The June '03 issue of MR has a bit by the editor on most-wanted locomotives from the builders. I believe this thread has been visited before, but I've slept since then, so I can't remember. There have been a few new diesels, steamers & electrics coming out lately, but is YOUR favorite in the mix. If not, what WOULD you like to see? As for me, here's my list: </font> CF7, with round or angled cab. Since Athearn recently purchased RailPower Products' line of shells, perhaps they would be nice enough to release one. I have a CF7, and the Athearn F-unit chassis that powers it took a lot of machining to fit.</font> A chopnosed, scale-width Geep. Sorry Walthers, but the Trainline chopped GP9 is a "widebody" shell, and although it looks & runs OK, it just......ain't..........right. (Jeez, I sound like that alleged "expert" on another forum )</font> Some more "Critters" like the ones in the Whitcomb and Plymouth line seen prowling the major industries.</font> An Alco T6 switcher.</font> An SD45-2 (there were quite a few made for Santa Fe and Erie Lackawanna, and we have two of these bad boys leased from Helm and used as power for the Royse City rock train on DGNO).</font> Scale-width U-boats ( a decent-running U28, U30, U33/U36B would be nice. Atlas did the U23B, and Stewart blessed us with the U25B, two of which roam the Frisco's Spring River Sub upstairs).</font> For that matter, scale-width Dash 7 four-axle chuggers.</font>
1. SD45T-2 2. B30-7 3. B23-7 4. MP15AC 5. MP15(DC) 6. SD45-2 7. RSD-15 [ 04. May 2003, 10:20: Message edited by: SP 8299 ]
Eh? Didn't hear ya- I'm a mite deef........ Yeah Matt, I thought about a C636 in my list as well, but since you like those big Centurys, I thought I'd let ya chime in.
Bachmann came out with a B23-7 in the Plus line some time back, but the drive is suspect at best, and the detalis are a wee bit clunky. However, nothing you can't fix with detail parts and a modified power chassis (but that would make a RTR B23-7 a moot point)
I thought Athearn did one............. ......... after loking at the Athearn website, they DO- but did Rio Grande have tunnel motors with long "snoots"? [ 05. May 2003, 05:30: Message edited by: friscobob ]
They had two different noses, 81" and 88". The Athearn model has the wrong fuel tank, is too wide, the wheelbase is too short and etc.
Too wide? The Athearn SD40T-2 isn't a fatbody - the U-boats, GP7, SD45, SDP40, and GP35 are the ones that hold that dubious distinction. The truck centers are off slightly as a compromise for sharper curves, and it isn't easy to fix, unless you want to scratchbuild a frame (one of the many things on my "gonna get to it someday" list ). It isn't too tough to cut down the fuel tank to the correct length for DRGW - a hacksaw/miter box, or a mill can take care of that. Or better yet, you can just model Espee, since they specified full-size fuel tanks on their T-2s. (ducking for cover)
Bachmann came out with a B23-7 in the Plus line some time back, but the drive is suspect at best, and the detalis are a wee bit clunky. However, nothing you can't fix with detail parts and a modified power chassis (but that would make a RTR B23-7 a moot point) </font>[/QUOTE]Oh yeah, I've seen the Bachmann B23-7. Strangely enough, I actually preferred the RPP B23-7 over the Bachmann, since I thought the shell looked a little better, and I had the ability to add an Athearn drive. These days, I'd probably start with various Atlas C30-7 and U23B components to get a B23-7. I've done something similar in order to get a B30-7 - I shortened an Atlas C30-7 body, added an Hi-Tech Details cab, and mounted it on an RPP B23-7 walkway. Still, I'd rather have a nice quality shell to work with as a starting point - current Athearn R-T-R level or better would be fine for me.
Sticky, there was an HO C636 on eBay a week or so ago, but I couldn't remember who wanted one. I'm sorry, I would have email you if I could have remembered it was you. Keep an eye on eBay.
Ha! Matt! I was filling out the card today, and the model I put down was.... the C-636!!! SP&S diehard that I am, I love them, tho I have recently taken a shine to the D&H because they had them too, amongst other reasons. Second choice? NP A-3/SP&S E-1 Northerns. Third? Anything Baldwin Personally tho I just wished they kept the production running on some of these models. If they keep with short runs, all that happens is they come out with the model I want, just when I can't afford it! The model (non-locomotive) I want to see most is an Internation WV caboose with modular sides, so you could model most any prototype easily and accurately.
First off, let me second that, Originally posted by StickyMonk: Beyond that... SDP45, especially in GN Big Sky Blue. I would really like to see Concor do a HO scale U50, especially if it was up to the same quality as their MP15 MK / MPI MP1200G /MK1500/MK2000 There are getting to be more and more of these around every day (though not up here unfortunatly) and SOMEONE needs to do a model of them A high hood GP20, in GN, in Big Sky Blue (Come on, Proto ) A torpedo tube GP9, with and without steam generator stacks And finally, I'd like to add my voice to the requests for a line of U-boats. One frame and mechanisim could do the U-25B, -28B, -30B, -33B, and -36B [ 05. May 2003, 09:47: Message edited by: cthippo ]
If you truly want this hobby to be around in a couple more generations, the wish list would be for a line of AFFORDABLE locomotives, of DECENT quality, with GOOD drive trains.....without all the bells, whistles, variety detail, and limited-run BS that forces up the price. For me ?....No, I'm all done buying the toys of the deep pockets crowd.... No, not for me....for the young person who just might want to move up from his low-end Model Power or Mehano engine and actually STAY in a hobby that is being inexorably ramped up to a level of fiscal exclusivity. I hope there's a few car kits around then too. regards / Mike Sorry about the rant, folks, but these "Gimme-gimme-gotta-have" Santa Claus wish lists get on my nerves, and if they contribute in some fashion to the hobby, then the hobby is already only one quack short of a dead duck.
I know these might have limited appeal, but I'd love an affordable (read not brass) Milwaukee Road Bipolar and Little Joe. Also a Baldwin Centipede! Are you listening Proto 2000?
Dutchman wrote: "I am always hopeful for a new Camelback--sorry, but I model the antracite roads." Have you tried a body shell swap with the IHC locos? The modern 4-4-0 and the 2-6-0 share the same body. The camelback 2-6-0 and standard 2-6-0 are the same chassis. It should therefore be possible to swap the camelback body on to the 4-4-0 chassis. Eric
Couple of points here: First, I haven't heard too much from the steam crowd. Being somewhat ignorant in steam, I'd love to hear the input from you steam guys. Second, I'm not looking for high-end, high-price locomotives either- it would be great to see a model with decent detail at an affordable price for most of us (for the record, I work on a very tight budget, and model RR dollars are at the very bottom of my list on the budget. This means ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I have was bought at a price less than retail.). Anything that would run better that Mehanotekhnica, non-Proto LifeLike or Tyco- heck, the Athearn drive runs great IMHO, for the price and availability. And actually Walthers is making some strides towards decent engines with their Trainline line (I have two GP15-1s from them, as well as a GP9M. The "baby tunnel motors" are in Frisco (or course), while the GP9M is in Kyle colors. And I run them, and I like them- and I got 'em cheap. We've been down that "high-price toy" road before, and I'm really not interested in traveling that again. If a topic like this (that I had no problems starting, BTW) is bothersome to some, simple- ignore it. Saves a few points on the blood pressure that way. [ 06. May 2003, 07:20: Message edited by: friscobob ]
