A Surprise (to me) - Walthers Reissuing DL109

[wcfn100]

These were announced last June along with their HO counterparts just like most companies do.  Not sure what the big deal is.  When Walthers re-runs HO Erie Builts, we'll probably see N Erie Builts.

Jason

[PGE-N°2]

One would like to think so, at least. Maybe the issue here was not enough attention paid to publicizing the announcement.

[wm3798]

... because N scale Erie Builts can't sell on their own merits, right?  Aren't we pushing 10 years since Life Like was assimilated?  They're almost as bad as Kato when it comes to lag time between meaningful releases of popular models (F units and SD40s), and it probably won't be long before Walthers takes the crown there, too.

Lee

[bbussey]

To all the DL109-haters:  the previous two runs sold out - the first under Life-Like and the second under Walthers.  With the exception of the New Haven "New Image" scheme they are re-issues of the previous runs, mostly with new road numbers.  The prototype works for modelers of the roads that had them, and all versions of the model have been good performers.  I have a pair and I will be getting the new New Haven scheme from this release.

Let's not ask for models of esoteric prototypes, and then get a hate-on when a manufacturer does exactly that and it happens to not be your preferred esoteric prototype.  There is nothing wrong with this prototype (a well-performing long-lived historic pioneer diesel that was a duel-service workhorse during WWII) or the model.

[wcfn100]

  With the exception of the New Haven "New Image" scheme they are re-issues of the previous runs, mostly with new road numbers.

Rock Island scheme is new.

Jason

[bbussey]

Rock Island scheme is new.

Yes, my bad.  Good news for RI modelers.

[CBQ Fan]

Since the CB&Q and RI shared some passenger trains I thought it would be fun to muddle one together.  I have a E6B undec I need to paint silver and letter for the Rock, plus a Rock streamline baggage car.  Add in some Pullman heavyweights and some Q coaches and I have myself a Zephyr Rocket.

[wcfn100]

Yes, my bad.  Good news for RI modelers.

I wouldn't presume too much.  The RI DL107s weren't as well known as their sibling DL109 "Christine's" transformation, but they did have their appearance altered, namely stainless grills added to the sides like an E unit.  I don't know if this paint scheme is correct for any of the RI DLs when they looked like the model.


Jason

[Packer]

OR, they're counting on that vast majority of model railroaders that DON'T model anything with any type of theme or specific era to it and just collect stuff that's "neat".

This is also coming from the company who produced a "dinner train" collectable train. How many companies have made UP Challenegers and Big Boys?

What a complete waste of zinc and styrene.  Those dogs are butt ugly, served a handful of railroads for only a handful of years, and serve no useful purpose outside of transition era esoterica.

Walther's is clearly aiming for another release that they can point to and say "See?  No one buys N Scale."

They should be beaten with sticks.

Lee

X2 on the beaten with sticks. Me thinks they don't really care about N-scale.

[Pennsy]

Not a DL109 hater. But there has been only one issue of the Erie built's if I remember correctly. And yes I want some. But FA would have been nice too.

Jim

[Bob Bufkin]

Bryan beat me to the punch.  NH units ran freight by night and passenger trains by day and really earned their keep durig WWII.  Agree they aren't the best looking loco but the one NH Cranberry scheme was really nice.

[bbussey]

I don't understand all the negativity here regarding the situation.  Walthers gets bashed for not releasing N scale items, and then they get bashed for releasing N scale items.  I'd like to see more FAs and PAs also, especially when New Haven is one of the Walthers "go to" roads and there are schemes remaining on both models that Walthers has yet to offer.  But if they had released Erie-Builts instead of DL109s, I wouldn't be ragging on them due to my wishing for the Alcos.

Just be happy Walthers is releasing an N scale locomotive.

Regarding the Erie-Builts, C-Liners, FAs, PAs, and other former Life-Like higher-end diesels - everyone clearly knows by now that Walthers is releasing these engines in limited fashion, so you have to get them when they are released.  Also, when Life-Like released them, they were readily available long enough for everyone who wanted one to get one.  People have only themselves to blame if they didn't get the Erie-Builts when they were available.

[wcfn100]

People have only themselves to blame if they didn't get the Erie-Builts when they were available.

There was an Erie Built at my LHC until just a couple months ago.  As for the FAs, I sure somebody at Walthers remembers the blowout sale.  They couldn't give them away fast enough.

Where's the love for the C424/5s?  I would have thought they'd be at the top of the list.

Jason

[reinhardtjh]

Where's the love for the C424/5s?  I would have thought they'd be at the top of the list.

Jason

I've got 7 C424's stashed away for future use.  It would be nice if you could get parts and body shells like with Atlas.  On the other hand, didn't I see a thread a number of months ago saying that a DL-109 could be used as a basis for a Baldwin Centipede?

John H. Reinhardt

[muktown128]

I've got 7 C424's stashed away for future use.  It would be nice if you could get parts and body shells like with Atlas.  On the other hand, didn't I see a thread a number of months ago saying that a DL-109 could be used as a basis for a Baldwin Centipede?

John H. Reinhardt

I thought it was for the basis of a Pennsy passenger shark.

Scott