Interest in 79 new cars. 79 old cars left... Coincidence? Yep. Back to the top of the thread, so those numbers, having converged, can now diverge..
IMHO , I would likely purchase one to support the board but I think the idea of a prototype car better serves the buying public and the board. NScale.net still has a load of their cars that remain unsold. Mike
While I agree with the gist of Mikes statement I have to disagree on what 'prototypical' means when it comes to a TB car. As long as the car is exact in all aspects of the 'type' and 'year' of car it is...the name on the side means nothing if its a TB "Special" run car and it doesnt say 'TrainBoard' on it. Take the MI car for example and Mikes 'trainwreck' post. I never even knew the TB car was in that wreck...until someone pointed it out. Had it said "TrainBoard" on the side...it woulda stuck out as something 'Special' like it should be. The MI car...even in the jewel case really doesnt scream 'TrainBoard' even when you look at the insert and spot 'TrainBoard' in very small letters on the back. Take it out of its case and put it on the track and it just becomes another ho-hum freight car in a long string of other ho-hum freight cars. :-( I for one prefer that a "TrainBoard Special Run" car indicates that its just that.. a TrainBoard special car. JMO YMMV. *BTW...comparing TrainBoard.com and NScale.net is like comparing apples to oranges IMHO ;-)
Prefer Prototype Agreed. I have some non-prototype freight cars but they are an adaptation of an early prototype railroad to a more recent scheme. (I also have a lot of private road names, it seems.)
I see your point, but fully support a TB car, that is clearly TB. I like oddball stuff and run it year round, in an area my wife decorates for various holidays. I do run the original TB car a lot. I would never, ever, ever, ever, have bought the MI boxcar, had it not been a fundraiser. No use for it. I have enough generic boxcars. I may even resell/ donate it, if I ever make good on my desire to cull my collection of impulse items, I won't run. As a monthly supporter, I could have made a donation that would have better served the cause. The question is: Is there enough interest in anything TB takes on, to be a fundraiser and be well received? I think the single prototype car and fundraising are separate issues. Which one should TB pick? mine, of course! (but no one is going to do NFL or world wide soccer club box cars) The collector in me wants another TB car. The fundraiser in me believes decals, might be more profitable. The completely uneducated guesser in me thinks a prototype won't sell again, unless it's to people that model that car. And if it's available elsewhere, folks will probably buy the cheaper one. Unless..... TB could commission cars and shares profit with TB advertisers that stock and sell the cars, but that turns it into a business....
I would really like to see TB decals so that I could 'tag' my TB cars. My layout has no theme, I just buy & run what I like.
Sorry Guys but I gotta tell you , decals do not generate money and that was the object here. IMHO Mike
Mike may be correct that decals don't generate money. However if the car came with an option decal the buyer could apply, that would solve a lot of issues.
Maybe one of the talented decal makers on TrainBoard could do something? Probably just need 2 to 4 decals per car and they would only be available with the cars ...
I'll be honest with you; I wasn't really involved in that. I was all for it but all of that work was done by other members. Charlie
I don't understand how decals wouldn't be profitable. I understand generic decals, with competitive margins, aren't profitable. This, however, is a fundraiser. 1 sheet needed. Artwork probably available, from membership. Postage nominal. Markup $10 to$15 for sheet (its a fundraiser). Some time period in, a contest (show us your decals). The graphics would be scalable. 1 set of artwork. All scales could participate. Only art suggestion I have is include the original tb logo as "prototype" and maybe include a graffitti type. This way you have both decal markets.
To elaborate a bit, these were from a Custom Painted / Custom Decal Project done in 2008 by a TB Staff member in both HO and N on a per order basis rather than a 300 Car production. There were some "challenges" but everyone that requested a car got one in the end and each one was uniquely numbered. So, my TBX #0801 shown above (Year 2008 Car #01) is a one of a kind car that I gladly donated some serious $$$ to obtain that proceeds went to TB. I don't know if anyone would take on such a major project again but I am certainly proud to have this car in my collection!!! If someone ever again volunteered to do such a major project to help TB I would likely be the first in line again. This is also why I'm on the list to obtain a TB car as part of this topic as to me it's a great way advertise TB on a layout as a conversation piece and also help TB out with some funds to help pay the bills to keep the site going!!! Did I take a number earlier??? :question: If not, somebody just assign the next number to me as I will definitely be Pre-Ordering this one too!!!!!!!
took a number earlier, but I guess somebody else wanted that number more, so I'll be EIGHTY-FOUR! N I would also be first in line for a HO car HO
These were made on a strictly per order basis; so, it was a 100% Sell Out. So, the only way to get one is if one of us decided to sell our car from that 2008 fund raiser. river_eagle is showing off his N Scale versions from that 2008 Fund Raiser too; these TBX Cars look great don't they!!! The TBX #3401 is Mark's Custom Gondola that he sent on a Layout Tour that several of us enjoyed hosting for a few days all around the country...
