The order page now indicates the following: "More stock on the way; estimated to ship in 2-3 weeks - limited quantity available." Link is in the original post to this thread.
One of my friends, the one in the video ("Amtrak Matt"). He mentioned it on Amtrak Modeler on Yahoo! Groups. You can reach him there or call the 1-800 number on the Amtrak Store site and one of the reps can give you more info about ordering options for that item.
I guess everyone can't be everywhere all the time... He is on the other site as a fellow modeler, not as rep for Amtrak. Plus, he is an HO guy, so he probably won't be on here with the N-scalers anyway. It’s not his job at Amtrak to monitor message boards, most of the "modeling" stuff he does between Amtrak and the manufactures he does as on his own time and off the Amtrak payroll. That being said, I would highly recommend anyone who models Amtrak to get on the "amtrakmodeler" group over on Yahoo! Groups too. There is a lot of good Amtrak stuff, resources and knowledgeable people over there and its a good supplement to this site.
Thanks for the advice. I just joined today. Probably won't visit often, but I want to be prepared next time Matt issues an N scale news flash! The easy next offering could be a Kato baggage car appropriate to use with our Phase IVb Superliners w/Parlour. Off course, what we really need is a transition sleeper, but that might not come in my lifetime, as I think it would be new tooling.
I actually see most of the announcements for this kind of thing from Amtrak's Youtube and Facebook sites... but you'll get a lot of good Amtrak conversation on the other site previously mentioned. As for the baggage car, Kato released one about a year ago in phase IVb (AKA VI). Here is a photo from Wig-Wag Trains: http://wig-wag-trains.com/KatoPages/AA_Kato_Pictures/Passenger/Amfleet/156-0953.jpg On the Transition Sleeper, I've talked to Kato a few times and they don't like to definitely say yes or no, but it seems like we might see one someday. I kit bashed two of them and they weren't too difficult. Just a few window modifications,lowering the door on one end and using Kato Material Handling Car trucks (and extending them so they reach the ends of the car): Let me know if you have an additional questions about the kitbash, I would be happy to assist! Chris
I didn't realize that Phase VI and IVb were the same. I had seen that release but never got around to looking into it. I'm guessing they'll re-release before too long. Nice work on that transition sleeper. I can't understand how they would do everything we need except one car for a protypical consist. Maybe they just assumed that most modelers would never notice...
I think its mainly because the Superliners currently in production at Kato are the Superliner Is and the Transition Sleeper is part of the Superliner II fleet. I lived in Africa for the initial release from Kato, but I believe they started with Phase II and III cars (80s through early 90s), so by those standards, the Transition Sleeper wasn't around yet (they hit the rails in 1994/1995 and helped introduce the Phase IV livery). I still agree that it would be nice to have that one car produced for our modern Superliner trains. They did the same thing with the Amfleet II and Viewliner release (Phase IV and IVb)... they didn't make the Heritage Diner! I kitbashed one of those too! I've been told that most of the decisions on what they make come from Japan and the folks in Japan don't see the differences we see or its not important to them (like you said).
The Amfleet cars? Microscale makes them: http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2...de=60-971&Category_Code=AMTK&Product_Count=24
I ordered one, had buyer's remorse and tried to cancel the order only to find out it shipped. If anyone wants it, I'll sell it at cost, with a little discount on the shipping. PM me if interested before I resort to eBay.
Excellent bashes on the Transition Sleepers, Chris! I also did one a while back where I also used the MHC trucks as well as the stabilizer strut brackets off the MHC car (not completely correct but close enough...now a guy on ShapeWays makes the strut brackets)... Russ
Russ, That looks amazing! I am probably going to go back and touch mine up a bit! Funny about the struts (or maybe not so funny(-, it always seems like someone comes out with something better after you've done something the hard/expensive way! Its my life story. Chris
That's why I want you guys to keep on scratch building the Transition Sleepers. It will almost guarantee that Kato will finally release one.
Received mine yesterday. For now it will sit in my desk until I can get the superliners to go with it. Crappy photo taken with phone.
Looks like mine has been shipped as well. However, I must have purchased the cheaper one as there's one on that particular auction site that's up to 162.00! Perhaps I should've purchased 2....one to run and the other to retire on!
