Bob and Hendo, The Heavy Mountain is coming from Bachmann, not Walthers. Along with the Heavy Mountain will also be a release of Spectrum long haul tenders in both USRA and Vanderbilt versions. The loco will have a dual mode decoder factory and will come in C&O, IC, D&RGW. Search for River Eagles posts from the National Train Show. He has picture of the loco's and mechanisms.
Gud luk to all of youse guyz. I just put in another order to Atlas parts dept for shells and parts for kitbash material. So if anything I still need gets produced, I just wasted time and money on my efforts so far. Atlas is bringing out the C420, but all I'll be losing is the olde Mehano shells. The ph1 GP39-2s probably will never be made, even by Mark4, the VO1000m, C430, C630 Hi-Ad, C430, ph2 RS3s, ph1? RDG U30C, GP40P, SD30 all are unlikely. The RSD15 and maybe the RS27 (I've already done one), are somewhat more likely. But whatever floats your boat. Bob in IDaho, who prefers to roll his own... hey, pass the bambu.
There is no SD30. Kennecott Copper wanted one in 1963, but EMD wouldn't bother making the model for only one unit. KCC got the last SD24 instead.
Ahhh. My bad. I knew SOMEBODY was coming out with it I think an undec. version will also be available, as I was going to custom letter one for the NYC.
I think that every engine should be sent back to the drawing board to have a DC compatible sound system inserted. I don't really care if it's DCC, but merely adding sound should attract a lot of new customers without having to redo the outer shell.... :teeth:
Several "missing" items...... 1) Cab Forward 2) Green-Tech switchers 3) subway 4) control-cab single deck passenger cars 5) Civil War era engines & freight cars (flat and box) 6) pre-Civil War (1830's or 40's) engines & passenger coaches These are just a couple of the items that the HO guys enjoy, but N-scalers are at a loss to easily acquire. I know some of the items would have limited interest, but surely subway consists would have general appeal. I have several of the Japanese subway sets, but they have minimal resemblance to US versions.
Well... one of the least addressed 'holes' in N scale remains the small EARLY diesel switchers. The NW-2 by Kato, the SW8/9 from Lifelike and the VO1000 by Atlas are the only contemporarily made models available. Arnold's S2 and Minitrix FM H12-44 were okay and may still be found in working order... but we really need better ones with current technology. So these small switchers would be nice to have: Baldwin VO660 EMC SW-1 Alco HH600, Alco S1 thru S4 FM H10/12-44 GE 44T, 70T etc Whitcomb any style Roadswitcher: Baldwin AS16, AS616, DRS-any Alco RSD-15
How 'bout a Ten-wheeler? With the exception of a very limited- and not particularly attractive- run by Fleischman many yrs. ago, I cannot think of a single 4-6-0 being done in the 43 year history of 'N' scale! I find that to be an amazing statement. I haven't checked Mark Peterson's "N Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia" The link: N Scale Locomotive Encyclopedia -but I don't believe thre has been one. Brooklyn Locomotive Works had an 'N' version of Bachmann 's beautiful HO Baldwin 4-6-0 in its catalog a couple years ago; Bachmann had an 'N' Russian Decapod in their catalog at the same time. When they didn't show, Bachmann told me that they needed to do more development work on the required small motor before they could offer either of these... I would think that the basic mechanism from the 2-80 would power some kind of 4-6-0 and certainly a Decapod.
I'll go with the sw1500, but I would really like to see an SP bay window caboose. I think they were c-430's.
Just as a quick reminder - I'm running resin Climax A's again this fall in several versions; 18-ton horizontal boiler with round tank, square tank, and wood or steel frame, and a 13-ton vertical boiler Climax A with several body options. Those all work off of a Kato 11-10X chassis, which at the moment can be a challenge to find. The resin 65-ton Whitcomb centercabs will also be made in very limited quanties - those work off of the Tomytec mechanism parts. WWII slant cab, postwar straight cab, and elevated centercab versions. I'm working on a GE switcher but kinda on hold to see the production situation on the Kato mechanisms - I'm getting conflicting reports about availability. There have been a few on Ebay, but my best supplier is on vacation until 9/25. The Heisler project is also on hold, waiting to see what Kato announces for parts on the NW2. I was surprised that Atlas doesn't sell the Shay trucks as parts, either, which was the other potential idea here. If this stuff sounds impossible, I've done custom builtups on request on all the Climaxes and put those on Ebay, and also have done builtups on the Whitcombs if you get the mechanism yourself. I kinda work on this stuff backwards - when chassis kits come out I get one to see what I can make from it. Both the Kato 11-10X and the Tomytec TM-0X have been fantastic beginning skeletons to work from. PM or email me for more information.
Oh...I would chime in with: - more high hood units or 'kits' (GP-35 / 40 / - the SW1500/1001 - Still waiting for MORE versions of the SD-40-2 - is there an SD-40-2 Primer ? - what was that crowl body unit that was only made for use in Canada - HR ..something - that was a cool loooking unit. - U36-B /C units - and someone make a basic GP-10 - I know that they were all different in details, but that issue hasn't stopped manufacturers from using generic/basic bodies on existing models. IMO, many modelers would buy the GP-10 (Paducah type), Chop nose GP-9's etc. 2 cent.....
I too would love to see a ten wheeler. 4-6-0 0-6-0 C636 S2-4 Rick any GN steam with belpaire boilers!
- SD70 - more undecorated SD40-2 - SD40-2 w/o dynamic brake - SD40-2F - SD40-2W - and more undecorated SD40-2
