Ah yes... the proverbial Con-Cor fantasy scheme du jour. I guess for fans of the roads that didn't have some of these unique engines... if you weren't offended... you certainly would save time with Con-Cor's 'max-out the tooling cost' way of doing business. I was a non-participant for 'most' of their offerings. Unfortunately... before I knew what they were doing... I probably bought lots of D&RGW [and other] Con-Cor fantasy paint jobs. It is definately one of those 1970's to early 1990's nitpickings that I feel used to keep N scale in the 'TOYLIKE' model train genre. Fortunately for N scale... most other manufacturers didn't continue to offer as many fantasy paint schemes after the mid 1990's. Yeah... I know that Micro-trains roadname paint schemes on many of their rolling stock were also 'close-enough' for N scale. Most Atlas Trainman models are still not quite right for the paint schemes offered. It's just that many things done by Con-Cor weren't even close to reality. What I feel Con-Cor 'shud'da' done... was offer special run fantasy schemes on a 'built-to-order' basis. For all my derision of Con-Cor's practices... they did help keep N scale on the map in the 1970's and 1980's. So Thank-you Jim Conway for your work in N scale. :thumbs_up: BTW... I really like Con-Cor' Pioneer Zephyr model... :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
Has anyone here visited the ConCor website lately. Most of the fantasy equipment is sold out. Someone is buying it. Now who could that be?
You're right. They've also gone and rereleased the hudson in HO too. For some reason it isn't listed on their American site, but you can find it on the British one. But no American stuff in N scale. I heard rumor that they were going to rerelease the big boy in N too, but that the tooling had disappeared.
It's got to be that pesky silent majority that is *gasp* not overly concerned about prototypical modeling. :tb-shocked: Honestly, I always get a good laugh when people on MRR forums get all worked up over fantasy schemes and why they seem to sell - as though the majority of the modeling world (who don't participate in these forums) doesn't exist.
If the Tooling disappearing is true; then knowing Jim COnway that means they are planning on retooling the Hudson also and we will hear something soon. The same thing happened when the U50 was being worked. So stay tuned:thumbs_up:
I agree with you Pete, Con Cor did indeed bring some nice models to the US; and also agree that there obviously is a market for the Fantasy Road schemes. And just as with Bachmann or Model Power some of their models are good ones and some aren't. But to say that all were no good isn't true. Jim will produce better detail when like now the paying public demands it. Good examples are the Zephyr, Aero Train, and M54 just recently released in HO. All have good details, DCC compatibility, and Prototypical paint schemes, and not to leave out that they are good runners. Now Con Cor has come out with a modern Knuckle Coupler; just another example of Consumer demand compliance. SO don't turn your back on Old Con Cor especially in this tight economy, just might miss out on a heck of a deal/:tb-wink: Well that's my two bits Glen:mwink:
You are 100% correct Glen we can't turn our backs on Con Cor because let's face it they always tried to bring out unique and interesting products along with they're bread and butter products and they are a great manufacturing firm. I myself have a lot of they're passenger cars, auto racks, rolling stock and a few locos. I had to replace the couplers to knuckle but other then that I can't say anything bad about Con Cor's products
Just wonder if the Rivarossi tooling for the Big Boy, Challenger, passenger & freight stock may have ended up wherever Con Cor had the stuff made in later days.
Concor owned the tooling for the N&W Y6b 2-8-8-2, and the NKP 2-8-4. Also for the Big Boy and Challenger IIRC. The tooling was located at the Rivarossi factory (RR made them for Concor). Small reference to Concor trying to retrieve the tooling here: http://www.con-cor.com/newdates.htm Mark
Same goes for Con Cor's Heavy Weight Pass Cars RR tooling is what they are made from; that is why they are still being produced in the old road schemes
Difference is Rivarossi owned the passenger car tooling (I'm guessing this since the tooling was orginially sold by Atlas here in the late 60s - RR later tooled up additional cars such as the full baggage)- not sure how Concor is getting these made.
Freelancing I profoundly agree. I do want certain trains I buy to be as prototypical as possible. I was glad to see Kato produce some authentic Santa Fe passenger trains. However, before I loose sight that this is a discussion about ConCor. The thing is I was able to produce some fairly authentic Santa Fe trains using the ConCor, full length passenger cars. I found their selection of coaches to be a close match for my all coach, El Capitian. I was able to build my own CA Zephyr, although not 100% accurate it was close enough. On the flip side, I freelanced a bay window caboose for my Santa Fe M.O.W. train. Not authentic but it looks good. I've done the same thing with some Model Power, Standard passenger cars, turning them into silver painted, M.O.W. dorm cars. For those of us who want prototypical trains...we pretty much know what to look for. On the other hand there is a market, a lucrative market for the fantasy equipment. Someone here took a modern day locomotive and painted it into the SP, Black Widow, Paint Scheme. A kind of what if? Me thinks I would of bought one if he was mass producing them. Fantasy is always fun to play around with but when I get serious and focused...I want prototypes running on my layout. I'm not your judge and jury so have fun, however you interpret model railroading.cute:
On another note. There's quite a bit of talk here about tooling and where it is or who owns it. A simple call to Jim Conway would clear the speculation up. I get enough specualtion from CNN, Fox and all the other commentators on the "News Channels".
Considering I have a ConCor U50 in Santa Fe blue and yellow paint that I love and a few other fantasy scheme cars, where would I fit in? Maybe I'm a true outcast as a) I bought a fantasy scheme, b) i'm on these forums, and c) i actually exist (I think?). Good stuff. ConCor has been a pioneer in N-Scale through the years and I still like some of the stuff they do today. Thanks Jim for what you have done in our hobby.
You're a forum member who likes fantasy schemes?! :tb-shocked: QUICK HIDE before the prototype police get a hold of you! :tb-wink: I've always had a soft spot for the U50's ever since I watched a pair of them hauling a long train around the old Elmherst Model Railroad club back when I was a kid. :tb-ooh:
Con Cor is the only company to paint E8's in Black Widow, just like 2 were painted in the late 1950's as a test bed for fast, overnight freight....Yes, Con Cor has/will make some fantasy loco's...but they also make things that others are afraid to make.
At least when Con-Cor (and Atlas for that matter) stuff was made by Kato and Rivarossi you knew who was making it and what sort of quality you were going to get.
But even locos not made by Kato and RR have been exceptional: I have a 2-10-2 with a drop-in decoder that is a star runner and puller. It is one of the best-running rigid long wheelbase steamers ever.
