Wish for Atlas N-scale Barber S-2A 50-ton trucks

[Snark45]

Today I emailed to Atlas the following:


"No reply is requested. Please try to make the Barber 50-ton S-2A trucks used under your n-scale PS-1 boxcars available as pairs. Assuming a price of ~$5,00 per pair discounted, I believe a survey would reveal a healthy market for them. BLMA has sold a respectable volume of their n-scale ASF Ride-control 70-ton solid-bearing trucks and your new trucks are of equal quality and a natural complement to them."


Anybody in the industry know if enough of this sort of thing helps to augment the availability of a product?

Harry

[bbussey]

They are aware of the demand.  At this point, it's a matter of scheduling them in conjunction with a PS1 production run.

In the meantime — keep in mind that a majority of PS1 boxcars ran on ASF A-3 trucks.  Atlas didn't want to "reinvent the wheel" so to speak, so they developed the Barber S-2A truck instead of duplicating the BLMA truck.  But the bolsters are the same on both trucks making them interchangeable, so you can swap BLMA trucks under your PS1s to build a surplus of Barber trucks if your PS1 prototype allows.

[Snark45]

Thanks Bryan

Your prior suggestion of this approach is the very reason I sent the email. I have a large number of PS-1's I'd like to reequip in this way to free up the Barber trucks for use on other models.  Harry

[skm]

I too have sent emails to Atlas regarding availability of several of their truck types that would be perfect for several kitbashes I'm planning.
I've watched plenty of issues of the cars that ride on those trucks come and go with, sadly, no goodies for me yet..... 

[Chris333]

I too have sent emails to Atlas regarding availability of several of their truck types that would be perfect for several kitbashes I'm planning.
I've watched plenty of issues of the cars that ride on those trucks come and go with, sadly, no goodies for me yet..... 

Yeah like their Andrews trucks.

[wcfn100]

I'll take any of the PS-1 parts.

Jason

[Spikre]

 
   in the 50s the ASF A-3 50 ton Solid Bearing Truck was the most used truck.
  there were a few National C-1s,Gould-Chrysler FRs,and Barber S-2s were the
  runner ups to the A-3s.
   in the 60s as 70 ton cars became more common the Barber S-2-C was about
  even with the A-3s,so check photos of larger orders closely,truck orders were
  split many times.
   many Truck styles are still needed in N and HO.
   also some versions of the same truck have differences,the Scullin A-3 is slightly
  different than the Gould A-3 and ASF A-3.
  same with Barbers,the Buckeye Barber is different than the PSF Barber,or the Ohio
  Steel Foundry Barber.
   doubtfull that Every version of Common trucks will be made,but it sure would be
  a big help to modeling.
        Spikre
       

[bbussey]

Yeah like their Andrews trucks.

And the National C-1 trucks.

[Atlas Paul]

This was a topic of discussion last week with our people visiting the factory, and should start to be resolved in the near future.

[skm]

Awesome!
Thanks for the response Paul....

Although I did have to chuckle at the unintended (?) politispeak "...should start to be resolved....." 

[Atlas Paul]

Awesome!
Thanks for the response Paul....

Although I did have to chuckle at the unintended (?) politispeak "...should start to be resolved....." 

That's to cover myself in case all of them don't come in at one time - which is likely the way it is going to happen.

[peteski]

Smart CEOs also have to be skilled politicians. But unlike most contemporary politicians, smart CEOs actually get things accomplished, and can show tangible results! 

[nkalanaga]

That's partly because incompetent/corrupt CEOs are easier to get rid of than politicians, and the good ones don't have a bunch of not-so-good ones getting in the way.  They can fire the underlings who don't work out, and the directors still have to answer to the stockholders.