Is N scale smoke really making a comeback?

[ATSF_Ron]

Tom D., I feel ya! I feel that way about the non-brass cab forward situation. Not sure that intermountain will ever get around to making them again. Hopefully B L. I will. Especially the early versions. The only game in town for the early versions is key imports, and those will not run on my layout. Don’t have room for that large of a radius.

[Cajonpassfan]

...
At first, there were modellers unhappy with their Paragon sound decoders crammed in their throats. BLI finally realized (was it the survey?) that they were losing a lot of sales because of that, and they recently changed their course and started offering models without decoders.  Brilliant move!  But around the same time they somehow got the notion that smoke is a wonderful thing.  Hmmm, maybe they should take another survey . . .

Well, that brings up an interesting question. Do we actually KNOW what kind of sales the "stealth" strategy generates? Stealth vs. Paragon 4's? And total numbers now vs. before?  I'd say only time will tell how brilliant that move was...and future releases will give us a hint.

As to smoke, I may think it's lame and gimmicky, but then I realize I need to remind myself that for every self proclaimed prototype modeler, there are probably thousands of others, including wide-eyed nine year olds, who see the this hobby very differently. And if that helps sales and the development of new steam locos, I'll be happily turning my new engines into non-smokers all day long
Otto

[bigdawgks]

As to smoke, I may think it's lame and gimmicky, but then I realize I need to remind myself that for every self proclaimed prototype modeler, there are probably thousands of others, including wide-eyed nine year olds, who see the this hobby very differently. And if that helps sales and the development of new steam locos, I'll be happily turning my new engines into non-smokers all day long
Otto

Except in this context the concern is not about using gimmicky stuff to make things more attractive to larger audiences, it's that the manufacturer sees any project that can't include those features as not viable. Overall that mentality harms the hobby for those who care about having more prototype options. Chosing only to focus on what sells the most to the widest audience will just saturate the market and in extreme cases may cause the number of serious modellers to dwindle. I have a theory that in this hobby, supply and demand are cyclical - producing new niche things can help facilitate more demand from those within that niche.

[rodsup9000]

 Now if they could do smoke like this in N scale, I might buy only one.


 Go to 1:50 in the video

/>

[peteski]

Yes, when done well, in larger scales, smoke can be very realistic.  This includes blow-down steam from the cylinders and some steam escaping from the back of the loco.  I don't know how this is done (is it typical burning oil smoke or maybe water vapor), but the effect is pretty amazing.  In N scale? not so much.

[Jbub]

Well, that brings up an interesting question. Do we actually KNOW what kind of sales the "stealth" strategy generates? Stealth vs. Paragon 4's? And total numbers now vs. before?  I'd say only time will tell how brilliant that move was...and future releases will give us a hint.

As to smoke, I may think it's lame and gimmicky, but then I realize I need to remind myself that for every self proclaimed prototype modeler, there are probably thousands of others, including wide-eyed nine year olds, who see the this hobby very differently. And if that helps sales and the development of new steam locos, I'll be happily turning my new engines into non-smokers all day long
Otto

Currently 0 dollars, non of the stealth locos have made it to the stores yet.

[DirtyD79]

I think the problem is that even the BEST smoke units (probably referring to O scale here) produces a sad looking puff of smoke. Nothing at all like a real locomotive would. Why go to all of the effort to include something that doesn't even look good to begin with?

We all now know smoking produces cancer and death...isn't that what killed the steam locomotives in the first place?

Now I'm picturing Thomas The Tank Engine rippin' heaters allover town.

[John]

Yes, when done well, in larger scales, smoke can be very realistic.  This includes blow-down steam from the cylinders and some steam escaping from the back of the loco.  I don't know how this is done (is it typical burning oil smoke or maybe water vapor), but the effect is pretty amazing.  In N scale? not so much.

The effect is impressive - but it's still some smoke ..  steam coming out of the cylinders dissipates pretty quickly as the water vapor changes temperature .. the "steam" in these floats like an eerie swamp fog ..

[peteski]

The effect is impressive - but it's still some smoke ..  steam coming out of the cylinders dissipates pretty quickly as the water vapor changes temperature .. the "steam" in these floats like an eerie swamp fog ..

Good point John.  I can only imagine how this much of model RR smoke stinks in that room.  While I'm impressed, I wouldn't want to hang around that layout for any extended period.

[Doug G.]

With your super-sensitivity to smoke, you guys are lucky you weren't around when 1:1 steam was really in action, I guess.

BTW, my two smokers are Arnold Rapido German BR41 2-8-2 locos. I don't run them real often but like to get them out once-in-a-while. That cedar-scented smoke makes the room smell good.

Doug

[John]

With your super-sensitivity to smoke, you guys are lucky you weren't around when 1:1 steam was really in action, I guess.

I was up in Strassburg a few months ago -- and the coal smoke did bother me -- I've become more sensitive to it as I've gotten older - my lungs aren't what they used to be - even though I quit smoking 30 years ago ..

[dem34]

TBF there is an alternative for the larger scales

[Doug G.]

I was up in Strassburg a few months ago -- and the coal smoke did bother me -- I've become more sensitive to it as I've gotten older - my lungs aren't what they used to be - even though I quit smoking 30 years ago ..

You have me beat. It's only been 16 years for me.

Doug

[lock4244]

Until we get working sanders, N scale will continue to be a toyish joke. I fear smoke will distract manufacturers from producing working sanders.

[mu26aeh]

BLI insists on installing smoke units in all their locomotives like Rapido insists on doing crazy amounts of unseen underbody details (and proudly announcing it in their videos and ad features.  Personally I don't need either