Railyard Models PRR/PC/CR G41A Coil Steel Cars

[GonzoCRFan]

Given the fixed costs of mastering and tooling and the (relatively) low part cost compared to RP (although still a lot more the injection molding) there are definitely economies of scale and therefore discounting in order to get more volume makes sense. It's a little early to confirm pricing but I would like to think we can get under $25 for one and maybe a 10 pack for 180. I would like to do better than that but the US dollar is continuing to slide against our dollar.

Thanks for the info. Like I said before, I'm very interested in these cars, and I think $25 a pop is a fair price for them, when you consider you need less of them to fill out a train.

Amato, I know Microscale set 60-862 is the one you need for CR 86' boxcars. Not sure what they make that's suitable for other railroads, though.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think it's time to start up a Model Railroad Hedge...

[Denver Road Doug]

what would an accurate, well-detailed N scale resin/etch/formed wire X58  be worth to individual N scalers? Figures including and excluding trucks and couplers would be interesting.

For me I would not pay as much for a 50' boxcar versus something a little more "noticeably different", like the 86' boxcar, tank cars, the Dragon car that was done a while back, a carbon black hopper, etc.  Since the roofwalk is lost on me, I'm effectively paying for a body shell, ladder, maybe the small end-platforms (?) and grabs (inclusion being debated).

Here is a selling point for me, though, from an earlier post...

  "The CB&Q built two groups of X58 "clones" in its own shops.  CB&Q 23300-23499 (class XML-14), and 20695-20899 (class XML-16), built in 1967 and 1969 respectively.  The first group was delivered in the Chinese Red scheme, and the second group in "merger" green."

 
I'm no SPF, but a huge BN fan and after a little research I found the BN series for these cars:
BN 281600-281799  -  Boxcar  ex-CB&Q  23300-23499 
BN 316900-317104  -  Boxcar  ex-CB&Q  20695-20899
Assuming this information is all correct, I think there is value in the "conversation piece" factor.  The SPF's call the X58 their own, and there isn't that level of attachment to an X58-clone from this BN fan's perspective, but it still makes for a neat model that way.  Conversely, I have to think of what number of scenarios would a visitor even know enough to tell boxcars apart--much less in n-scale--and would they say anything anyway given that the other 50 boxcars on my layout were probably all wrong anyway?  It IS important to me, but I'm not sure I would be pretentious enough to bring it up unprompted, so the value is unrealized.  (so yes, a character flaw--my inability to "toot my own horn"--may indeed kill the deal)

So what would I pay?  I'm assuming the trucks and couplers would be standard issue on these, no?  So basically where talking without truck/couplers.  I wouldn't pay $30 for an undec 50-foot boxcar kit in n-scale...no way, no how.  I think I might go $15-20 for this particular car (again, sans t/c) but typically wouldn't for a 50' boxcar.  At $15 I would probably be happy with the purchase, at $20 I would feel a little foolish.  (this is taking into account I'd be missing the benefit of the etched walkways, which I agree might be one of the better selling points for craftsman-type kits.)  Twenty is a tough sale for me when I consider another $10 for trucks, couplers, and FVM wheels, plus more $$ for paint, decals, etc.  But I'll be the first to admit I'm becoming more frugal in my old age.  Maybe a cheaper price without the roofwalk?

Cool model, yet still a boxcar among many other types of cars we need.  (I know, I'm putting on the suit now...)

[Mark4]

I think it's time to start up a Model Railroad Hedge...

Hmmm...topiary. Ever seen Edward Scissorhands?

[Ian MacMillan]

I think it's time to start up a Model Railroad Hedge...

Hmmm...topiary. Ever seen Edward Scissorhands?

Who hasn't!

[3rdrail]

I think it's time to start up a Model Railroad Hedge...

Hmmm...topiary. Ever seen Edward Scissorhands?

Who hasn't!

Me and my wife, that's who.  ;D ;D

[Mark4]

what would an accurate, well-detailed N scale resin/etch/formed wire X58  be worth to individual N scalers? Figures including and excluding trucks and couplers would be interesting.

For me I would not pay as much for a 50' boxcar versus something a little more "noticeably different", like the 86' boxcar, tank cars, the Dragon car that was done a while back, a carbon black hopper, etc.  Since the roofwalk is lost on me, I'm effectively paying for a body shell, ladder, maybe the small end-platforms (?) and grabs (inclusion being debated).

Here is a selling point for me, though, from an earlier post...

  "The CB&Q built two groups of X58 "clones" in its own shops.  CB&Q 23300-23499 (class XML-14), and 20695-20899 (class XML-16), built in 1967 and 1969 respectively.  The first group was delivered in the Chinese Red scheme, and the second group in "merger" green."

 
I'm no SPF, but a huge BN fan and after a little research I found the BN series for these cars:
BN 281600-281799  -  Boxcar  ex-CB&Q  23300-23499 
BN 316900-317104  -  Boxcar  ex-CB&Q  20695-20899
Assuming this information is all correct, I think there is value in the "conversation piece" factor.  The SPF's call the X58 their own, and there isn't that level of attachment to an X58-clone from this BN fan's perspective, but it still makes for a neat model that way.  Conversely, I have to think of what number of scenarios would a visitor even know enough to tell boxcars apart--much less in n-scale--and would they say anything anyway given that the other 50 boxcars on my layout were probably all wrong anyway?  It IS important to me, but I'm not sure I would be pretentious enough to bring it up unprompted, so the value is unrealized.  (so yes, a character flaw--my inability to "toot my own horn"--may indeed kill the deal)

So what would I pay?  I'm assuming the trucks and couplers would be standard issue on these, no?  So basically where talking without truck/couplers.  I wouldn't pay $30 for an undec 50-foot boxcar kit in n-scale...no way, no how.  I think I might go $15-20 for this particular car (again, sans t/c) but typically wouldn't for a 50' boxcar.  At $15 I would probably be happy with the purchase, at $20 I would feel a little foolish.  (this is taking into account I'd be missing the benefit of the etched walkways, which I agree might be one of the better selling points for craftsman-type kits.)  Twenty is a tough sale for me when I consider another $10 for trucks, couplers, and FVM wheels, plus more $$ for paint, decals, etc.  But I'll be the first to admit I'm becoming more frugal in my old age.  Maybe a cheaper price without the roofwalk?

Cool model, yet still a boxcar among many other types of cars we need.  (I know, I'm putting on the suit now...)

Thanks for the detailed feedback. It's looking as though my intuition (namely that rolling stock kits in N really need to be of something "distinctive" to get a good return) is sound (ie it better look special if the price is special)

[John]

Either something special, or something MT refuses to release enough of .. 90 foot flats come to mind ..

[GonzoCRFan]

Thanks for the detailed feedback. It's looking as though my intuition (namely that rolling stock kits in N really need to be of something "distinctive" to get a good return) is sound (ie it better look special if the price is special)

I think you are probably correct. It either needs to be distinctive, or a "necessity" that nearly everyone can use, but manufacturers continue to refuse to produce in plastic. Things like modern LPG cars come to mind, along with the 86' hi-cubes. The G41 kits were definitely distinctive, but they just didn't have a wide-enough appeal to generate the business. Since N scale is a small market, you have to make your kits appeal to as many modelers as possible to get a decent ROI. And this is especially true with the number of "modelers" constantly shrinking...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Canadian newsprint cars and Southern/NS waffle boxes come to mind.