Hi all, Just wanted to touch bases with everyone and let you in on the progress of the SD40-2. As most are aware, we are way behind schedule. While our plastic was done and ready, our vendor for the chassis just couldn't seem to get all the bugs worked out. As a result we have had to push the schedule out more than we had anticipated. (silver lining in all this is that the E8 and E9 will release sooner relative to the release of the SD40-2) Good news is that we are promised a final, final, last final sample to approve sometime this month and then can start production. As for the first release, that's not going to be established until we know production has started...then we will committ to a date for everyone. It's been kinda cool having the only pair of running MTL SD40-2's in the world for 6 months, but I think it's time to share with everyone. As of now, our first paint scheme will be the latest CSX mostly blue scheme. http://www.trainweb.org/csxphotos/photos/SD40-2/8835CSX-yn3.jpg I have a long list of paint schemes, hopefully taking care of those of you who do modern stuff. Hang on and thanks for your patience. Oh, yea, we haven't been sitting on our rears in all this, we have two new freight cars underway that should warm the most jaded hearts out there. Stay tuned. Cheers Joe MTL
Sounds great Joe, can you have them molded in black plastic so we can start stripping them right away? CSX SUX, but a black shell can be BNed and MRLed pretty easy.
Great news Joe. I am tired of waiting, but I know you wouldnt releasse something that doesnt run right. We probably forget that is late once we start running the SD40. By the way, what color scheme is coming out first?
Nooooooooo..... oh wait Yeaaaaaaaa cant wait plastic color doesn't matter to me. I'm just glad that we are getting separate handrails. BN Green, Wide cab CN kit bashes, Stripping UP units. Yeah I can't wait. But why CSX????? Why Joe Why??? But I'm Still wondering why a SD40-2 instead of a SD40, since your an Espee guy?
haha! It's CSX first, because those that want them the most (ME) will spend too much money anyways, and buy 10 of them, then when the BN ones get released, I won't be in the market for them, as I will already have several in BN paint. That way enought CSX will be sold to justify doing that paint scheme! haha!
Nick, its CSX because Joe knows what I want, and they want the best looking scheme. I always say Joe has good taste.
Sounds good. Just as long as I see BNSF H1 and Santa Fe yellow-bonnets I'll be happy. Oh and it's not too hard to do patched yellow-bonnets in BNSF once you get those going. Since I know BN will be done I don't have to beg as much for those. You can do 3 schemes with out have to go to town.
Please do not take this question as a bash. Is the new SD40-2 the correct width? I know the GP35 is not and it looked like the cab was from a 35 and that got me worried. My 2nd question is, what is your plan for headlights? Will you make one mold with a Eastern nose light and a 2nd mold with a Western nose light? What about a cab light?
Thanks for the update Joe.... Can you let us know the roads (apart from CSX) that will be realeased first, aslo has MTL considered factory installing DCC decoders?(I dont like operating on my Loco's) Im really looking forward to gettin a few.... Any more clues about the new freight cars??? Mike.....
Ya know...something had to go first, CSX was pulled out of the coffee can and we went with it! ) Kidding. Generally we have to consider capacity as one of the elements in picking a road for a specific month. The model is based on the BN prototype so that will be in the top few roads to be released. Again, I have a list but we won't be able to get it squared away until I know I have chassis...then look at the months they will come out in. Why the SD40-2...and yes being an SP guy it doesn't make sense, but I wanted to go with the body style that had the most number of roads to use, and a chassis I could use to make the E series with to replace our F7's. The more money I can save on tooling the better pricing I get on quantity. If I did something else, then I'd have to develope a new chassis for the E series and instead of them being our entry level loco they would have cost what the SD's cost. You know, SP did have some rebuilt SD40-2M's http://www.jefflubchanskycpa.com/SP7359-OI-NO23-97SL8.jpg and some SD38-2's http://espee.railfan.net/spsd38-2-m.html that only really require the alteration of the fans on the rear of the shell. (there are other differences, but this is the major que) It's not out of the realm of possiblity that we do the 38 later on as well. As for hood witdth...same as the 35 and 9. Again we are limited by the size of the motor and the thickness of the shell in production. Given today's economy there's no way that we could do as much hand assembly and finishing required to drop in brass sides with the quantities we produce each month. Based on the price increases we see from China now, I suspect that option will become more difficult to financially justify...thems are the times. We had sort of a Sofie's choice, make them skinny and charge twice as much, or get close and keep them under $200.00. In some ways a no win depending on your position. I tend to error on the side of making them affordable, there are other options if scale width is important...so something for everyone, that's what works best in the long run...options. As for basic plastic color, most likely dark blue. Cheers Joe MTL
Hey Plugsy, I mean Mike ) We are talking DCC over now, seems like a good option, we have some choices, so stand by. As for new car styles, I am asking Marketing today if I can start blabbing about them. If you like long trains and lots of colors, at least one of them will make you happy. Joe MTL
If these are the two choices, please keep making BIG errors on the affordable side. I can spend major bucks elsewhere if I want it to be exact scale. ...don
Thanks Joe, I noticed you did skip over my headlight question? I can live with the extra width as long as the trucks look good under the unit. Something that always bugged me with the 35s are the tiny trucks under the huge frame. So like I said before if the trucks are a bit wide it help hide the fact the unit is wide. BN prototype... that makes me very happy to hear!!!! I'm going to guess you guys are talking about the early production not the later with the "Q" fans? Ok I got one more for you... have you guys talked about anti-climbers as well? Since 50% of the roads have them. :tb-biggrin:
Hey Joe..where ya going with that (SD40-2) in your hand...:mcool: Hendrix a-side, coulors are great (keeps my kids interested) but the more modern MTL Z gear seems to move (the huskies re released didnt last a month?) so are the color cars modern? Thanks for taking the time to let us know the progress of the SD40-2 and other MTL Z scale future cars. Mike...
Cool Finally something to pull all those Z-scale cars I been buying. Being a CSX modeler, I like the choise and the scheme.
Looking at the MTL & others Z lineup, it appears we could use some grain hoppers. A bunch would look good pulled by the SD40's. Something in ACF would be nice too. Another good choice could be some coal gons.
AZL is supposed to be coming out with some BN grain hoppers. The ad in ZTrack said soon. There are also E&D kits that come in one version with the proper hatches. John
