FVM announces GP 60M and GP 60B

[hegstad1]

Just had to add my one photo of these.  Taken in St. Paul a few years ago.  December 9, 2005 to be exact.  Nice BN SD-40-2 attached too.

[Denver Road Doug]

Just had to add my one photo of these.  Taken in St. Paul a few years ago.  December 9, 2005 to be exact.  Nice BN SD-40-2 attached too.

That's a nice photo, thanks for sharing!   That's one of the things I enjoyed about the immediate post-merger period (which I model) is those BN Green and ATSF Silver Warbonnet lashups.   Just great contrast and interesting power and two of my favorite railroads.   Especially some of the really bizarro consists like Dash8-40BW+GP60B+B30-7A(B) or even throw in an LMX unit in there.

I ordered a SWB GP60B.  My roster is relatively SWB-heavy so I'm not sure if I will get an M or not.   As always, if anyone is planning to use the mech for something custom, I would love to buy a decorated SWB GP60M shell that I could swap out with the B on occassion.   Just PM me if you are interested.

[bbussey]

I was a bit surprised to see no BNSF sub letter or relettered long hoods.  I would love to hear how mfgs think on something like this, because as it happens, I don't like the Orange/Green scheme on these, and would only buy BNSF sublettered or relettered versions in Red/Silver.  But, I am just one customer...

Gotta leave some of the top sellers for subsequent releases.  You need top-selling schemes in a release to subsidize schemes which aren't as nationally popular but still have a fan base.

[tehachapifan]

I was a bit surprised to see no BNSF sub letter or relettered long hoods.  I would love to hear how mfgs think on something like this, because as it happens, I don't like the Orange/Green scheme on these, and would only buy BNSF sublettered or relettered versions in Red/Silver.  But, I am just one customer.

I know there are always second releases, and maybe they figure any of us interested in the BNSF versions will buy the Orange/Green type now, and wait to buy any BNSF Red/Silver's later, after letting our wallet recover.  I am guessing, however, that after a long wait for these engines, that most of us will buy multiple road numbers, and if we like Red/Silver better, "holding back"  a popular scheme for the second release to boost later sales seems risky, over putting up your probable (IMHO) best selling red/silver schemes first.  Kind of like holding back your best pitcher for a later game in the WS! I think I would put my ace on the mound, but again, I am only one customer.

BTW, are there any of these units in shortline or lease service that might make for interesting paint shcemes in later releases?  I know there is the Marersk scheme, which while a one off, would probably sell pretty well, too.

RY, it's pretty easy to ad the BNSF sublettering using a Microscale decal sheet intended for that purpose. I used these decals on my kitbashed units....







(see how I did that? I came up with a somewhat legitimate reason to shamelessly post pictures of these units yet again! But, hey, they won't be unique for much longer. I need to get what I can out of them before they get retired. :'( )

Russ

[48Fan]

These things were sooooo cool chasing a quad set, A-B-B-A, up to Tehachapi when they were new! I dont model the west coast anymore but I believe i will have a set anyways just because of seeing them new back then!

[Rossford Yard]

I have sub lettered many BNSF units, and have a few decal sets hanging around. I do recall that there were some where the big BNSF was relettered on the side, and those are a bit harder to do - when I remove the paint, the silver below got smudged.  So, what I meant was with the long hood getting the BNSF big letters.

Still wondering about leaving potential great sellers to the second run.  I think I would rather have the big money up front to make sure I broke even, then issue renumbers and lesser schemes on the subsequent runs til they don't sell any more.....but I am not a MRR mfg.

[Denver Road Doug]

Jeff,

I can't imagine that the BNSF lettered Silver Warbonnets will sell better than ATSF.   Is that what you are implying?    I would expect the ATSF "Santa Fe"-lettered Silver Warbonnets (both the M's and the B's) will far-and-away outsell anything else, probably tenfold.   I guess the shop guys can step in here with how Athearn's HO version did.

Speaking of Athearn's HO version, I was searching for photos of GP60M's and came across some fantasy schemes that Athearn did.  I tried poking my eyes out but it was too late.  So just be forewarned...don't make the same fatal mistake I did.   I know, I know, FVM is a fan of the fantasy schemes so I'm sure we'll see them, and probably before the BNSF Silver Warbonnets.

[48Fan]

Please do not defile my memory of shiny silver warbonnets by posting ANY fantasy scheme of these beauties!

[kiwi_bnsf]

Sorry I should have been more specific when I said that 113 and 129 got BNSF on the long hood in 1996-1997. I mean't they got the big BNSF letters replacing Santa Fe (not sublettering):

     http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1837402

     http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=75849

Only 147 got the sublettering treatment:

     http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=26800

I completely agree that FVM will sell more Santa Fe Warbonnet than any other scheme with the GP60Ms, it's just annoying that they could have easily broadened the timeframes for their models if they'd thought about the road numbers a bit more.

I'm sure they will sell well regardless. Basically I'm just whinging because it means more work for me!

Cheers

[Rossford Yard]

Doug,

Yeah, you are probably right.  I recall both Kato and other industry reps telling me that ATSF and BN both outsell BNSF, and I would presume that for a loco that crossed eras (unlike some of the 70 ACE and ES44 units) that this would be pronounced.

Does anyone know how many of those Green/Orange units were out there, vs the Red/Silver?

I am surprised there is only one cab subletter unit out there and only two full BNSF letters on the long hood.

[James Costello]

Fox Valley have chosen some interesting road numbers for the initial release of Warbonnet GP60Ms.

They really restrict things to the early "as-delivered" era:

    113 got BNSF on the long hood in September 1996

    129 got BNSF on the long hood in January 1997

    152 was wrecked in November 1990

I model ~1999 so I'm going to have to renumber them, or wait for a subsequent release. Thankfully 147 was only patched to BNSF in June 2001, and the B units were only patched on the "short hood"

The black anti-glare panel on the nose restricts them to much earlier than that!

That'll be the scheme I'll hang out for.... which started in 1993.

[CBQ Fan]

I would fully expect a second War Bonnet release end of the year or beginning of next.  I am guessing you will see a slightly different time frame for the numbers and scheme based on how FVM has done their other releases.

[mdeberg]

Brian,

I hope you're correct as I too am looking for later schemes.  ;D