (since I model 1980's & 90's). If I had a better job, had my student loans paid off, had started saving some for retirement, and this loco came with all the bells & whistles (literally), then I might consider it. But then it would probably be my only steam loco for awhile, since I could hardly justify spending that much very often.
I don't know. 1970s era Bachmann could be very prototypical. I once had a Bachmann 4-8-4 with smoke and a real fire.
I voted yes, but at that price point I would expect a lot, especially being a Pennsy modeler: Specific PRR locomotive subclass that interests me Very fine detail consistent with current top of the line tooling Full underbody detail, including scoops as appropriate Crisp, clean, correct shade paint with details such as valve handles and warning labels DCC that plays nice out of the box with Digitrax Sound accurate for the prototype Synchronized chuffing Very good pulling power Smooth running and good slow speed performance That's what I expect for $300. If the model were a T1 or Q2, I would be willing to pay significantly more. Conversely, I'm not willing to pay more than about $100 for a J1, no matter how nice it is. That particular locomotive just doesn't hold any interest for me. In summary, personally, I'm willing to pay more for the models that I want, but if I'm dropping more money, I expect more from the manufacturer.
Oh, if only more people thought this way! We would see a lot more products in the marketplace. We, as modelers need to drop the Walmart mentality for the health of the hobby in general. While I do agree there should be lower cost of entry cars and locomotives following the Atlas Trainman model from other manufacturers too. It was this type of thinking that lead me to partner my old company with the company that is trying to bring these locomotives with an amazing amount of detail. They are more focused on quality than quantity.
Another question if you know or can give the answer. Will these locos be limited runs where we have to pre-order and if we don't then once they are gone they are gone or will they be made to order when customers want them? It sounds like this is the case, which will be good. Two questions actually, I assume correct tenders will be offered as a steam locomotive's tender is one of its most distinguishing features.
I believe they will be made to order. They are investing a great deal of their time in the production of the CAD drawings to make the tooling. I am not sure how many types of tenders will be for each locomotive type and prototype road. I do know they are going to show the tenders the same level of accuracy as the locomotive. Every pre-production samples I have seen thus far are jaw dropping. As for availability, by using the modular approach, they can fabricate as customer demands are made. By that, the tooling is such that it can be run at almost anytime, so if they run a batch of 300 locomotives, they could re-run another 300 with relative ease. So the only limits to production will be customer demand. Yu could call this a version of "Just In Time" manufacturing.
