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With the design work nearly complete for the Walthers PD hopper upgrade kit, in eager to see if interest picks up once you see a competed conversation.I also realize this was probably a kit too specialized to introduce a new unproven manufacturer with. But I would like to see if there is interest in special projects. BLMA, GMM and Trainworx all made etched parts to help grow their business. And this is something I would eventually like to achieve.Here are a few ideas that have been looking at.1. Generic modern upgrade kit. Etched brake wheels, crossover platforms, short ladders, uncoupling lever grabs and drill jig. There would be enough materials to convert three cars. All parts would include multiple styles for variety.2. Etched conversion box to adapt truck mounted MTL or Accumate couplers for use on the body. This has been an issue with me as I have 1000 cars to convert and it drives me nuts that I need new coupler kits because the boxes on the trucks don't mount well to the body.3. A full resin and etched freight car kit. This would be a long way off. I would also need a large number of conformed orders before trying something like this. The body would be 3D printed and that master would be used for resin casting. I'm experienced in resin casting and this would be able to keep the cost of a multimedia kit like this down.But what cars would you be interested in? What are the biggest holes in N?No guarantee on any of this. And I think after the PD project, John need both a break and big raise lol.Comments? Thoughts?
As far as No. 3 goes, one of the big holes is reasonably accurate transition-era gondolas. The Micrtrains cars are nice in their way, but are either too long or too short for the prototypes painted, have different #s of ribs, etc. And they ride high.A solid trio of USRA mill gons, AAR 52'-6" gondolas, and Greenville 15-panel gons would cover a huge number of prototype cars and be decent stand-ins for many more.
Daniel-Maybe the answers are a little off mark of the question....If I read your opening correctly it seems you are looking for upgrade ideas using etched, RP, or resin parts.....not full blown complete production hard tooled new cars.If you and the other people involved have a preference to era that should factor in as well. Success is harder when a product line lacks focus.While there was a time when transition era stuff dominated so much “modern” equipment has been released in the last decades that there is an even need for state of the art products across steam, transition, and a couple of modern epochs that would be commercially viable. All the comments are on mark but not necessarily for your situation.Charlie VlkRailroad Model Resources
I read #2 as "a product that allows couplers (and in some cases, springs) from truck mounted coupler boxes to be reused as frame/body mounted couplers without buying a completely new set of couplers and coupler boxes"
I'd love an upgrade for the beer can tank car.
If the 1023 coupler box is available separately and cheap, that would certainly fill the void. Basically I need to transport the guts of the truck mounted couplers to a body mount package. The truck boxes are far too large to fit where I need them.Upgrade kits: I was thinking items similar to the PD project. The Atlas ACF 5250 would be a good candidate for a full upgrade including end cages. These could also be used in the 2 bay ACF.I also think a kit for some of the Walthers cars is probably due because Atlas won't. A Russell plow kit with a front coupler, hand rails, steps, walkways, headlights, and a front truck with proper wheel spacing.The ballast hopper could really use new end cages and grabs.Maybe an ACF Flex Flo upgrade for the AHM car but I think a full car kit would be easier in the end. The body lends itself to easy casting.A late transition era gondola could be an interesting project. I imagine it would be cast as a flat kit. Something that covers early 50's to late 90's.
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