Railsmith NP Diner

[nkalanaga]

"But he also has a commitment to doing SP&S/NP/GN cars"

He models the SP&S, and I suspect that most of his models for roads other than those are going to be mostly cars that might have been seen at Portland Union Station.  He hasn't said that, and I haven't asked, but an SP&S modeler, if modeling Portland, could use quite a variety of cars. 

[CBQ Fan]

IIRC, the Walther's cars, when they were actually produced, were sold painted and lettered, but not numbered/named. Decals were included in the box. Maybe this is a possibility down the road, with the user purchasing his own decals to keep cost down?  I personally think Lowell has done more with these molds, (and adding to the line) with his limited $$$ resources,  in the relatively short time he has owned them, than WKW EVER would have done.

That is exactly why Walthers struggled to sell their passenger cars. Not enough interest in numberless cars.

[mplsjct]

That is exactly why Walthers struggled to sell their passenger cars. Not enough interest in numberless cars.

Walthers also gave up on them, they released the 10-6, then the coach and baggage came, then crickets. I always thought the quality of the cars was fine, and Walthers seemed to have big plans, with the smooth and corrugated versions, but this is N Scale, not HO, so I’m sure sales weren’t what they anticipated.

Structures are Walthers N Scale forte, I still would like to see their Grain series of structures released in N

[nkalanaga]

"Not enough interest in numberless cars."

Which is odd, as most model passenger cars aren't hard to number, decals are available for many roads, and it would be easier than trying to find multiple cars with different numbers.  It would have helped if my two 10-6 had included decals (Amtrak), but MicroScale worked fine.

It isn't like trying to number a unit coal train!

[CBQ Fan]

"Not enough interest in numberless cars."

Which is odd, as most model passenger cars aren't hard to number, decals are available for many roads, and it would be easier than trying to find multiple cars with different numbers.  It would have helped if my two 10-6 had included decals (Amtrak), but MicroScale worked fine.

It isn't like trying to number a unit coal train!

There were the same complaints about the Kato bookcase sets of 6 & 4 cars sets. No numbers.

[peteski]

I can understand why decal numbers are not popular.  Even ignoring the fact that they have to be applied, the clear decal film will be visible. Even spraying a clear coat (to hide the film and protect the fragile decal from coming off) will change the appearance of the car.  Clear coat will change the sheen of the paint, and can also change the paint color slightly. And with natrual metal finishes, it often dulls the metallic look.

[thomasjmdavis]

I can understand why decal numbers are not popular.  Even ignoring the fact that they have to be applied, the clear decal film will be visible. Even spraying a clear coat (to hide the film and protect the fragile decal from coming off) will change the appearance of the car.  Clear coat will change the sheen of the paint, and can also change the paint color slightly. And with natrual metal finishes, it often dulls the metallic look.

I do remember there being a lot of complaints online from those who wanted their 'ready to run' cars to be 'ready to run.' Frankly, I found it more convenient, since I didn't have to search out the third or fourth number.  I suspect Walthers did it for ease of inventory. Only one sku number per roadname, rather than 3 or 5 or whatever. And no complaints about not producing enough numbers. And I have found the leftover decals useful, as they included the numbers for several roads on each sheet, so each has several fonts and colors.

As to decalling on the Walthers cars, I found on the fluted cars it wasn't really an issue. I would cut the decal to the approximate size of the numberboard on the car, and rather than spray the car, just apply the clear coat (I generally used the Krylon clear that came in a decal making kit I purchased) with a brush, over the decal area. Any change of appearance of the decalled area is not really an issue because, on a fluted car, the flat numberboard has a different reflective quality than the fluting, and so generally appears to be a "brighter" color.

I've always thought the best compromise, when a manufacturer is planning to release multiple numbers (and therefore already has multiple sku-s, is to do an unnumbered version as well, for those who want additional numbers. Atlas used to do this with locomotives- a release would include 2 numbers and an unnumbered version- so those who wanted more than 2 of the locos could number as many as they wanted.

When I

[CBQ Fan]

I do remember there being a lot of complaints online from those who wanted their 'ready to run' cars to be 'ready to run.' Frankly, I found it more convenient, since I didn't have to search out the third or fourth number.  I suspect Walthers did it for ease of inventory. Only one sku number per roadname, rather than 3 or 5 or whatever. And no complaints about not producing enough numbers. And I have found the leftover decals useful, as they included the numbers for several roads on each sheet, so each has several fonts and colors.

As to decalling on the Walthers cars, I found on the fluted cars it wasn't really an issue. I would cut the decal to the approximate size of the numberboard on the car, and rather than spray the car, just apply the clear coat (I generally used the Krylon clear that came in a decal making kit I purchased) with a brush, over the decal area. Any change of appearance of the decalled area is not really an issue because, on a fluted car, the flat numberboard has a different reflective quality than the fluting, and so generally appears to be a "brighter" color.

I've always thought the best compromise, when a manufacturer is planning to release multiple numbers (and therefore already has multiple sku-s, is to do an unnumbered version as well, for those who want additional numbers. Atlas used to do this with locomotives- a release would include 2 numbers and an unnumbered version- so those who wanted more than 2 of the locos could number as many as they wanted.

When I

Again, the unnumbered Atlas engines did not sell wel and sat on shelves forever. eBay had them long after all numbered versions were long gone. The demand just isn’t there.

[thomasjmdavis]

Again, the unnumbered Atlas engines did not sell wel and sat on shelves forever. eBay had them long after all numbered versions were long gone. The demand just isn’t there.

I'll just have to take your word for it. I was unable to find more than a couple when I went looking for them, but had no problem finding the numbered ones. (in my case ATSF Zebras, which might have something to do with it).

[CBQ Fan]

I'll just have to take your word for it. I was unable to find more than a couple when I went looking for them, but had no problem finding the numbered ones. (in my case ATSF Zebras, which might have something to do with it).

The fact that they stopped producing them and no one else is doing it should be enough evidence.