Hey everyone... hope you're all enjoying some modeling time as you can. I'm entertaining the idea of starting a side business to make specialized N scale detail parts. With the departures of great suppliers like Sunrise Enterprises and others, its left quite a void in the hobby. I've had some experience doing some small resin castings but I'm trying to assess costs of doing white metal/pewter castings as well. I'd like to say that IF I proceed with this enterprise, I have no intentions of 'stealing' or reproducing castings by Sunrise or others. These will be original masters that will hopefully fill some voids in the market. What I'd like to know is: how many of you are having trouble finding detail parts in N? And what parts do you feel are the most sorely missed in the market? Thanks!! Chad
Chad, I had problems finding parts. Most missed (for me) are: Steam domes Sand domes Stacks Basically all steam engine parts that helps to rebuild existing models to more road-specific and accurate engines. Cheers Dirk
EMD Plows found on 2nd Generation units in the following flavors: High w/ Doors High w/o Doors Low w/ Doors Low w/o Doors Sunrise made all 4, the Atlas parts dont come close neither to BLMA's as they angle the sides out which is incorrect for 60's/70's Geeps -Esdees. T
Various SP light packages...particularly the 3-light noselight package. Also the emergency light and bell for the U30Cs Miniatures by Eric has the high-hood (SD9, GP) SP light details, but others are missing now. If I didn't already have a couple "rear light clusters" I would also want those. Actually I might still want some more. Right now I have the CNW style nose bells I need, but that's another one that's missing now with Sunrise gone. Also WP or DRG&W style noselight housings. I think various track-side details such as the Electrical Relay box would also be good sellers. What else? I'm sure there's more.
Definitely some good ideas... i'll monitor this thread as it grows and keep track of these. I have some product ideas that I'd rather not throw out there until I decide whether or not to do this. It falls in the category of lineside details though and I definitely think these could be used in a wide variety of eras/locales. Thanks for the feedback!
I can't agree more! Just adding : Train numbers Valve-Whistle-Pumps Plows for steam locos A skyline to convert a Bachmann MT to SP MT and definively... A Whaleback tender, please. Almost any ESPEE fan will buy some! Stay cool and ... run steam!
There's a lot of nicely detailed diesels running around with the wrong horns! An example of what DetailsWest alone makes in HO: 131 Air Horns -- Hancock Type 4700 173 Air Horns -- Flat Type Singer Chime 174 Air Horns -- Wabco Type E, Single Chime 175 Nathan Air Horn -- PS, 3-Chime 186 Nathan Air Horn -- M3 Brass 187 Nathan Air Horn -- M5 Brass 190 Leslie Air Horns -- RSL-3L-R 191 Leslie Air Horns -- RS-ST-RF, 5-Chime 250 Nathan Air Horn -- K5HR24 251 Nathan Air Horn -- K5 Low Profile 252 Nathan Air Horn -- K5 Low Profile w/All Bells Forward 253 Nathan Air Horn -- K3 w/Reverse #4 Bell 254 Nathan Air Horn -- K3 w/All Bells 326 Air Horn -- "Leslie" S-3L Nonspiked Caps (BN, GN, Katy & Many Eastern Roads) 327 S5T-RR Air Horn "Leslie" 3 Bells Facing Forward, 2 Facing Back -- For CSX, NS, MKT, N&W, UP, & Others 328 Leslie SU-3L-R Air Horn; Three Chime w/Bracket & Air Line Hose -- For EL, Conrail, CNJ, & Others 343 Air Horn - Nathan K5LA23 w/Stand -- 3 Bells Forward, 2 Reverse; For NS, CSX & Others 346 Air Horn -- Nathan P-3, Large Right Bell Configuration, NP, Others (pewter) 347 Air Horn -- Shrouded Two-Chime - Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy, Great Northern (Pewter) 351 Air Horn -- Leslie 5-Chime: 4 Forward & 1 Reverse - GM&O, UP, Others (brass) 369 Air Horn -- Nathan P5 Details West Home Page CalScale and other make them too. I understand Miniatures by Eric makes a few but I've never seen them anywhere (the pix on their site are useless)
I could use: -- the triangular shaped number boards that go near the domes on ATSF steam locos -- nose mounted bell, e.g NYC GP7's, GN, NP -- side mounted bell with bracket for GP38's etc. -- Conrail cab signal boxes One thing I've decided about such parts is that when I need them I really need them, and I'd pay double what Sunrise used to charge. If this happens, I'd suggest you focus on parts that are not available otherwise. Check out Detail Associates, Miniatures by Eric, Republic Locomotive Works, Atlas (many parts available under various locomotive types) etc.
Chad, there are so many! Everything that has been posted so far is much needed. Let's see PLOWS! (my #1 thing) Air horns Light packages (SP, ATSF, DRGW to name a few) antenna (multiple kinds) Air tanks for GP/SD's MU Cables Battery Boxes Thats what I can think of just at looking whats on my workbench. And if you could wing it, we REALLY need BEACONS!!! For BN or ATSF in the 80's, these are a must. If I can think of anything else that hasn't been posted, I'll letcha know. Good Luck! -Mike
A good start is to see what the HO market offers that are not available in N. As for me, I would like to see: Worthington BL-4B feedwater heater. Sand / steam domes Various SP vandy tenders (especially the whaleback) cast steel pilots various headlights Roof details for structures The list could go on and on.
I agree completely. That's the one thing that I've really missed in N-scale, the availability of correct horns, and it's a detail that meets the "three-foot-rule". I've had to resort to "kitbashing" Atlas horns, and even then I can only get kinda close at times. ---jps
I would definitely be interested in steam loco detail parts. It would be nice to have a few road-specific or alternate style resin cabs to replace the stock ones on N-scale steam. The looks of the MDC/Athearn 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 are greatly improved by a taller cab. A tender about 3 scale feet longer also does wonders for these engines. See my recent photo of a 2-8-0 logging loco in N-scale Rail Images. Also, different cylinder castings such as the ones with inboard slanted piston valves as seen for a period in the early 1900's on locos such as the C&NW R-1 ten-wheeler.
I like to see some trackside details too. such as: dual control switch "stands" track derails (operational would be nice) between the rails blue flags that can be raised and lowered It's too bad Details West doesn't want to get into N scale, so some of those products would be nice to see in n scale. The n scale details market, in my opinion, is untapped. There's so many possibilities. You know, why not go further and got into custom shells? JnJ has the right idea, in that the guy has the masters and caster on hand, so he doesn't have to do minimum orders, thus saving and not wasting money. I wish you luck with your venture. If you decide to do it.
I really need ditch lights. Both porch mounted and below the porch with brackets. I really liked the Sunrise versions because they were fairly clean and easy to use. I'm glad Atlas is adding working ditch lights to the Dash 8's, bacause the amount I need to add lights to is getting smaller. Brian
Yep, something like that, but... just RTR! Thinking on the argument I've some others in the list. - Yes, sure the roof details and buildings details is an interesting area ( fire escape stairs, air conditioner , exhaust.... - additional details we N scalers need are in the loco service area: water columns, oil columns , derricks, etc ( unfortunately “seams” that Diamond stop production of such columns ? I means these : products__columns_towers.htm ) - what about a conversion kit to transform a 130'walthers TT into an SP Truss bridge? And, as a picture replace thousand words: San Francisco Turntables Cheers Enzo Fortuna
I second the beacons, either pewter/plastic Western-Cullen or Pyle-National 'gumball' type like Sunrise made and/or the molded orange flat-top beacons like Loco-Motives used to make. Even molded orange gumball types would be great. And don't forget the clear strobes...
Steam era train indicator boards Non-lifting injectors Vertical SP style check valves Harriman common standard cylinder saddle (a la 4-6-0, 2-8-0, 2-6-0, 4-4-2, early 4-6-2) to convert Bachmann 2-8-0 to Stephenson valve gear and for use on other projects. Example on P-1 #2415: http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP2415.JPG If you do a whaleback, do a 98SC-1. How about cabs including an SP style slant front cab for use with Enzo's skyline casing to SPify the Bachmann 4-8-2. As for tenders, my preference would be for 90R style tenders. Maybe like the one behind T-26 #2294 here: http://www.yesteryeardepot.com/SP2294.JPG Mike N
i'm desperately seeking sunrise sinclair antennas. i don't like the blma or miniatures by eric ones. everything else i buy from - blma - gold medal models regarding working ditchlights, you might want to contact tb member wolfworks.
