Exactrail Waffles in HO

[asarge]

A more proper wording would be a car that isn't available to buy yet... as the cars most certainly exist. 

I have high expectations for the BLMA car. I'll be getting a few of those too. I'm not favoring one of over the other, but whoever does C&O first is the winner in my book and will get a pretty nice order from down here in Georgia.

[Denver Road Doug]

I know everyone has dogged them here because of their inferiority to a car that doesn't exist yet

A more proper wording would be a car that isn't available to buy yet... as the cars most certainly exist. 

Yet even more proper wording would be that one car existed and was available to buy!

Yes, of course.   Michael Jackson has a unit train of them that he takes over to Elvis' house for ops sessions.  Rumour has it that Jimmy Hoffa bought a few also, but he's really been loading up on the new Athearn's for his cement plant.  I got invited over but my contact informed me that we were being tailed and would have to try again at a later date.

Tom, the jokes on you...Jack-O paid $1000 each for his weathered cars and I'm told they don't look near as good as yours.

[Denver Road Doug]

Basically, if you're not peddlling modern tank cars, gons, or spine cars, I'm out.  Better be a freaking awesome car for me to consider it otherwise.

Regarding the EXR PD-4000s, I think the Athearn covered hoppers that have been released over the past year or so (especially the ACF 2970 center flow) are more impressive.  The PC&F Southern Pacific boxcar looks good, and the BN Gunderson car is not bad.  The SP corrugated gondola is their best car to date - it sits at the correct height and is not compromised on the ends even though the couplers are truck-mounted.  But based on the sample I saw (and picked up and inspected) in Springfield, the upcoming 1970s Thrall gondola decorated for CP Rail will be their finest N scale model up to this point.

Bryan, I don't disagree...those Athearn cars are top notch.  I'm not sure who is responsible for the NEW Athearn N-Scale but they appear to be doing things right.  I don't have any of the ACF's yet but I do have the others and they are as good as anything I've seen in the "sub-$18 street" category.  I saw the LPG cars at OKC and they look like Atlas-quality which I think is very adequate for "durable" tank cars...if we could just get more variety.  The Exactrail 4000's may not be the nicest car out there, but still light years ahead of most releases outside of the very latest stuff from BLMA, Atlas, and Athearn. (Sorry don't have any of the ESM stuff...era)

It was the BN cars I saw last night...very nice, although the owner said he was unable to get the shell apart to add weight.  Not sure if they are gluing them or what.  Those SP gons look nice but just not my era.  Now, I will definitely be buying the CP Rail gons and the other gon they have if they are the same/better quality as say their 4000's or the newer Atlas gons.  Sounds like they will be.

Now I'm just anxiously awaiting the BLMA Spines.  If they "exist", that is. 

[GaryHinshaw]

ExactRail's trend in quality appears to be steadily upward, and has my attention.

[bbussey]

Bryan, I don't disagree...those Athearn cars are top notch.  I'm not sure who is responsible for the NEW Athearn N-Scale but they appear to be doing things right.  I don't have any of the ACF's yet but I do have the others and they are as good as anything I've seen in the "sub-$18 street" category.  I saw the LPG cars at OKC and they look like Atlas-quality which I think is very adequate for "durable" tank cars...if we could just get more variety.  The Exactrail 4000's may not be the nicest car out there, but still light years ahead of most releases outside of the very latest stuff from BLMA, Atlas, and Athearn. (Sorry don't have any of the ESM stuff...era)

It was the BN cars I saw last night...very nice, although the owner said he was unable to get the shell apart to add weight.  Not sure if they are gluing them or what.  Those SP gons look nice but just not my era.  Now, I will definitely be buying the CP Rail gons and the other gon they have if they are the same/better quality as say their 4000's or the newer Atlas gons.  Sounds like they will be.

Now I'm just anxiously awaiting the BLMA Spines.  If they "exist", that is. 

Doug, the Athearn ACF 2970 hoppers truly are outstanding.  If you can justify one running in your era, you definitely should think about acquiring one.

Lots of folks are manufacturing some great modern equipment these days, so ESM is going to be staying pre-1970 for a while, where it's a little less crowded.

[GaryHinshaw]

ExactRail's Athearn's trend in quality appears to be steadily upward, and has my attention.

The 2970 is outstanding.  It will be nice if Athearn achieves comparable heights in locos too.

-gfh

BTW, I'm looking forward to my ESM/WeldonRail Laurel Valley gons.  

[Denver Road Doug]

Yes, I will definitely be getting the Athearn ACF car at some point.  Absolutely right era, just waiting for more roads.

[asarge]

I have no problem with either the 2600 or the 2970. Both raise the bar. I'm just saying the EXR PS4000 is on par with that albeit with truck-mounted couplers. I full expect the BLMA car to be on par with these cars.

[sirenwerks]

Bryan, I don't disagree...those Athearn cars are top notch.  I'm not sure who is responsible for the NEW Athearn N-Scale but they appear to be doing things right.  I don't have any of the ACF's yet but I do have the others and they are as good as anything I've seen in the "sub-$18 street" category.  I saw the LPG cars at OKC and they look like Atlas-quality which I think is very adequate for "durable" tank cars...if we could just get more variety.  The Exactrail 4000's may not be the nicest car out there, but still light years ahead of most releases outside of the very latest stuff from BLMA, Atlas, and Athearn. (Sorry don't have any of the ESM stuff...era)

It was the BN cars I saw last night...very nice, although the owner said he was unable to get the shell apart to add weight.  Not sure if they are gluing them or what.  Those SP gons look nice but just not my era.  Now, I will definitely be buying the CP Rail gons and the other gon they have if they are the same/better quality as say their 4000's or the newer Atlas gons.  Sounds like they will be.

Now I'm just anxiously awaiting the BLMA Spines.  If they "exist", that is. 

Doug, the Athearn ACF 2970 hoppers truly are outstanding.  If you can justify one running in your era, you definitely should think about acquiring one.

Lots of folks are manufacturing some great modern equipment these days, so ESM is going to be staying pre-1970 for a while, where it's a little less crowded.

A good portion of the stuff being released these days is pre-70s. The Athearn 2970 & 2600s are, the Exactrail 4000s are and, if the short gons are based on SP's G-100-7 series, so are they. I'm all for it! We could use some more early PC&F box cars, if anyone's reading!