Micro Engineering is looking for feedback on its products..

[EspeeGoldenState]

From ME's Facebook page.

Good day fellow modelers,

As the new owners of Micro Engineering Company, we want to continue the legacy set forth by Bob and the entire Rands family.  We know the supply chain hasn't been easy to work with the last several years.  We have begun to answer those needs with a new location, increased dedicated staff, more molding machines, and increased youthfulness to the company and hobby.

By completing this survey, you will help us to understand the needs of the railroad modeler, but more specifically what you want from us. In addition this information will help us to know what new products to release and who is most interested in those new products.  The Dwiggins family is looking forward to building a legacy with you, the modeler, just as Bob Rands did so many years ago.

Thank you for all the help in growing Micro Engineering Company. We look forward to working with each of you. As a sign of our commitment to the hobby and our appreciation to you the modeler we would like to offer every participant a 10% off coupon to be applied to your first order from the new website, to be launched in May 2024.

Good evening modelers! Please complete this survey: bit.ly/MicroCustomerSurvey.  This survey will help the new owners of Micro Engineering Company determine importance of current and new products. Share the survey on other boards or social media if you'd like.

https://us9.list-manage.com/survey?u=040b9b7f2247faedd711b9836&id=2eced39478&attribution=false
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070218334346

[ridinshotgun]

Have they even released anything in n scale yet?  I have seen HO stuff but nothing in n scale since they took over.

[reinhardtjh]

Have they even released anything in n scale yet?  I have seen HO stuff but nothing in n scale since they took over.

There has been a dribble of non-weathered Code 55 flex that I know of.  Not sure if anything else made it out before they moved.

[CRR Chase]

I made sure to send in my input..
I urge other n scalers to also provide input.. since alot of manufacturers think we dont exist... J/K

[ridinshotgun]

There has been a dribble of non-weathered Code 55 flex that I know of.  Not sure if anything else made it out before they moved.

Yeah but I thought the consensus was that stuff was produced before the hand over or at least before the transfer to the new owner and factory.

[rodsup9000]

Yeah but I thought the consensus was that stuff was produced before the hand over or at least before the transfer to the new owner and factory.

Here is the link to the thread where I posted about the "new" code 55 track.
 Also after working with the "new" track, it seams a little more fragile than the older stuff. The spike heads seam to break easier.   

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=55804.0

[robert3985]

I responded. 

And, I'm going to write them at their email address here: info@microengineering.com  which they suggested for inquiries, comments and photos.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[mdltrn]

Survey completed. Now is your chance to be heard! An expanded product line in N scale would be welcomed (No. 8, No. 10, and No. 15 turnouts, etc.) but even just producing the current product catalog would be great.

[nkalanaga]

I agree that bringing the current line back would be an excellent start.  Not a lot of variety, but enough that one could build a functioning layout with it.  Expand it after all of the basics are readily available.

[Rossford Yard]

I responded.  I kept adding stuff to the list of things they might do to make it truly RTR turnouts, by combining all the best features of the different turnout makers in N.  I included:

-Built-in flexible roadbed (some HO firm did this years ago) for turnouts and flex, which would require some kerfs. 
-Maybe that product in 2 and 3 track configs, especially dead straight, 36" long pieces
-Yard ladders in 1, 2 and 3 turnout configs, which would allow almost any number of tracks) Shinohara and maybe ME
-Built-in the roadbed switch motors (Kato) (optional if we don't want hand throws)
-A target marker that rotates, with the green and red targets that show which way the turnout is thrown.  While rotating, they still need a spring switch so hand throwing is secure
-Metal, yet insulated frogs with power feeds
- Rail joiners as stout as Kato's

I suspect that the finished turnout would probably double the Atlas C55 MSRP of about $28, but when you figure all the stuff you get, it might be competitive.


I know Google is listening or watching everything we do on the net......a few minutes later I was sent a clip of an old Simpsons episode where Homer gets to design a car and it comes out a monster that bankrupts the auto company.  The most hilarious feature was a cup holder that held really large drinks, among other things.

[dem34]

I responded.  I kept adding stuff to the list of things they might do to make it truly RTR turnouts, by combining all the best features of the different turnout makers in N.  I included:

-Built-in flexible roadbed (some HO firm did this years ago) for turnouts and flex, which would require some kerfs. 
-Maybe that product in 2 and 3 track configs, especially dead straight, 36" long pieces
-Yard ladders in 1, 2 and 3 turnout configs, which would allow almost any number of tracks) Shinohara and maybe ME
-Built-in the roadbed switch motors (Kato) (optional if we don't want hand throws)
-A target marker that rotates, with the green and red targets that show which way the turnout is thrown.  While rotating, they still need a spring switch so hand throwing is secure
-Metal, yet insulated frogs with power feeds
- Rail joiners as stout as Kato's

I suspect that the finished turnout would probably double the Atlas C55 MSRP of about $28, but when you figure all the stuff you get, it might be competitive.


I know Google is listening or watching everything we do on the net......a few minutes later I was sent a clip of an old Simpsons episode where Homer gets to design a car and it comes out a monster that bankrupts the auto company.  The most hilarious feature was a cup holder that held really large drinks, among other things.

Eh not sure the point of spamming stuff non contructively like that. Their wheelhouse is flex and associated infrastructure. So I would personally keep it to flextrack relevant features.

My own would simply be.
-DCC compatibility out of the box
-Easy Frog connection
-A decent variety turnout sizes. With 1 or 2 curve types.

[wazzou]

I responded.  I kept adding stuff to the list of things they might do to make it truly RTR turnouts, by combining all the best features of the different turnout makers in N.  I included:

-Built-in flexible roadbed (some HO firm did this years ago) for turnouts and flex, which would require some kerfs. 
-Maybe that product in 2 and 3 track configs, especially dead straight, 36" long pieces
-Yard ladders in 1, 2 and 3 turnout configs, which would allow almost any number of tracks) Shinohara and maybe ME
-Built-in the roadbed switch motors (Kato) (optional if we don't want hand throws)
-A target marker that rotates, with the green and red targets that show which way the turnout is thrown.  While rotating, they still need a spring switch so hand throwing is secure
-Metal, yet insulated frogs with power feeds
- Rail joiners as stout as Kato's

I suspect that the finished turnout would probably double the Atlas C55 MSRP of about $28, but when you figure all the stuff you get, it might be competitive.

You are aware that this is a small company with tooling for a small line of flex and 1 turnout currently, correct?
That's an awful lot of additional tooling.

I wouldn't get your hopes up.   

[Rossford Yard]

Well, they asked, didn't they?  It is new owners and they may want to think out of the box.  The last two responses obviously can't do that, lol.  I suppose you would have poo pooed the Wright Brothers for trying something new.  However, perhaps my requests would be similar to telling the Wright Bros it wouldn't be worth it unless they came right out of the box with a 787......

If they offer basically the same type of stuff as Atlas, will they gain market share? More seriously, whether it is automobiles or other products, including Atlas turnouts, it always seems like each mfg leaves out one feature (in Atlas, it is poor metal on the frogs and non snap throws that require some holding.)  If they are retooling, how hard would it be to include at least those 2 features, if not one or two more?  It might take a while to get all the way to the complete RTR track system, much like the real railroads built wooden bridges to get the trains rolling, knowing they would replace them ASAP with something stronger and more permanent as a commercial consideration.

[peteski]

I responded.  I kept adding stuff to the list of things they might do to make it truly RTR turnouts, by combining all the best features of the different turnout makers in N.  I included:

- Rail joiners as stout as Kato's

That is impossible unless they develop their own track with integrated roadbed (like Kato Unitrack).  If you have some Unitrack, take one of the joiners apart to see what I mean.  The U-shaped metal part of the joiner is very deep, giving it much more springiness than a typical joiner.  That results in more reliable contact. You need the depth to do that.

[robert3985]

In my opinion, Micro Engineering needs to make their track more prototypical, the opposite of making it more like KATO UNITRACK...

I would want my track designed by Kelly Johnson rather than Orville and Wilbur

Micro Engineering is already the YF-22 of N-scale track products.  The best, but needs more development/refinement and more of it.

The idea of casting integral "ballast" into it to "improve" it is a really bad idea.  Sure, let's make the most prototypical looking N-scale track into N-gauge toy track...THAT makes sense!

I suggested to them making their spikeheads smaller...like the original Rail Craft flex, squaring up the relief and the edges on their ties, going back to uneven ties and larger tie plates and retaining the stiffness...which is a good thing IMO.

I also suggested that they design trackage that has a rail height of 0.046"...Code46...that duplicates the height of scaled-down A.R.E.A. 136 lb mainline rail. Y'know...ACTUAL N-scale rail rather than just small HO scale rail.

I also suggested that they design their N-scale rails to have a prototypically rounded railhead rather than the squared-off one they have now on both their Code55 and Code40 rails...which makes the rails look wider than they really are.

I didn't get too deep into turnout design much but I recommended using tri-planed point rails, which would mean the stock rails don't need to have their inner sides filed flat...y'know...make 'em like the prototype does, and etch point rail heel hinges rather than use rail joiners.  I recommended they produce a #9 and a #11 along with a couple of appropriate crotch-frog turnouts (model railroaders like to call them "wyes") and a couple of large radius curved turnouts.

I also suggested that since their frogs are cast, why not include nut & bolt detail on the sides of the frogs???  Makes sense to me.

That's about it.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore