There are a lot of locos I'd like to see, but realistically, I can't say that I'd expect to see a high quality (high-nosed) GP50, GP49X, or some other, relatively low-production items...
what I want: Diesels GP15 Dash8-40C - CW - c'mon Atlas you did them in HO now size em down standard cab SD70's Dash9's with proper cabs for certain roads (CN) more SD45's early E units with micro trains couplers Steam C&NW H1 Northern C&NW E4 Hudson I can dream passenger California Cars Horizon cars
I'll second the Hi-Levels. Need two for my Amtrak Heartland Flyer. I'm in pretty good shape locomotive-wise. Couple of things I'd like to have eventually but nothing that's gonna ruin my day not having it. (GP50, GP38-2, C40-8W, GP60M/B,CF7, Chopped-GP7,F45) My biggest request would be freight cars: -Carbon Black hoppers (these are personally number one on my list by a long shot) -Trinity 5161 Grain Hoppers (BNSF) -RD4 Coal Hoppers (TXUX) -Any modern tank cars (modern as in post-80's, no more post-2004 stuff please) -Flats (IM's purported 60-flat would be a good start) -Gons (we're getting there, just need a few more models and lots more schemes) Regarding the kit thing, I think the other thing that is overlooked is it's an opportunity cost issue. Maybe I have the skills, and maybe I have the time, but I would RATHER use that time to operate trains, or superdetail RTR locos, or weather stuff. AND, there's the hope/fear that you spend a lot of money on these kits and a month later it gets released, RTR for half of the money you sunk into the kit. Still, the kits are tempting. That new F45 has superdetail you'll likely NEVER see in an RTR in N-scale, at least at the current price point. But then you're looking at probably $150 actual cost just for parts, paint and decals not counting if you had it custom painted. That would translate to a $200 MSRP at 25% discount, not including assembly or painting. I suspect the market for just about any prototype becomes attractive to Atlas, Kato et al if they believe a $200 MSRP is possible. I assure you that I will be out of the game at that point if it becomes the standard price. For a less common engine that I only need one of it might be an option though. For me, the F45 is a fringe area, kinda like the Tunnel Motors. I don't have to have it, but it's a nice-to-have for a little something different. I paid more than typical for the Tunnels and I feel like I would have been disappointed if this was my bread-and-butter locomotive....quality wasn't great, mech seemed to be a very sloppy version of a mech that wasn't a stump puller to begin with. Of course, there weren't near the numbers of prototype F45's. If IM could take the F45 and build it/paint it/power it for MSRP $150 then yes, I'd probably be there in line, even given their issues with the Tunnel Motors. That GP38-2 line that is out (Mark 4?) has me curious, but they really need to educate their potential customer on the materials they are using, and some type of defect warranty would be nice. I just have an image of the thing either cracking or warping right on the chassis after I've spent countless hours detailing and painting it. (having worked with plexiglass extensively, I know what it can do when drilling it, even if you know what you are doing.) There are too many unknowns and frankly I haven't seen anyone do anything with them yet with a few exceptions. It will be interesting to see what Tower 55 does. I've heard poor reviews of their stuff in HO given the price, so what happens in N may change a lot of things about locomotive releases, or maybe nothing. If they are releasing Kato-esque locos for a $50 premium, what does that accomplish? If they have Kato-ish drives, Atlas details, and standard DCC? Maybe I'm listening then.
Perhaps kits should only be available from the vendor directly. It shouldn't be too hard to let the workers off five minutes early, and put the unassembled and unpainted parts in a sack for resale back at the vendor. Kinda like spare parts for Kato locomotives, just buy enough parts for an entire boxcar or whatever. Perhaps I just need a roof for that WP caboose, or a boxcar body but with a different roof... The nice thing about N Scale is that EVERYTHING will sell out, we're so under-served!* * I don't count that last Zephyr going (gouging?) for list+ at the hobby shop, coated in dust...
I just don't know. Personally I'd love a Centipede, but that doesn't have appeal to a wide audience of modelers. I'd love to see modular mechnisms, either steam or diesel, so I could build my own.
I personally would love to see some SDP40/45 U33/36C's FP45's F45's GPB's SD45B's a really nice Container Ship Crane and I would really love to see some Freakin SF SF SF SF SF SF KODACHROMES.
Mark, The Con-Cor 2-10-2 ain't bad! The Bachmann Connie is reasonable. But I do concur. I think the limits of N scale, unfortunately, make pulling power problematical.
Im going to lobby for Baldwin Center Cabs, AS6-16s, DS4-4-1000, and ANY lima unit, i dont care what it is, as long as its a lima.... But, a CenterCab would be great ones in as delivered and then rebuilt ones like the EJ&E had... man, i would buy about 10 of those. wonderful engines.
Strange... This thread is focusing on diesels, when N needs a lot more steam. Look at the Atlas site. Since 1999, they've made more than 30 diesels, but only two steam engines. If a list I once read is correct, there are only 15 plastic steam locos in N, not counting the new Athearn Challenger. 15 is pathetic when you consider how road-specific steam tended to be. With another 30 or so steam models... now we'd be talking basic coverage. Where are the 0-8-0, 0-6-0 and 0-6-0-T switchers? The Pennsy K4s, I1s, M1s, J1s, 0-4-0s and T1 turbines? Santa Fe Northerns, Hudsons, Texas's, and 2-10-10-2s? The NYC Niagaras and streamlined Hudsons? The N&W 2-6-6-2s, 4-8-0s and Pacifics? The CP Royal Hudsons and Selkirks? The UP Big Boys and FEF Northerns? The Nickel Plate Berkshires? The Russian Decapods? The WM heavy 2-8-0s, heavy 2-10-0s and Challengers? The GN Northerns and heavy Mikados? The Heislers? You'll notice I listed exactly 30 locos - just an example of what we'd have if there was as much steam as diesel power.
I believe it has to do with profitability. Diesels are cheaper and much easier to produce. They have a simple mechanism when compared to steam. They have fewer quality control issues so fewer are returned for repairs. We all know Atlas was snake bit pretty bad when they sold their articulated (Samhonsa?) a few years back. It is possible to overcome these problems and sell good running steam, just look at the Micro Ace products, but I believe you have to have impeccable QC and then would have to raise the price accordingly. Are we willing to pay more for an excellent running railroad specific steam locomotive? The manufacturers don't seem to think so.
Or other iconic articulateds: C&O Allegheny, B&O EM-1, NP Yellowstone. And please make these big engines able to pull worth their weight. 20-30 cars is enough... if you only have level track. Twice that is more like it - to allow pulling 20-30 cars up grades, which more people are going to have room for than actual 40-60 car trains. EDIT: And on the subject of diesels, Con-Cor made enough U50s between 1973 and 2005 to make it clear that nobody makes a U50C. [ April 07, 2006, 02:15 PM: Message edited by: Triplex ]
Yes, that's close but not entirely on the target. The reason diesels are cheaper to build is that Mr Kato designed a mechanism that corrected the reliability problem that had plagued earlier units. It's returns that kill profitability. Since they are very reliable, they are cheap to build. Steam, however, has not had the breakthrough in design that will allow the bullet-proof base needed to build many varying models. Either the mechanism is bad, or the motor is horrible, or the electrical system is twitchy, or the side rods pop off. Until that design problem has been worked out, you won't see much (profitable) steam.
Wait a minute... why did I list the N&W engines I did? Change that to a J-class 4-8-4, an E2 Pacific and an M-class 4-8-0.
Doesn't anyone else want a GG1? What, am I some kind of wierdo who wants to paint one up in GN EB? (er: well, have Hemi do it).
Okay, they're pretty rare, and I'd personally have no use for them, but I'd still like to see a BQ23-7 get made.
