I was looking at my state cars today and it got me thinking, what is the entire train length going to be when all the cars are out. I figured that it would be close to 16 feet in length. Thought I would post that, because I found that kind of cool. I can't wait to see all of the cars, locomotives and caboose together. Cody
I dread the "Periodic Table of the Elements" series by Micro-Trains. Wow, with over 100 elements, we're looking at a train at LEAST a scale mile long. And partly radioactive to boot!
I haven't heard about the "Periodic Table of the Elements" series. When is that going to be coming out? Cody
Uhh... I think the elements came out about 13 billion years ago... I was just joking about Micro-Trains...
Well, the last of the State Cars is out this month. I can't believe it's been 4 1/2 years since M/T started this series. It's been a great run and I'm really happy with the set. Thanks M/T for a great series of cars! I only wish that M/T would offer a second run of the teritories cars that were done for NSC. I would like to have those cars as part of my collection but my train budget has been taxed enough without having to pay a membership fee to buy cars and the prices these sell for on ebay make buying them second hand out of the question.
(tongue in cheek) The really tough part with the "periodic table of the elements cars" will be the models representing elements that have a very short half-life. Atoms of the elements numbered 109 and higher have an average life under a second, before they decay into something else. Can you imagine the heat that MT would take if their models for these elements did not decay immediately, and thus were not true to the prototype?
So am I I would buy at least selected elements. Right off the top of my head, Nitrogen would be a sure buy. I just like that element and it is so often overlooked though so important. What about the molecule cars. I would buy H20, and maybe CaCl and H2SO4. I am also a total nerd. This train thing is probably one of the less "nerdy" things I do, defined as most socially acceptable around the "cool people" that one might run into at parties.
An interesting set of data points about Special Editions in general-- 1) There have been no Smokey Bear "Fire Prevention Poster" cars this year, and I suspect that there will not be. So I'm speculating that this series is over. 2) The "Twelve Days of Christmas" series ends this coming fall. Personally, I'd like to see a revival of the annual holiday car in 2008 but I may be in the minority there. 3) The announcement of the latest US Navy car in the Micro-News also includes the statement, "The U.S. Navy Series will be concluding in July 2008" which, given the alternating month format, means six more cars plus the Battleship Row set. 4) There are also six Canadian Province and Territory cars remaining to release, so barring any delays (or new provinces!), that series will also end in mid-2008. I am wondering-- and I would not expect Joe to comment on this!-- whether there will follow a de-emphasis of Special Editions in general by Micro-Trains, in favor of other efforts, not the least of which will be Z Scale equipment.
I'm hoping for a letters and numbers series myself. The big question is whether or not MTL would start at "0" or "1." I love their stuff... I just don't understand the "just for collectors" equipment.
Would be kind of strange to see M/T not do any kind of special edition series. While I am more of of a runner than a collector, I must admit that I have enjoyed collecting the state series and the Canada cars. Maybe Joe will consider doing a U.S.Presidents series? I think it would do well.
BNSF Fan, that’s a really good idea. I myself have never collected MT series cars. But I am a U.S. History buff so I would be interested in a U.S. Presidents Series. MT could use the year each president was sworn in as the road numbers for that particular presidents car. That would make G. Washington’s car either 1789 or 001. And G.W. Bush would be either 2001 or 043 P.S. The U.S. Mint is doing a presidents series with the Dollar Coins.
Interestingly, as this is one of my other hobbies (mostly through my seven year old daughter who's become an avid collector of coins with Queen Elizabeth II on them), I have been following the US Mint's Presidential Dollars series. Except for a feeding frenzy on error versions of these coins (mostly ones that are missing the edge lettering) that easily outpaces anything we've ever seen in Model Railroading, the response has been pretty underwhelming in the collector community that we're plugged into. Dollar coins are a non-starter with the general public unless and until dollar bills are removed from circulation. Given that, I wonder whether such a series of model railroad cars from any manufacturer would be overkill. I would most likely enjoy doing reviews of such a series, as I admittedly did with the State Cars-- hey, I might even get my kids into it; but that's not a good business reason for me to suggest it to MTL.
Regarding Smokey the Bear Series George: With regards to your comment about the Smokey the Bear Series, I sent an email to MTL asking about the lack of any this summer. The repsonse I got was that the series ended. It is my guess that the series did not do as well as they had hoped so they dropped it. It would appear that dealers still have older stock. Jim
I'm waiting on the MT "American Kennel Association Recognized Dog Breed Series" myself. That ought to take a few years!
I'd like to see a series of monthly releases based on American Prototype Railroad Cars. They would have no special markings, instead would just be decorated to match the prototype.
Hey, I'd bet their would be a market for such a thing! I would love to see more shortline stuff. Athearn has been putting out the odd pair of Port of Tillamook Bay or City of Prineville boxcars, and they're not bad, but MTL has higher quality standards and their stuff runs better right out of the box. This fits the prototype desire AND it would give the collectors something other than Happy Birthday cars to collect. Adam
