Nothing really shocking announced. Microtrains will do a PRR baggage car for their next heavyweight. Intermountain hinted that they bought another model company. We all wondered if it might be Model Power. Fox Valley (Matt) said he will announce a new locomotive that he has in the works in a few months. A lot of prototype freight cars were announced by small manufacturers like Fox, Brian Bussie's company and others. Charlie Vlk indicated that some of his clients like Broadway Limited and Hornby have some new stuff in the works. I forget all the details. The new Z scale Digitrax 4 function decoder is tiny. Sorry I forgot to wright it all down.
It could be a good thing if IM did buy MP. Hornby has been in the works with a GE U25C for a while now, and a lot of folks are waiting on that one.
I talked with the rep from Kato yesterday about the F-E-F 4-8-4. He said it will be a long time before they release any more new steam. They spent way too much time trying to adapt the GS4 mechanism for it before they gave up and designed a brand new drive. He said they would not try to adapt the F-E-F for anything else but plan to release all the prototype UP paint schemes and many number eventually. Kato worked with Steve Lee on the design to get a lot of questions answered. It will not have all the latest enviromental apliances added the top of the tender for the modern locomotive but they could be added by folks willing to to do a little bit of modeling. He said they will do the water tenders and if I recall correctly, the tool car also.
I'm sure that, whatever it is, the roadnames I want will never get produced because Charlie Vlk will have them held back for the second production run that never happens. First Kato, now Broadway Limited and Hornby, too - there's just no escaping it.
Had a great time attending the convention with my North Raleigh Model Railroad Club brothers. Met up with many forum members during the Swap-a-rama, Eastern N Lines N-TRAK layout & other convention activities. Best conversations took place during the room sales.....Also took a chance at the model contest and came home with these: First Place Diorama - Scratch built firehouse Third Place Freight Cars - Kit bashed DL&W Milk car
Was it Fox Valley who was to produce the B&O covered wagon caboose? I know they did the box car. If my memory serves me correctly the caboose was supposed to be here by now.
I don't believe Charlie has the final say on when roadnames are run. He gives input, and the company rolls with what they want. I thought late this year.
Unless they have announced something different that I somehow missed the change in what the prototype is going to be it was announced some time back in April that the prototype was to be an ERIE baggage car.
You are likely correct. What ever it is there will be a number of them in my fast mail train. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
What a great time! Thanks to all who came. Roanoke will not soon forget the N Scale invasion. The Convention for me is all about the people and the personalities. Seeing friends with a similar obsession to mine is an annual boost to my well being. Even the wrestling match that broke out at the Live Auction was truly a good time. Personally, I sat in awe at the O. Winston Link Museum, as the art of the man and his technique are amazing. Of course, with any convention that has this many moving parts, something is bound to get fouled up, In our case it was the Raffle Grand Prize attribution. Doug Hickman was supposed to let me present that one, but we were moving so quickly, he just steamrollered me out of the way! So- Thanks to Matt Gaudynski of Fox Valley Models AND Fred Hoxsie of GHP BOTH for the donation of the Heritage Locomotive Set. Doug mistakenly announced the set as a GHP donation, and neglected to acknowledge Matt in the room, which we deeply regret, as Matt has been so supportive of the convention and the organization. We apologize to Matt for the omission. Much to follow as we recover.
Thanks George for all your, the local committee's and the board's work on putting the convention together. I just wish there were more spittoons available. It was difficult to follow you around all the time to use yours.
