Eagle2. I also agree with you about limited runs. I work in a hobby shop and sometimes I can't get what I want. The Micro-Trains tank car that is coming out this month is a good example. I tried to order two extra on top of the two we should get, and I found out yesterday that I will only get two. Thats it. I'm going to have the my boss intercept them so they never make it to the display case. At $21.95 retail, two is plenty anyway.
We all find the fun in different places. For me, I find researching a particular locomotive at a particular point in time (it's amazing how much one engine will change in its lifetime) and then building a model from whatever shell is close. I really don't care if it's an Atlas, Kato, Life Like or whatever. In fact I would rather start with a less detailed (and less expensive) model as most likely the vast majority of the included details will be incorrect for the engine I want to model (the HO Scale P2K SD60 as an example.) Of course I am lucky to be in HO where we have many details to choose from. I would love to see more however. Example: the only all weather windows available are an older style that does not suite my era - so it takes me about an hour to modify them. They cost 4 bucks or so. That's a pretty good deal - an hour of hobby time for $4 - and when I am done I have a great replica of the a/w windows that the Soo Line used in the 1990s. I can't go out and buy that - and honestly if I could I wouldn't be having so much fun. There is a void in N scale detail parts. From looking around the net it looks like there is a market for it - good luck to you. (but don't expect to make a fortune It looks like N scale is where HO was in the 80's. You guys keep pushing for improvements and start making some detail parts. Get your super detailed loco's in the magazines. Rather than complain about the deficiencies, show the N scale world how to fix them. The manufactures will listen and the next generation of models will be better. Now as for this limited edition stuff - that’s got to stop. I'm OK with limited edition paint jobs but please manufacturers if you are reading this, keep the undecorated in regular production.
Herman - very good point about the limited availability - since you are one of the lucky few with the advantage of working in a shop you can set those two MT cars aside for yourself - but the rest of us are out of luck - limited runs stink! and I will never understand why a manufacturer will deliberately limit his sales potential - you could have easily sold those two additional units plus 6,8,10 more! I think it is just a ploy to keep prices high and collectors happy. Atlas has gotten better about it, never seems to be a problem with lifelike either - MT and Kato - SHAME ON YOU! But back to the original post - it is a hobby and is supposed to be fun - I enjoy the research, learning about new stuff, playing with my new toys, building structure kits as well as reading the posts on these and other forums - more entertaining than TV. No place for the personal flame attacks that have recently moved here from the Atlas forum. for the flamers - let other enjoy the hobby and keep the wet blankets to yourselves.
Man I'm with all you guys on this limited run crap I remember when Kato came out with the SD40-2's, I was so happy cause BNSF has tons of em. At the time I was working in a Hobby Dist. so you think I would have easy acess to them right? WRONG! They were sold before they even reached our selves, and most of the dealers that did get them only got maybe 50% or 75% of their order. So a friend of mine finds out from his dealer that Kato is producing SD40-2's. Wow thats great he says, BN has mostly SD40-2's. I'll order 4. Months later he comes into the shop and the dealers says he could only get 2. Come on Kato, we have the money, we are willing to spend it. Why should a locomotive that is one of the most popular locomotives be a limited run? The only way I got my SD40-2's was because some sales rep blew it and sold over 60 to some stupid RC plane dealer, and he returned them 6 months later (all with smashed cases) to my dept. I grabed as many as I could, and told a sales rep that knew trains, so we could sell them to train dealers, not RC dealers Thats my rant, and I'm sticking with it.
