NSE 2018 Swaporama - manufacturer products announced

[peteski]

Based upon the retail prices quoted by Atlas, the prices of the "sound-ready" versus "DCC-ready" units seem to be higher, so the speaker isn't free to the retail customer.
As with factory-installed decoders, one wonders how many customers will end up replacing the factory-installed speaker, too.
While the chassis may be the same, the speaker doesn't have to be installed in all units. It could be sold as an accessory.
Atlas ought to include the weight to replace the speaker, at no extra charge, for those sound-ready units.
Also, potential resale value is never a factor in my buying decisions.

First of all, when they will add sound to the older models, I'm pretty sure that they can't just make a decoder to fit the existing frame. So, the frame will have to be retooled (read: more expensive).

I'm also in the camp of people who will prefer a frame with opening for speaker already made.  Yes, having the manufacturer include a metal plug to fill that hole would be one possibility, but the metal used on frames is not very dense (heavy).  You'll be better off filling that hole yourself with tungsten disks or rods. If you look at the speaker opening that way, the manufacturer is doing you a favor by making that opening to be filled wit heavy metal. It is an invitation to make that model even heavier than one with no speaker opening. 

As for locos which Atlas makes as both, DCC and DC versions, those are more recent models than the ones which were only made as DC locos.  Since the are newer, they are more expensive models, regardless whether they are sold as DC or DCC model (they cost more to develop). At least that is how I explain the price difference.

[Mark5]

Products announced at the NSE Swaporama in Salt Lake City.  More announcements to come at the Manufacturer's Breakfast on Sunday.

BROADWAY LIMITED:

Liquid gas tank cars later this summer.

Looking forward to these. They disappeared from the BL website recently but I guess this means they are still alive! 

Mark

[bbussey]

Follow-up news.

Fox Valley — the wide-tread wheels will be returning first, followed by the fine-scale wheels.  They should be resurfacing before Labor Day.  The company has acquired most of the Deluxe tooling.  This includes all the containers, the container chassis, the 40' boxcar, the two woodchip hoppers, and some of the other models that escape me at the moment.  Some of the tooling was not recoverable and is lost – the Maxi-IV, the PS2 covered hopper, and something else I don't remember the 53’ trailer and it’s variants.

Trainworx — The ICG auto parts boxcar is on the water along with the other schemes.  Projected late July / early August release.  Some truck parts in stock but nothing will be released until all of the parts have arrived.

N Scale Kits — The Impack prototype was on display, will be released later this year.  New items include B&M 1930s well car, SP W-50-3 gondola, HDFC F403 flat, DODX nuclear flask car, NWF13 53' double-stack, Abrams M1A1 tank.

N Scale Laser — 53' spread-axle flatbed trailer, double-stack containers and reefers, 60' Canadian stack containers.

Will post additional photos as time permits.

[bbussey]

First of all, when they will add sound to the older models, I'm pretty sure that they can't just make a decoder to fit the existing frame. So, the frame will have to be retooled (read: more expensive).

My understanding is that all of the Life-Like mechanisms are getting new DCC/Sound frames.  I don't want to speak out of turn as to which models will be addressed first.  Most likely there will be some further clarification tomorrow morning.

[Mike Madonna]

Bryan,
Thanks for your thorough coverage! The Mrs. & I could not make this year's Convention. We are looking forward to Chicago next year!

[bbussey]

Trainworx ICG auto parts boxcar.



N Scale Laser flatbed trailer.



N Scale Kits various new models.

[cjm413]

Follow-up news.

Fox Valley — the wide-tread wheels will be returning first, followed by the fine-scale wheels.  They should be resurfacing before Labor Day.  The company has acquired most of the Deluxe tooling.  This includes all the containers, the container chassis, the 40' boxcar, the two woodchip hoppers, and some of the other models that escape me at the moment.  Some of the tooling was not recoverable and is lost – the Maxi-IV, the PS2 covered hopper, and something else I don't remember.

Trainworx — The ICG auto parts boxcar is on the water along with the other schemes.  Projected late July / early August release.  Some truck parts in stock but nothing will be released until all of the parts have arrived.

N Scale Kits — The Impack prototype was on display, will be released later this year.  New items include B&M 1930s well car, SP W-50-3 gondola, HDFC F403 flat, DODX nuclear flask car, NWF13 53' double-stack, Abrams M1A1 tank.

N Scale Laser — 53' spread-axle flatbed trailer, double-stack containers and reefers, 60' Canadian stack containers.

Will post additional photos as time permits.

If the old V-Line/DI covered hoppers are gone, IMRC could do these in N....

https://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/48613.htm

[unittrain]

Trainworx ICG auto parts boxcar.



N Scale Laser flatbed trailer.



N Scale Kits various new models.

Thanks for checking on the ICG boxcars.

[Mark5]

If the old V-Line/DI covered hoppers are gone, IMRC could do these in N....

https://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/48613.htm

Not gonna cry about the the DI Ps2 covered hopper (I have one) - they are very crude by 21st century standards, so I echo the sentiment that someone need to step forward with new tooling. 

Mark

[coosvalley]

I hope Atlas doesn't continue the trend they've begun of making speakers standard equipment even on the "DC" versions of locos.

Remind me again what locos they have done this with?

[Tom L]

Not gonna cry about the the DI Ps2 covered hopper (I have one) - they are very crude by 21st century standards, so I echo the sentiment that someone need to step forward with new tooling. 

Mark

I would like to see Bluford Shops do these, seems like it would fit their product line well and then we would see steady releases of many road names ( even the more obscure ones).  Either way, I would like to see someone do updated versions.

Tom L.

[nscalbitz]

Speaking of wheels, how about the different kind of wheels:  truck wheels (and other parts) from Traninworx?
I spoke to them at the last NSE convention and supposedly they were being made - a year later and nothing.  Or did I miss them somehow?

Keep in touch with Pat.
I've seen in other forums that he accedes to specific requests helping modellers in need.
He keeps a tight control over his hobby business, but is still a modeller at heart.
I can neither afford nor build his specialist D&RGW cabeese, but am happy to own a bevvy of his accurate gons and hoppers.
A bit like the ATSF guy GH, he arranges specific 'custom' work for dedicated 'groupies' too!
regards davew

Edit* Speillink 

[BCR 570]

Follow-up news.

Fox Valley — the wide-tread wheels will be returning first, followed by the fine-scale wheels.  They should be resurfacing before Labor Day.

Thank you very much; I can wait til then.


Tim

[CR4100]

Does anybody have any information about the prototype for this car? It looks like a depressed center flat car with side. What did it carry?

[wcfn100]

Does anybody have any information about the prototype for this car? It looks like a depressed center flat car with side. What did it carry?

When GE had them, it sounds like they carried gearsets.



Jason