MTL August releases

[bbussey]

None of you East Coasters care, but I just ordered 2 SP&S Wood Chip Gondolas Runner packs.  The extensions can be removed and you are left with regular drop bottom gondolas.

That's the set I am interested in, too. Prototypical SP&S models are seldom offered. Which begs the standard question: Is this set prototypical?  I would assume that it is a (good) stand-in, as most woodchip gondolas had diagonal bracing on the lower side panels.

It was a single release at some point.  Best thing to do is to comb through the UMTRR database to see when it was released, then read the UMTRR report for that month/year to see if it's prototypical.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Got to start making your investment back somehow.  Think of all the MT collectors that will buy this.......

And I'm not saying I like it, just that it seems to work for them.   

Yeah, but think of all of the colorful REAL schemes these things ran in over the years. Oddballs (like the riverfront rambler one on NS), Bicentennial schemes (if there was ever a series of colorful paint schemes that would make a killing, this would be it), etc... But instead, that.

I'm not seriously mad about it or anything, but it does just seem like such a waste of everyone's time.

[Philip H]

Sadly, it would have made a great set for Lord Zox to run around his Area 51 module . . . .

[bbussey]

Yeah, but think of all of the colorful REAL schemes these things ran in over the years. Oddballs (like the riverfront rambler one on NS), Bicentennial schemes (if there was ever a series of colorful paint schemes that would make a killing, this would be it), etc... But instead, that.

I'm not seriously mad about it or anything, but it does just seem like such a waste of everyone's time.

As Matt noted, it works for them.  They feel the collector market is their dominant target audience, and they feel that market affords them the ability to offer products for the modeler market.  That's fine, as long as both groups of clientele are offered the level of product they expect.

[mcjaco]

I recall the Riverfront Rambler being released by Athearn for their long gone Special Edition Sets.  I had a dozen guys come in and pre order them....then guess what?  Of the dozen we got, we sold two of them.  The other ten sat there.  Couldn't get the other ten off the shelves or the guys to come in and get them. 

[wcfn100]

As Matt noted, it works for them.  They feel the collector market is their dominant target audience, and they feel that market affords them the ability to offer products for the modeler market.  That's fine, as long as both groups of clientele are offered the level of product they expect.

So fantasy schemes before prototype are okay but non prototypical schemes before prototype you crush them for?


Jason

[bbussey]

Are we really going to do this, again? 

Regarding the SW1500 specifically, they've released two prototypical schemes and announced another four.  Releasing fantasy/non-prototypical and prototypical schemes concurrently isn't the issue.  Releasing non-prototypical schemes and presenting them as prototypical is the issue.   The non-prototypical schemes are advertised on the box blurbs, in the MTL newsletter and in ads as if they are accurate representations of the prototype.  It would be better to write nothing rather than repeatedly present misleading data.

[Dave Schneider]

Are we really going to do this, again? 

Couldn't agree more Bryan.

I bear the responsibility for calling attention to the Area 51 train. My intent was to poke a small bit of fun at the people who go non-linear at the thought of MTL making these types of sets, even though it was stated that the reason for developing the SW1500 in the first place was for use in sets (but I digress). I should have known better. Sorry folks.

Best wishes, Dave

[chicken45]

[Ngineer]

It was a single release at some point.  Best thing to do is to comb through the UMTRR database to see when it was released, then read the UMTRR report for that month/year to see if it's prototypical.

Thank you!

It was July 2008 when Micro-Trains offered two SP&S wood chip gondolas with side extension (084 00 011 and 084 00 012). I just checked UMTRR, which is a GREAT website.

Javier

[Sokramiketes]

I recall the Riverfront Rambler being released by Athearn for their long gone Special Edition Sets.  I had a dozen guys come in and pre order them....then guess what?  Of the dozen we got, we sold two of them.  The other ten sat there.  Couldn't get the other ten off the shelves or the guys to come in and get them.

I think it's funny that you ordered a dozen of them, knowing you were in the Midwest and no where near GA!

By the way, I'm having some great conversation with MTL staff behind the scenes.  They do think the prototype market is important and think that they release "ultra-prototypical" models.  I'm hoping I can get to the bottom of this...

[JoeD]

geez....

[bbussey]

I think it's funny that you ordered a dozen of them, knowing you were in the Midwest and no where near GA!

By the way, I'm having some great conversation with MTL staff behind the scenes.  They do think the prototype market is important and think that they release "ultra-prototypical" models.  I'm hoping I can get to the bottom of this...

I hope so too.

[ryan_wilkerson]

He's right behind me, isn't he....

[pjm20]

geez....

Don't worry Joe, I remember the Pennsy D78cR you guys are going to release! 

[psss] (make more Pennsy stuff, we don't complain... ) [/psss]