To say the least I'm curious. In HO, Atlas releases 2 road numbers in the DC version of a new locomotive and 2 different road numbers in DCC. This allows enterprising dealers to sell their customers 4 road numbers. I feel we are being shorted in N Scale. I would like to be able to offer that option to our customers. Yes an unnumbered version is available but sells extremely poorly compared to the numbered units. Decaling the numberboards makes it almost impossible to see the light behind the number. That is one reason that the unnumbered sell very slowly. The other is that decal companies apparently do not apparently get accurate paint samples and type styles and font sizes to match factory produced units. Am I the only one who believes more of our fellow N-Scalers would buy more than 2 road numbers as opposed to the unnumbered versions. Yes it will be up to the dealer to do shell swaps but that should not be a problem.
I'd buy different road numbers in a heartbeat. Many of my locos have fictitious numbers because they were close together on some decal sheet.
I agree it is very much a pain to try and change number boards. it's deffinately something I hate to do. I did notice Atlas did 4 different #'s for their GN VO1000 in n scale. Now if we could get them to do this with all the engines they produce
I always prefer the unnumber units as I like to choose my own numbers within the range of the roster the RR had. I was disappointed when Kato got away from unnumbered units which leaves me to re-number all new purchases. The lighted numberboards do litte for me as I rarely turn out the lights and run in the dark. I ususally blackout the glass in the number boards so no light shines through.
Bill: The only reason that it appeared Atlas did 4 road numbers on the VO-1000 was that most of the first release was not delivered till the second release was also ready. There were apparently some issues with the VO-1000 which delayed certain paint schemes and the DCC units arrived as much as a year late.
I would definatly buy different numbered units! (The factory installed number boards is a HUGE plus in N Scale!) As it is now, I usually get the two numbered units released, and then hope they are re-released with different numbers later. I have numbered undec. units, but factory painted/numbered is so much easier!
As I model MoPac, I can't say this really affects me, since I have to paint and decal everything myself anyway. However, this does seem a valid point; perhaps the manufacturers could collaborate with the decal companies so as to be able to include decals with the unnumbered models. The example I know of is Marshall Shops; they have always included road names and number decals with their passenger car kits, and the newer MoPac cars have decals for the cream colored stripes, which is a lot better than trying to mask and paint a 1/16" stripe of cream over a dark blue.
I would have liked to have had 4 different numbered big sky blue SD9's from Atlas instead of just two. It was real bear to try and change out number boards on them. I never did get the right size numbers for the two I redid. I would like to see more releases in this scheme from them also.
I always buy 2 roadnumbers if I want an Atlas diesel that I like. Bachmann and other companies should also release multiple road numbers. For example I have 4 Bachmann Spectrum Southern 2-8-0's numbered #722 When I add them to the Lenz system, I give them all variations on the original 722 number. Stay cool and run steam....
IMHO, I think the best option is un-numbered engines/rolling stock and include a decal sheet. Give the buyer a choice! Or at least only put on the first few numbers (depending on the numbering system of that particular piece) and include a decal sheet for the ending numbers. Plus, dont have the stupid sheets with only a 1234567890 number set that make it VERY difficult to cut, rearrange, and align the numbers into something worth while. You think that the companies would have a consultant on these things - sheesh! I would definately buy these!
George, I agree with you. I think us N scalers are being cheated. I'm not much into unnumbered locos, though I do have one SD24 that I bought unnumbered as Atlas didn't have the foresight to number any Santa Fe units in the 4500 number range. I'm definitely not looking forward to decaling number boards!
I think I too would buy more locos if they had more numbers. I believe 4 numbers is sufficient. Though Sandro Schaer could use 60 different numbers! I was hoping that the unnumbered locos Atlas offers would be easier to number using a decal or word processor printed number. I have yet to purchase an unnumbered one, but I figured that was what you would have to do.
Here's my votes: YES on the proposition to replicate the Atlas HO process in N (4 #'s total, 2 DC, 2 DCC). NO on any proposition that requires me to cut and apply little tiny pieces of stuff onto a 1:160 locomotive.
Cheated, no. Ignored, yes. Are the numbers are put on with decals at the factory? If so, it would mean absolutely NOTHING to the manufacturer to make available 20 or 100 different road numbers. For those who care, it is important and avoid a pain the rear job of altering a number. For those who don't care, they would just as soon purchase 10 engines with the same number. If the numbers are painted on, perhaps they don't want to keep on changing whatever machinery or plates or whatever it is called they use for it. Even if it added cost of a buck or two, it is a lot better than carefully removing numbers, purchasing decal sheets and trying to apply it as good as a factory could.
I agree that there is not equal treatment and that it would be great to have more number options but I also know how far N-scale has come. I have been in this hobby a while, almost 30 years, and when I was a kid and starting out there wasn't hardly anything available, let alone different numbers. Now we have top quality locomitives with detail that is improving with every release. New companies are finally starting to look at N-scale as a viable market (i.e. Athearn... finally someone is producing good N-scale vehicles.) Things are really good for us. I think we all remember a time when we would get one maybe two good releases a year. Now it is almost too much for the pocket book to take. (a good problem!!!) I know that nothing is ever perfect and we should always try to improve, but be patient everybody things are headed in the right direction. (stepping down from soap box)
You mean painted roadname and un-numbered... right??? I'd agree with that. Because undecs are just plain grey and the decal sheets would be just a generic font/color/size which may not be what you'd want for the road you'd be painting.
Not quite what you're after. But, I'll reiterate a past complaint that is still valid- Anyone doing Milwaukee Road units in the orange and black scheme, needs to offer them WITHOUT the billboard lettering! While the billboarding may be removeable, I've little interest in spending time getting it off. Adding it with decals is a simple operation. I'm taking about GP40, GP38-2, SD40-2, and any other appropriate units offered....... Boxcab E50
