Thinking of Reserving an N Scale ST C44-9W

[sundowner]

But Ed, for some reason they aren't listening to people like us...I guess I don't understand why not, although I bet Charlie Vlk could give us some insight here.

[Rod Serling] Imagine if you will a company who offers an SD40-2 and it's variants like the SD40N (UP has over a thousand) in many liveries...[/Rod Serling]

I personally can't see why the turbines (although I think they're great) or the other oddball...

IM already does the SD40-2 and have the SD40N comming out sometime this decade

[dem34]

But I think it'd be a lot easier to do that with a money printing machine humming away in the background.

This right here.

It does bug the hell out of me that you get MFGs complaining about low N scale sales and their only offerings are oddballs that although beautifully detailed and smooth running were only used by like 1 class 1 railroad with maybe a handful of obscure shortlines or only ran in a relatively small geographic area . Like the Rapido GMD-1 and FL9 that both apparently had very poor sales.

[jereising]

IM already does the SD40-2 and have the SD40N comming out sometime this decade

Yaabut - I turn 80 next week and I'd like them before I die...

[greenwizard88]

This right here.

It does bug the hell out of me that you get MFGs complaining about low N scale sales and their only offerings are oddballs that although beautifully detailed and smooth running were only used by like 1 class 1 railroad with maybe a handful of obscure shortlines or only ran in a relatively small geographic area . Like the Rapido GMD-1 and FL9 that both apparently had very poor sales.

They've complained about N scale sales vs HO too though. Same product, different scales. The carbon black cars come to mind - The 2nd run is stuck in purgatory because first run sales were so low, where HO scale 1st and 2nd run sold well enough.

[kiwi_bnsf]

Well the Scale Trains Dash 9s seem to have sold out most places, and Scale Trains have no stock (although that may have to do with the epic sale they ran last year).

I'm also frustrated by the argument that the models that they sell in HO not selling well in N.

As others have said in this (and other) threads, taking HO tooling that occupies obscure niches in the HO market is not a good way to make sales in N scale. I think there is a lot more appetite for quality models of common prototypes that can be done well in N. I also think that N scalers are more likely to buy multiples of the same loco model if they are available in different road numbers or variations.

With the Rivet Counter detail as a differentiator, I agree that Scale Trains could print money by focusing on some mainstream locos (SD40, SD40-2, SD45, Tunnel Motors, Geeps etc).

I see no evidence that the SD40-2 or Tunnel Motor market is saturated in N scale. In fact these models are becoming scarce and prices on eBay are rising.

I would spring for at least six Tunnel Motors if Scale Trains made them, and I hate to think how many SD40-2s I would buy if they did those too.

At most I could justify one C39-8 for my era and locale, but they didn't make the NS models with ditch lights (even though they have tooled them). I purchased one Carbon black hopper, but I have no record of a single one over Tehachapi in the late 90's (across multiple DVDs and thousands of photos).

I really hope that Scale Trains have not been scared off N scale with these initial releases.

[Jbub]

I'm hoping the multimax car will be a good seller for them. I'm also hoping the operator class Tier 4 Gevo get's enough reservations to go to production so I pre-ordered all the numbers they're doing for YEW PAY.

[tehachapifan]

....I really hope that Scale Trains have not been scared off N scale with these initial releases.

Well, I just reserved a C44-9W off their upcoming third run, so I'm assuming things are going pretty good with at least that model.

Somebody mentioned tunnel motors....could you imagine a tunnel motor in the Rivet Counter line with loco-specific features and details and, if it's even possible, fully see-thru grills? I gotta sit down!

[Jbub]

Well, I just reserved a C44-9W off their upcoming third run, so I'm assuming things are going pretty good with at least that model.

Somebody mentioned tunnel motors....could you imagine a tunnel motor in the Rivet Counter line with loco-specific features and details and, if it's even possible, fully see-thru grills? I gotta sit down!

Shane did ask what people here thought about that. IIRC the majority said they would rather have a loco that could pull cars rather than have a see through grill in the back.

[tehachapifan]

Shane did ask what people here thought about that. IIRC the majority said they would rather have a loco that could pull cars rather than have a see through grill in the back.

Crazy random thought (after a drink or two), maybe we can have both. What if the see-thru section of the frame is removable. Need more weight? Put it back in. Want see thru effect, remove it.

[jagged ben]

Crazy random thought (after a drink or two), maybe we can have both. What if the see-thru section of the frame is removable. Need more weight? Put it back in. Want see thru effect, remove it.

But that area is right over the rear truck so you'd need a completely different approach to an N scale drive train than we've ever seen.   Most likely at the very least you'd have a gear tower showing partly behind the grill, which I think makes it almost not worth it.   It's not primarily about the weight.

[tehachapifan]

But that area is right over the rear truck so you'd need a completely different approach to an N scale drive train than we've ever seen.   Most likely at the very least you'd have a gear tower showing partly behind the grill, which I think makes it almost not worth it.   It's not primarily about the weight.

I believe they conquered that obstacle in HO. Whether it can also be done in N, I don't know.

[peteski]

I believe they conquered that obstacle in HO. Whether it can also be done in N, I don't know.

Kato uses very low profile power trucks in several of their models (RDC, NW2 and many Japanese prototype models), so it is possible to have empty space over the truck, but that woudl require Scale Trains to do a total redesign of the mechanism, instead of just reusing their standard design.  Possible? Yes. But whether that woudl be realistic?  Not sure.