Exactrail Announcement

[ljudice]

For what it's worth (not much), EXR announced the 2743 gon in N today - on sale on their website next week I think...

NS, UP, CTRN, DLJX, and CW (Oregon Steel Mills)

Most of these have been done before by Atlas and in fact, I think NS and UP are coming in a new run. I don't think roadnumbers are duplicated. They are not doing conspicuity stripes.

Why the world needs this car, when Atlas already has done it is one of the mysteries of the world. Just cold stone stupidity.  We could have used ANY other gon!  We could have used the gon they just did in HO - or a re-run of the 65' gon - or any other gon! 

Oh -  Price is:  24.95 US Currency - no discounts.....

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Another winnar from the brain trust at Exactrail... seriously, how do these guys stay in business?

[James Costello]

Yeah, we knew back in January that this day was coming:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=25436.msg253550#msg253550

[Puddington]

"If you make a train car and no one can see it or buy it is it really a train car....?"

[Brakie]

Guys,I bought all the NS 2743's I needed from Atlas.

Sorry..No sale here.

Maybe next time.

[ljudice]

I'm glad to see people are asking them like WTH on their Facebook page...

[Sokramiketes]

This isn't the only car Exactrail already has tooled or partially tooled from the vast array of stuff that Chris Clune worked on even before the Exactrail was formed. 

So there will be lots more WTF moments for the 'Wire to grab onto, I'm sure.  But if they have the tooling, can you blame them for releasing it even if it duplicates a model from someone who was able to get to market faster?

[ljudice]

This isn't the only car Exactrail already has tooled or partially tooled from the vast array of stuff that Chris Clune worked on even before the Exactrail was formed. 

So there will be lots more WTF moments for the 'Wire to grab onto, I'm sure.  But if they have the tooling, can you blame them for releasing it even if it duplicates a model from someone who was able to get to market faster?

I am curious...  My understanding was tooling was expensive to make, too valuable to lay idle, etc...  So what's the story on how/why Clune put together all of this tooling (as opposed to drawing/plans/CAD files??)....  I just don't understand this.

[Sokramiketes]

I am curious...  My understanding was tooling was expensive to make, too valuable to lay idle, etc...  So what's the story on how/why Clune put together all of this tooling (as opposed to drawing/plans/CAD files??)....  I just don't understand this.

He cut a lot of tooling for different manufacturers over the years. It's not that expensive to make, per se, if you're doing the machining yourself and just need to buy blocks of steel/aluminum.  So, in between projects that were ordered, he also cut tooling for his own projects and then pitched them to manufacturers.  Pretty soon he had a pile of tooling and no buyers and went into manufacturing himself (Exactrail) to put the tooling to use.  That's why things like the Verta-Pac and 5161's weren't up to the standards of the day they were released... they were tooled in a different era and showed their age.  Various projects are in various states of completion...

That's the short version anyway. 

And Clune has since been paid to go away.

[asarge]

That's the short version anyway.

Wouldn't mind hearing the long version someday. The cast of characters wouldn't be a surprise but the the story would have a few twists.

Can't blame them for try to recoup something for it. If you have it but don't use it it's not an asset.
 

[Ryan87]

...That's why things like the Verta-Pac and 5161's weren't up to the standards of the day they were released... they were tooled in a different era and showed their age.  Various projects are in various states of completion...
That's the short version anyway. 
And Clune has since been paid to go away.

I wanted those 5161's so bad when LBF was supposed to release them...

[ljudice]

OK, that makes sense now...

Look, I will think about a couple of the gons as long as the numbers are not duplicated - given the difficulty in getting decals, spending a couple of bucks to have something done is worth it.  But, still it would be great to see some different stuff.

I wasn't aware the Atlas 2743 was a particularly great seller, since I can get ALL of the first run models - easily on Ebay....

[GaryHinshaw]

As James said, we knew this day was coming; but on top of that we now have the direct to customer mode to deal with.  I really wonder what their internal return on investment forecasts look like for this model.  Maybe this whole thing is an ultra elaborate ruse to demonstrate the N Scale Doesn't Sell. 

I really hope they emit some more unique models before they quit.  The Trinity hi-cube and 65' gon (among others) are really nice cars.

-gfh

[Dave V]

Every time the N scale announcements DON'T include a SOU waffle, I have to wonder if they don't like money.  They certainly don't want mine anyway.

[ArtinCA]

I wouldn't mind a kit of the TrinCool reefer myself. I'd love to actually model the UP train out of Delano without squealing the whole way.. And MicroScale makes decals, so I'm covered there..

Hello? Exactrail or BLMA?