Why hasnt Atlas or Kato or.......... made a N scale NRE Genset

[bc6]

Why do you think they havent made a NRE Genset yet in N scale. Is it because of the economy or is it because there is not enough demand, who creates this demand if that is the case. What is a NRE Genset you ask check out the link below, the most popular model seems to be the model 3GS21B.




http://www.nationalrailway.com/3GS-21B_Spec%20ad.pdf

[POVC]

I suspect its more because the small hood size of most gen-sets means they would have trouble fitting any of the current N-scale motors in it.  They could probably fit in some of the Z-scale motors, but it would probably increase the price enough to put the cost outside the sweet spot for N-scale locomotives,  Also note that neither Atlas or Kato make Z-scale locomotives, so they don't have any experience with the smaller motors.

Tim

[Kisatchie]

Why do you think they havent made a NRE Genset yet in N scale
http://www.nationalrailway.com/3GS-21B_Spec%20ad.pdf

Hmm... because it's too
goofy looking...?

[bc6]

I suspect its more because the small hood size of most gen-sets means they would have trouble fitting any of the current N-scale motors in it.  They could probably fit in some of the Z-scale motors, but it would probably increase the price enough to put the cost outside the sweet spot for N-scale locomotives,  Also note that neither Atlas or Kato make Z-scale locomotives, so they don't have any experience with the smaller motors.

Tim

Not that Im a Kato motor expert but Id use a P42 frame as a starting point for a Genset or heck maybe a chopped RDC chassis now that a lowwwwwwww motor mount. You would have ample space for a decoder.

[Zox]

I suspect its more because the small hood size of most gen-sets means they would have trouble fitting any of the current N-scale motors in it.

I've contemplated kitbashing one of these out of a more standard diesel. I think that, if you put the bottom of the motor into the fuel tank, you could buy enough vertical space to get away with the low long hood.

[wazzou]

Why do you think they havent made a NRE Genset yet in N scale.

Do any two look exactly alike?  I would say that would be the biggest issue.

[bc6]

Do any two look exactly alike?  I would say that would be the biggest issue.

The same argument can be made for most locomotives ever made, for instance the SD40. In sure there were is at least a half dozen variants of that loco across railroads but we still have a model of it.

[ljudice]

Atlas did gensets in HO, and I think even a second run, so they must be popular.

You would have to imagine it's on the list of things to do, I find it hard to believe they couldn't figure out how to do this given the other small switchers they've done...

[wazzou]

The same argument can be made for most locomotives ever made, for instance the SD40. In sure there were is at least a half dozen variants of that loco across railroads but we still have a model of it.

Except there were just short of 1,300 SD-40's manufactured by EMD in a 6 year period and I'm certain that spotting features differed little on a Railroad's order of say 15-20 units in a lot.

[lock4244]

Hmm, Atlas RS1, RS3, MP15. Kato RS2, NW2.

Both have proven ability to stuff a motor in a shorter hood with excellent results.

[peteski]

Hmm, Atlas RS1, RS3, MP15  and the soon to be released S-2. Kato RS2, NW2.

Both have proven ability to stuff a motor in a shorter hood with excellent results.

[w neal]

GENSET?

Heck, they can't even make a chop nosed geep!

[Bremner]

GENSET?

Heck, they can't even make a chop nosed geep!

I'd be happy if they made a Phase III short nose Geep! (the SP and NYC were the only ones to one a factory low nose GP9)

[wcfn100]

I'd be happy if they made a Phase III short nose Geep! (the SP and NYC were the only ones to one a factory low nose GP9)

NYC? You sure?

Jason

[Catt]

I recall reading somewhere many moons ago that SP got the last 9 GP9s built and they were the only low nosed factory 9s built.