Fast, short report from N Scale Convention in Hartford, CT.
This is my 2nd NSC/N Scale convention (Chantilly 2004 was my 1st),
and I'm told that every N Scale Convention has a unique personality all its own.
Speaking for myself, it was a great time, 275 attendees or thereabouts. What makes
these conventions is really the people and acquaintances that one makes... meeting
in person the Forum/Trainboard/Railwire acquaintances .... meeting the vendors and
manufacturers and thus seeing the real people... the room sales... etc.
As always, these conventions should not be measured in the same way as Train Shows,
rather, they are about having the extended time to meet, visit, eat with, enjoy time
together, with the many people, personalities, manufacturers, and organizations that
will ordain the future of our N scale hobby.
I got there late in the Convention timeline, arriving just in time for Banquet on
Saturday night, did the Room Sales after the Banquet, and attended the Manufacturer's
Breakfast this morning. Saw and met many old and new acquaintances and friends.
Here's a few product comments and a few pictures from my all-to-brief time there, I could
not include everything as I have to run to airport soon.... I took notes as fast as I
could, but of course, this is all real-time, so please know that anything below may be
subject to change or be corrected.
That having been said, enjoy!
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Comments, no particular order. Again, I took notes really fast
and all of the following subject to subsequent confirmation/correction:
* Athearn's John Engstrom said their FP45 / F45s are actively still coming and we should
see them in 2008, they are successfully working to meet all of our quality expections.
He also said the Big Boy 4-8-8-4 is on track for end of 2007, but clearly said they
could not make any promises they'd be here in time for Christmas.
* Eric Smith of Micro-Trains confirmed the N scale Heavyweight Passenger Cars are going
ahead, and also referred to their previous announcement of the 40' drop-bottom
gondola. Cool.
* Intermountain's Frank Angstread (spelling) talked at length about many Intermountain
announcements, and highlighted their AC-12 Southern Pacific Cab Forward (see below).
* Digitrax is working on their sound decoders for N and Z scale.
* Kato was not able to make it, and we all missed them.
* More continued offerings and great stuff from many, including, but not limited to,
BLMA, Deluxe Innovations, George Hollowedel, Jim Hinds, Neals NGauging Trains, Russ
Kaufman, Atlas, Eastern Seaboard Models and many others.
* Some of the projects to come included a N scale Howe Truss Bridge, Atlas vaguely
referred to another new N scale diesel model sometime in late 2008. Micro-Trains
continuing their Z scale product line expansion.
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Intermountain showed the engineering drawings of their anticipatd
2008 delivery of N scale Southern Pacific AC-12. I am sure we all look
forward and hoping for excellent execution of what looks to be a
great N scale model:
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For those of you who like to collect N scale, the NSC 2007 Banquet car is a
Pez Candy drop bottom gondola:
As always, only 275 were handed out, so watch for them on eBay quickly if you
were not able to attend and want one!
- - - -
Finally, Louisville in June 2008 looks to be shaping up to be huge, and many folks
here all agree that it will be a real good one to go to. Based on what many said,
the size of the N Trak Layout likely will be in the kind of size range that we saw
in Chantilly in 2004.
That's all for now!
