New stuff at N Scale Collectors' Convention?

[up1950s]

"Yep, Witnessed it for myself back at the Tulsa convention. They also had clinics on what makes a car collectable. They preached that removing the car from the cradle and NOT placing the car back in with the brack wheel to the correct side would disqualify the car from "Mint" status."

The next extrapolation would dictate that the actual viewing of the car is a degradation of MINT , so MTL will now sell cars in black plastic boxes which are glued shut , to insure it is indeed untouched , and unviewed . You know whats in there by the photo on the label on the inside that completely covers the clear top .

[DKS]

The next extrapolation would dictate that the actual viewing of the car is a degradation of MINT , so MTL will now sell cars in black plastic boxes which are glued shut , to insure it is indeed untouched , and unviewed . You know whats in there by the photo on the label on the inside that completely covers the clear top .

This isn't far removed from Lionel collectors who X-ray sealed cardboard boxes to prove the contents exist.

[TrainCat2]

NSC now shrink-wraps your winning "collectable" car in the case before sending it to you. I have posed the question many times as how does one verify that the other side of the car is in the same condition as the one seen through the shrink-wrap. This is where the tomatoe stains magically appear on my clothing as my wife would NEVER believe the truth.

[Chris333]

Tivo's video isn't good enough, we need some one there in person with a blender. Then video tape the crowds reaction.   

I believe Tivo's victom was un-opened (mint)

[TiVoPrince]

Blender
is available for travel...

[sparky]

Hmmm... I never saw the video in question.  Is it posted somewhere?

[John]

Hmmm... I never saw the video in question.  Is it posted somewhere?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AtrEm1MGiU

[TrainCat2]

John, That's not a nice thing to call Sparky!!   

[atsf_arizona]

Fast, short report from N Scale Convention in Hartford, CT.

This is my 2nd NSC/N Scale convention (Chantilly 2004 was my 1st),
and I'm told that every N Scale Convention has a unique personality all its own.   

Speaking for myself, it was a great time, 275 attendees or thereabouts.  What makes
these conventions is really the people and acquaintances that one makes... meeting
in person the Forum/Trainboard/Railwire acquaintances .... meeting the vendors and
manufacturers and thus seeing the real people... the room sales... etc. 

As always, these conventions should not be measured in the same way as Train Shows,
rather, they are about having the extended time to meet, visit, eat with, enjoy time
together, with the many people, personalities, manufacturers, and organizations that
will ordain the future of our N scale hobby. 

I got there late in the Convention timeline, arriving just in time for Banquet on
Saturday night, did the Room Sales after the Banquet, and attended the Manufacturer's
Breakfast this morning.   Saw and met many old and new acquaintances and friends.

Here's a few product comments and a few pictures from my all-to-brief time there, I could
not include everything as I have to run to airport soon....  I took notes as fast as I
could, but of course, this is all real-time, so please know that anything below may be
subject to change or be corrected. 

That having been said, enjoy!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Comments, no particular order.  Again, I took notes really fast
and all of the following subject to subsequent confirmation/correction:


* Athearn's John Engstrom said their FP45 / F45s are actively still coming and we should
see them in 2008, they are successfully working to meet all of our quality expections.
He also said the Big Boy 4-8-8-4 is on track for end of 2007, but clearly said they
could not make any promises they'd be here in time for Christmas.

* Eric Smith of Micro-Trains confirmed the N scale Heavyweight Passenger Cars are going
ahead, and also referred to their previous announcement of the 40' drop-bottom
gondola.  Cool.

* Intermountain's Frank Angstread (spelling) talked at length about many Intermountain
announcements, and highlighted their AC-12 Southern Pacific Cab Forward (see below).

* Digitrax is working on their sound decoders for N and Z scale.

* Kato was not able to make it, and we all missed them. 

* More continued offerings and great stuff from many, including, but not limited to,
BLMA, Deluxe Innovations, George Hollowedel, Jim Hinds, Neals NGauging Trains, Russ
Kaufman, Atlas, Eastern Seaboard Models and many others.

* Some of the projects to come included a N scale Howe Truss Bridge, Atlas vaguely
referred to another new N scale diesel model sometime in late 2008. Micro-Trains
continuing their Z scale product line expansion. 

- - - -

Intermountain showed the engineering drawings of their anticipatd
2008 delivery of N scale Southern Pacific AC-12.  I am sure we all look
forward and hoping for excellent execution of what looks to be a
great N scale model:













- - - -

For those of you who like to collect N scale, the NSC 2007 Banquet car is a
Pez Candy drop bottom gondola:



As always, only 275 were handed out, so watch for them on eBay quickly if you
were not able to attend and want one!

- - - -

Finally, Louisville in June 2008 looks to be shaping up to be huge, and many folks
here all agree that it will be a real good one to go to.  Based on what many said,
the size of the N Trak Layout likely will be in the kind of size range that we saw
in Chantilly in 2004. 

That's all for now!

[POVC]

Okay guys, a very brief report tonight - I'm absolutely wiped at this point and don't have the energy to write a full report.

I went up to the convention Wednesday, arriving about 2:15.  BANTRAK ran the lobby layout from late Tuesday through about 2 PM on Saturday.  I think I got in something like 20 hours of run time over 4 days.  I don't think I got to bed before 12:30 any night, and was up by 7 AM every morning.

Lightlights
Atlas - their big announcement was the Code 65 True Track.  Cory noted that what they had was a pre-production sample straight from the factory; the final version will have painted ties and ballast. (EDIT: Paul Graf repeatedly made the comment that "it's Code 65, so MT Pizza Cutters and legacy equipment won't have any problems on it" - I think some of the Atlas forum comments hit a nerve.    ).  They showed the Trainman hopper, 48' trailer and the new 5701 hopper.  Paul indicated that the 5701 will also be done in other variants like the HO model (plastics, grain, etc.).  I also confirmed the rumor that they are working on a 6-axle GE loco for next year; they are just starting to cut steel for the tooling.  No info on which locomotive it is, my guess is ES44DC.  Cory announced they are working on tooling for future cars and locomotives "of all eras".

Athearn - second run Challengers in September, Big Boy around December.  The also showed the shells for the F45/FP45.  No release date yet; they are still working on the mechanism.  And the reason they aren't using an existing mechanism is that the F45/FP45 will come with sound as an option - they will be doing vanilla versions for those who don't want the bells and whistles (they heard the feedback on the Challenger load and clear), and full up DCC/sound version for those that do.  Also, they will be getting rid of the paper boxes and going to jewel boxes based on customer feedback.

Intermountain - 6 items (1) Pfaulder milk car (2) SD45-2 in 12 paint schemes by Dec (I asked twice and never did get an answer on why the first 6 were delayed by 6 months at the last minute), (3) 60' flat in Nov/Dec.  Unit is now diecast metal, (4) ATSF Stockcar - Jan/Feb 08, (5) AC12 Cab Forward - all drawings done, cutting steel for tooling, anticipated late winter/early spring 2008, (6) U18B - all drawings are done, they will be starting tooling when they finish AC12.

DeLuxe - They have finished the transition of ownership and are starting new projects.  On tap, Maxi-4's, Triple 57 spine cars, and some unspecified no-intermodel body styles.

Walthers - showed GP18, RS2(?) and 0-8-0 switcher and all looked great.  Announced next run of the articulated steamers "with Quantum sound".

Fox Valley - displayed all 12 paint schemes of the two announced cars.  Will be announcing 2 more body styles at Trainfest, then 2 more at Winterfest.  Anticipates bi-monthly announcements of new paint schemes.  Is looking into doing locomotives sometime next year; Matt has 4 proto-types he's considering.

Micro-Trains - For N-scale, 40' drop bottom gondola in November, 2 new N cars in 2008, Heavyweight passenger cars in 2009.  Other stuff for Z and HOn3.

Kato and Red Caboose were MIA.

I have pictures (some good, some not so good) and I'll try and post them tomorrow.

Tim

[POVC]

Paul and Cory must both be there from Atlas... their e-mail addy's are returning out of office messages.

Yes they were.

Tim

[keystonecrossings]

Uggghh... we don't get the heavyweights from MT until 2009???

[Mark5]

Uggghh... we don't get the heavyweights from MT until 2009???

Add to that another 7 years to get the ones you want in your preferred paint scheme.

But I never get frustrated with MT sitting on tooling ... no sir, I sure don't.