2011 N Scale Product Of The Year

[Bob Bufkin]

Any thoughts on what it should be.  Bachmann doodlebug with coach, their new caboose, MT heavyweight coach  are among my favorites.  Whats yours?

[bbussey]

If either the BLMA or TrainWorx TOFC flat had made it to market before today, that might have been my choice.  The TrainWorx trailers would be a contender if they ran on rails.  The Wheels of Time 60' baggage cars were released this year, and they are high on my list.  And I'd put the B&O Wagontop, which never had been tooled, ahead of the three Bachmann models.  But wasn't the release of the FVM Hiawatha delayed until the beginning of this year?  I think the award has to go to that, on many levels.  I don't even think it's close, and I'm saying that even though I have no need for the engine or the consist.

[SkipGear]

We almost need to create a list first before deciding. There have been soo many things released this year, I have lost track.

BLMA Spines
BLMA ARMN Reefers
Fox Valley Wagontops
Fox Valley Hiawatha?
MT Heavyweights
Kato MP36
Kato Bilevels
Kato Amfleet
Kato Viewliner
Bachmann 2-10-2
Bachmann RS-3
Bachmann Caboose
Bachmann Tank Car
Bachmann Doodlebug and Coach
Intermountain R-70 Reefer
Trianworx Trailers

That is just off the top of my head.

[Brakie]

For my needs its was BLMA's ARMN reefers..

[ai5629]

I would vote for the BLMA 52'6" ACF Gondola.  I have 47 of them (20 CR, 10 PC, 12 PRR CK and 5 PRR SK).  I plan on getting more as funds permit.  Thanks.

Jeff

[MichaelWinicki]

While it doesn't "ride the rails" I think the Atlas Middlesex Manufacturing building ranks right up there for the void it fills in the market.

[CSXDixieLine - RIP 1/27/2013]

My vote:



Jamie

CSX Dixie Line blog: http://csxdixieline.blogspot.com/

[bbussey]

I would vote for the BLMA 52'6" ACF Gondola.  I have 47 of them (20 CR, 10 PC, 12 PRR CK and 5 PRR SK).  I plan on getting more as funds permit.  Thanks.

That definitely would be in the mix.  But I think that debuted in 2010, as did the XIH boxcar.

The RPO is the best of the MTL heavyweights, and that debuted in 2009.  The longer cars began in 2010, and they all are basically the same with different window and hardware arrangements.

Isn't the Bachmann doodlebug a revamp of the original?  I thought the tooling was the same, with the mechanism and painting/printing being upgraded.

[inkaneer]

I cast my vote for.... Oh darn, a senior moment.  I should save those so I can have them consecutively.  Sort of like a mini vacation, you know.   Oh well, it will come to me eventually.

[MVW]

We almost need to create a list first before deciding. There have been soo many things released this year, I have lost track.

BLMA Spines
BLMA ARMN Reefers
Fox Valley Wagontops
Fox Valley Hiawatha?
MT Heavyweights
Kato MP36
Kato Bilevels
Kato Amfleet
Kato Viewliner
Bachmann 2-10-2
Bachmann RS-3
Bachmann Caboose
Bachmann Tank Car
Bachmann Doodlebug and Coach
Intermountain R-70 Reefer
Trianworx Trailers

That is just off the top of my head.

Weren't Bachmann's early GPs new this year too? (Not saying they should be a candidate for product of the year, as I haven't seen one.) But that's not a bad list for a scale that has some crying over lack of new product.

Jim

[sirenwerks]

FVM's Milwaukee box cars
FVM's B&O box
Trainworx trailers
BLMA gons
Exactrail's 4427 (or was that 2010?)
Bachmann's GP7
Bahcmann's RS3
Bachmann's Peter Witt car (I wish they'd retool the PCC to that level of detail)
Bachmann's new tank car
Traincat's Train Sheds
Traincat's Lot 919 NYC caboose
Atlas's Middlesex Manufacturing

There's still a number of things on my list of must-haves (late Hiawatha train, H10-44, AS616, many more 60s cars and trucks, Walthers re-releasing more updated LL locos, IMRC breaking down and doing the PS1, a end break high detail flat, and perhaps the two most important items for me - a 40' steel General American meat reefer and IMRC undec F units) but 2011 was a good year. BLMA would get my vote likely for the 89-footer, if it would have stuck to its original delivery schedule. I'm disappointed in that, especially the lack of communication about it.

I look forward to 2012, especially the new ESM car body announcements, the FVM Milwaukee stuff, and the promised 60s and beyond intermodal models.

[sundowner]

BLMA Spines with the reefers a closed second.

[SkipGear]

Isn't the Bachmann doodlebug a revamp of the original?  I thought the tooling was the same, with the mechanism and painting/printing being upgraded.

I put that in there because the coach is all new and you have to buy the doodle to get the coach.

FVM's Milwaukee box cars

I'm pretty sure those came in 2009.


Revised list:

BLMA Spines
BLMA ARMN Reefers
Fox Valley Wagontops
Fox Valley Hiawatha
MT Heavyweights
Kato MP36
Kato Bilevels
Kato Amfleet
Kato Viewliner
Bachmann 4-6-0 ? (May be 2010, my first pictures date to Jan 11, 2011)
Bachmann GP7 ? (May be 2010, my first pictures date to Feb 6, 2011)
Bachmann 70T ? (May be 2010, my first pictures date to Feb 6, 2011)
Bachmann 2-10-2
Bachmann RS-3
Bachmann Caboose
Bachmann Tank Car
Bachmann Doodlebug and Coach
Intermountain R-70 Reefer
Trianworx Trailers
Traincat NYC Caboose
Atlas Middlesex Manufacturing
Walthers Built Ups (I know they are a rehash but they sold incredibly well at the shop this holiday season.)
Walthers Greenville Hopper

Much of this is voting is going to be affected by the era you model. If you take era out of it, I have to think the BLMA Reefer is what pushed the envelope this year. My personal favorite is the Fox Valley Wagontop, but I am a little biassed toward the prototype.

[seusscaboose]

My answer is the MT HW's

how long have people been banging the drum for the old Atlas/RR/Lima replacements?  Seems like forever.

the FVM Hiawatha was bold, for many reasons, and the ESM boxcars are great (IMO)... and a lot of the new, more modern stuff (i don't run) looks sweet and get great reviews.

But my vote is for the HW's, foob's or not...  it just seems like they were long overdue (i understand, i suppose, that may not make them "POTY" in most people's minds)

EP

[TiVoPrince]

BLMA
spines in three and five unit flavours.  Bought a little more than my share of them. 

BLMA ARMN reefers a close second, but they were just a little outside my needs...