Whatever happened to all those new locos we were suppose to be getting

Like the Bachmann 2-8-0, Concor 4-8-4, MDC old time 2-8-0, Intermountain FT, and Model Power FP7. Seems like these locos have been in the development stage for 2 years now. Where are they?

 

Scott,
I am fairly certain that the MDC model is available and has been for some time. I looked into it in fact, and found that the tender is unacceptable in terms of detail, and that the engine is way out of my price range in terms of something I would have to kit bash. Happy Modeling!!
John

 

scott have you checked with your shops or emailed the companies to find out what is going on with them?

 

I believe what has happened is the usual. The overseas factory has furnished the importer a "test shot" or sample which was sent back for improvement. Probably this has gone on many times and the model still doesn't quite meet spec's, so back it goes for more "tweaking". The tender on the MDC Roundhouse 2-8-0 is a good example. The preproduction tender was too big, but the supposed "production" one was even worse - the entire top deck was coal. MDC heard from me and hundreds of others about this, so I am sure the tender is again being reworked. I don't think any of us would want to buy what comes out of the factory on the first attempt. What is really frustrating is when you wait two years beyond the initial "introduction" date and it's still a piece of junk! (Bachmann SD40-2's anyone?)

 

Here's your update (we are a dealer and are in touch with most of these firms so we believe this information to be accurate)

CONCOR 4-8-4: Model was due in March but never appreared. When we called CONCOR to find out what happened they didn't know. (typical of CONCOR, that's just one of the reasons that we have basically stopped promoting their product).

BACHMANN 2-8-0: Their delivery dates were WAY too early. There was much more to the production of this loco than they ever dreamed possible. They promised it to us by November 2000 but that obviously didn't happen. We personally think they will hold off until next Fall at the earliest. Now that the warm weather is here sales will be "soft" so they will probably opt to hold off until next "season".

INTERNOUNTAIN FT: This is still in development and they said it would not come out until at least the end of 2001 at the earliest so in our humble opinion this is still "on time" for the moment.

MDC/ROUNHOUSE OLD TIME 2-8-0: This loco has NOT been released like it says in a post toward the top of this thread. In fact, the post below that one has it most accurately that MDC has not been satisfied with test shots and they are doing much refining of the model. They are fully aware that this will be their one and only chance to make an impression on N-Scalers with their first locomotive (a steam locomotive no less . . . that's quite an undertaking for their first project, they have a lot of guts) and they want it to be perfect.

 

Thank you for the correction to my post...I have only been following what I see in the adverts...obviously not a very good source! Happy Modeling!!
John

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by swissrhb:
Here's your update... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for the info. But what about the Micro-Trains FT's?

Dwight

 

According to my N scale mag, early 2002, so make it around summer 2002 to get those FTs.

Mike

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by swissrhb:


INTERNOUNTAIN FT: This is still in development and they said it would not come out until at least the end of 2001 at the earliest so in our humble opinion this is still "on time" for the moment.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Intermountain FT was going to be released in the spring of 2001.

 

Scott, where did you get that info from? At this point I'd tend to agree with swissrhb, since they are a dealer in direct contact with the manufacturers. Maybe an initial planned release date (like fall 2000 for the 90MACs) is what you heard, but they are always overly optimistic on those.

Fortunately, I'm not in need of any of these locos, so I don't have to wait. But I am waitng for the 80/90MACs now.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Colonel:
swissrhb
Just out of interest do you provide internet shopping, International purchases?
It is always great to have personnel contact with suppliers. I order a great deal via internet as I'm Australian and don't always have supply availability here.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


We do have online shopping and we will ship to Australia but we have a minimum of $125.00 NET Minimum. This means that you must order $125.00 (US Dollars) that can ship all at the same time and this total is calculated before shipping charges are added which are a minimum of $25.00 to Australia. That's for one small engine, it's more like $35.00 for a normal order.

It's not that we don't wish to accomodate, it's the fact that the customs forms are time consuming to fill out and this is the only way I can justify paying the salespeople to do it. Hope you can understand. We actually encourage Australian N-Scalers to use sources within their country whenever possible however if you can't find in country and we have it we will be glad to supply as long as the $125.00 minimum is met. Our website can be accessed at:
http://www.nscaledivision.com

Thank you very much for your interest

[ 28 April 2001: Message edited by: swissrhb ]