ExactRail Announces UP GSC 42' Flat - HO... but...

[sirenwerks]

Yes to a GATC reefer!  We need a true meat reefer.

The short gon was a welcome blessing for GN modelers, or Pac NW modelers of all stripes.

[wazzou]

The short gon was a welcome blessing for GN modelers, or Pac NW modelers of all stripes.

We are talking about that short corrugated side Gon, correct?  What PNW road had those?   I believe it was built solely for the Southern Pacific.

https://www.exactrail.com/gunderson-2420-gondola-cnw

[ednadolski]

I would like to recommend a specific product that I think would be very popular, and be right in line with your current offerings: a National Steel Co. 60' hy-cube boxcar.  The old LBF company offered a version of this car that is long out of production, and they are commanding high prices on ebay, $55 in this example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LBF-Company-TTX-TBOX-60-Double-Plug-Door-Hi-Cube-Boxcar-N-Scale-Model-B-/321485926312?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item4ada0defa8

These appear in TTX's TBOX scheme in large numbers (at least 3000 cars from NSC alone):

TBOX 665000-665499 (500 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=2893
TBOX 665500-665999 (500 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=29085
TBOX 666000-666999 (1000 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=63004
TBOX (new logo) 667000-667724 (725 cars) e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=78155
TBOX (new logo) 668025-668324 (300 cars), e.g.:
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=80500

Shoot, $55 a pop?!?    I've got to sell a few of these!

So how hard would it be to make this car out of etched brass?   Are there any drawings?    And does Microscale or anyone make the decals in TBOX?

Ed

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  As far as I can find the GN only bought one series of solid-bottom gons shorter than 50 feet, and they look nothing like this one.  The only Gunderson-built gons I can find so far are over 60 feet long.  Maybe someone could splice two of these together, but I haven't checked rib spacing for that.


The only reason these would be "a blessing" for PNW modelers is that the SP ran in the Northwest, and these were probably seen in interchange.  I don't remember any on Pasco, but then, I wasn't an SP fan, so probably wouldn't have paid attention to them.  I assume they were there, as SP boxcars were common enough.

[ednadolski]

does Microscale or anyone make the decals in TBOX?

DMOR: http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/871309.jpg

[Spikre]

 
   Brian,
    after 65 the Mechanical reefers mainly followed 2 designs,the PFE 57' cars,or the
   FGE 60' cars.
    and the PFEs seem to be well represented.
   the trouble is most specific models copy cars that were built in small lots,not the
  larger lots,this seems to be true with models like the Athearn 50' Ice reefer.
   then some lines like MDT and ART are ignored.
   this isn't just an N problem,but carries over to most other scales as well.
   so its good that there are specific models,there just don't seem to be enuff of them presently.
   Your BAR/NH car is a nice car of a sort of common prototype of the 50s and 60s,but did
  get supplanted by Mechanicals later.
     it will be interesting to see what Reefers do follow what is already on the market.
         Spikre
           

[bbussey]

I agree that reefer choices post 1970 are slim.  But it's getting better in the ice era.

One of the good things about the current state of N scale manufacturing is that we are seeing more esoteric cars.  One, because many of the common prototypes have been tooled and, two, because relatively it is less expensive to design and tool a model today than in decades past.  I suspect we will continue to see more reefer diversity from the mid 20th century years before the post 1970 years.

[sirenwerks]

Bryan:  As far as I can find the GN only bought one series of solid-bottom gons shorter than 50 feet, and they look nothing like this one.  The only Gunderson-built gons I can find so far are over 60 feet long.  Maybe someone could splice two of these together, but I haven't checked rib spacing for that.

You're absolutely right, because I had an image of the Trainworx corrugated gons in my head.  The ER shorties might be a good starting point for the GN's 10 panel drop bottom gons, though they are a bit high in the sides.

[coosvalley]

I think the folks at ER made a big mistake going with the "order direct" model.....I prefer places like MBK where I can get  an assortment of products and MFR's.....I understand the whole "cut out the middle man", but if it's not working, admit it and change course!..Don't blame N-scale for your bad decision making!....If the cars are only available direct, then your exposure to potential customers becomes very limited (duh)....I have placed exactly 1 (well, 2, to get the correct roof for my waffle ) orders with ER, and it's likely to be my last....If I could tack some ER cars to an order with MBK, for example,then I would consider getting a few more....

Another odd thing about ER is they sell you a boxcar(waffle), then charge extra for the correct roof!!??? I figured they would have included one with the car, or on it!!!!...I consider ER to be on the high end of freight car prices, but their models are not quite high-end to me.....And the direct buy model is not encouraging to me, the CONSUMER....

I can understand not wanting to develop new models, but howabouts maybe getting more use out of the tooling you have already paid for?????...I'm not a modern era modeler, but watch how much the E.R. FBOXes go for on the
'bay, and it seems there is a big need for another run of these things,......

Just my 2 cents, which will probably be spent with a different MFR.....

[mu26aeh]

$55 a pop ?  I have a few of these, I could finance some of my new layout construction at that price 

[GaryHinshaw]

DMOR: http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/871309.jpg

Thanks Ed, I have two LBF's to repaint (someday).  But no thanks on the etched brass - too many ribs and other non-flat details to cope with. 

Oh, and DMOR=... 

Another odd thing about ER is they sell you a boxcar(waffle), then charge extra for the correct roof!!??? I figured they would have included one with the car, or on it!!!!...I consider ER to be on the high end of freight car prices, but their models are not quite high-end to me.....

They were offering replacement roofs for free to people who had purchased cars with the wrong roofs.   

I don't know anyone who likes the direct sales model, ER included.  The rationale is that the cars would be even more expensive (MSRP, at least) if sold through normal channels.  It has definitely limited my purchases because I need to come up with a $100 minimum order to avoid expensive shipping costs to Canada.

[ljudice]

I think the rationale for the direct sales model is that it is believed that the closer relationship you have with the customer, the better you can target products....

They seem to have no problem selling expensive, HO models of some very specific, obscure cars, so perhaps it is working.

Not sure how this is worse than a pile of stuff sitting like a can of beans in a pile, which is what I see in some shops.

- Lou

[Kev1340]

It has definitely limited my purchases because I need to come up with a $100 minimum order to avoid expensive shipping costs to Canada.

You should try contacting ExactRail direct about this issue. Being in the UK, it wasn't viable to order direct for the same reasons, but after a discussion via e-mail, they agreed they would allow 'international' stores to order at trade prices. Now I just order through my usual local supplier without shipping or customs duty issues.

Cheers,

Kev

[GaryHinshaw]

Actually I have, most recently in the email copied above.   Interesting that they have relented a bit on overseas orders.  As it is, I just wait until I can bundle a $100 order, which is about 5 cars at their typical prices.  But since their N releases have been few and far between recently, I don't foresee another order anytime soon.

[ednadolski]

Oh, and DMOR=... 

Doing My Own Research 

Ed