Pennsy G39a Ore Jennys

[TrainCat2]

As I have stated, not until I can get the reservations to warrant the project. I truely want to do it, but if no res, no car. It takes almost "zero" $$ for me to produce a brass car. The Jenny was going to be either a $21 plastic painted & printed RTR (with a $12K investment) or a $19 resin kit with couplers & trucks ($2.5K investment). I know the feeling alot of you have for pre-res. Myself, I am not willing to commit to the investment if only a handful of modelers are willing to step up.

I have Pre-reservations for 48 SP C-40-3, 27 Chlorine cars, 31 DRGW Stockcars and over 100 emails for a SP C-30-6 bay window. Most wanting multiples. Sorry, but I am going where the sales are. All three of these cars will be ready in 3-4 weeks as I am etching them now.

[tom mann]

I have Pre-reservations for 48 SP C-40-3, 27 Chlorine cars, 31 DRGW Stockcars and over 100 emails for a SP C-30-6 bay window. Most wanting multiples. Sorry, but I am going where the sales are. All three of these cars will be ready in 3-4 weeks as I am etching them now.

Cool, some of these sound awesome.

[keystonecrossings]

I recall stating when the G39 project was announced that it might not be a good choice (for Pennsy modelers) as it came too late in the Pennsy's history. The G22 would fare much better, I would think.

If you are modeling a Pennsy car, you really need to make it applicable to the 1950-55 range... where about 50% of the modelers are. If you pick a car in service earlier, better yet.

[ljudice]

Wait a second! The G39 is perfect for late PRR, PC and CR modellers!

Unless there are statistics proving more pre-1956 PRR modellers than combined post 1956 PRR, PC and CR people out there, the point was to hit the largest number of potential customers.

I think the recent discussion here points to increasing interest in PC and early CR especially...

[TrainCat2]

I agree Lou,

The target was NOT the mid 50's range but from the mid 50's to the 1990. There is just too many who think it is a great idea, but don't want to pay the price for that car at this time. I realize the economy and all since you would have to buy many. The cabooses on the other hand, you buy some of road specific and you are happy. The market has changed since I discussed the G39 here.

I'll try again in a little while and see if buyers warm up.

[tom mann]

Bob,

On another note, please consider injection-based kits over resin.  I've built more than a few resin kits and I admit I'm getting weary of the clean-up process.  Injection is just so, so sharp.

[keystonecrossings]

Wait a second! The G39 is perfect for late PRR, PC and CR modellers!

Unless there are statistics proving more pre-1956 PRR modellers than combined post 1956 PRR, PC and CR people out there, the point was to hit the largest number of potential customers.

I think the recent discussion here points to increasing interest in PC and early CR especially...

I don't question the desire to offer something applicable to PC and CR modellers...

But my own polls, as well as those conducted by the PRRT&HS many years ago, show 75% (or more) of the PRR modelers model pre-1956. So, with a G39, you are reaching, at best, only 25% of the PRR market.

However, back up the bus to 1950 or so, and you are capturing 50% of the market (due to the 1950-56 range). Back up to 1945, and you have 75% of the PRR market.

Now, look at what cars were brand new on the Pennsy in 1945-50 that survived through PC into CR.

That's the only point I was trying to make.

I think Stewart Hobbies found out a similar thing with their HO scale G39. One major customer drove creation of the model and thereafter it was a sleeper.

[ljudice]

I don't think any of PC/CR's ore jennies pre-dated the G38/G39's....   If I am incorrect, please someone advise, but the G38's came from like 1960 and the G39's from slightly earlier???

I totally agree on the idea of finding stuff that can be used in the absolutely broadest spectrum of eras and several successor railroads, but in the ore jennie department it still seems to me that the G38/G39's which lived through the late PRR, PC and CR eras serve a larger market than the older PRR gons.

It would be even better if both older and newer cars could be made of course! The problem is how do potential buyers figure out that such a worthy project is even being considered.

At my LHS last week I was told DEFINATIVELY that Atlas has NOT DELIVERED it's #10 turnouts - and was "Waiting for Orders to Materialize".  "No distributors carry them". Odd that I have them in on my workbench right now.

So again, aside from a small group of (maybe) overinformed modellers (like us), what are we to do?

[Hyperion]

One thing to remember is that a prototype's actual numbers has almost no bearing at all on how many models one can sell.

There could technically be 3 times the market for a particular car, but if people just like another car better, they'll usually buy it anyways.  Maybe these G22s were more numerous and covered a wider scope of the market, but if the PC and CR guys associate the image of ore jennies with these G38s they won't care if G22s were also prototypical or even more numerous. 

On another note, I'd say that, in N-Scale, Conrail beats the crap out of Pennsy in market based purely on my own observations.  So it might be completely irrelevant what car the Pennsy guys want if another car makes more sense for the Conrail guys.

[3rdrail]

It does not directly relate to N scale modeling, but the PRR Technical & Historical Society has far more members and much more money than the Conrail Historical Society. After all, the PRR lasted 122 years, while Conrail only lasted 23. A survey taken in the 1990's indicated that the PRR was behind only the ATSF, UP, and SP in N scale sales. Conrail wasn't even in the top 20.

The largest group of modelers are in the transition era, and a tenth of the total North American railcar fleet was marked "PRR" at that time. I spent 6 years with the PRR, 8 with PC, 2 with CR, 1 with Erie Western-Chicago & Indiana, and 18 with AN. I model PRR in the era before I was born in 1941.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It does not directly relate to N scale modeling, but the PRR Technical & Historical Society has far more members and much more money than the Conrail Historical Society. After all, the PRR lasted 122 years, while Conrail only lasted 23. A survey taken in the 1990's indicated that the PRR was behind only the ATSF, UP, and SP in N scale sales. Conrail wasn't even in the top 20.

This is true, but you're not really comparing apples to apples. The PRRT&HS has also been around for a LOT longer, and the CRHS is fighting an uphill battle against the bad taste that the CR Technical "society" (in reality one creep) has left in peoples mouths. But give us time...

I also must disagree about the survey. First, the survey was probably rather self selecting, second, I believe that those roads may have many more casual modelers and/or fans, but that among the target market for Bob's cars, modelers who have a real interest in specific cars like that, I bet the fewer hardcore modelers would buy a higher volume than the numerically superior casual ones.

[Chris333]

Either way give me 2 G22's and 0 G39's   

[GonzoCRFan]

It does not directly relate to N scale modeling, but the PRR Technical & Historical Society has far more members and much more money than the Conrail Historical Society.

Well, realistically, the CRHS has only been out of dormant-status for a about 5 years. The PRR T&HS has been active for what, at least 25? And yes, as Ed stated, we are fighting an uphill battle because of what one douchebag did/does in the name of Conrail.

After all, the PRR lasted 122 years, while Conrail only lasted 23. A survey taken in the 1990's indicated that the PRR was behind only the ATSF, UP, and SP in N scale sales. Conrail wasn't even in the top 20.

And a lot can change in 10 years. I think many people tend to model things they miss or are nostalgic for, and since CR now is unfortunately a fallen flag, more people will likely want to preserve its memory by modeling it.

And here's a rather morbid, unpleasant take on the situation: sooner or later, everyone who remembers the PRR fondly and wants to model the glory days will be worm food. This goes for every line, except the UP, which is like the Keith Richards of the railroading world...

[3rdrail]

Sean, it has been forty years since the PRR became part of the PC. I attended the PRRT&HS convention in Greensburg, PA, last year and I would say that at least half of the membership was not born when the PRR merged into the PC. So, don't give me that "worm food" crap.

PRR was such a dominant force in prototype railroading around the world for at least a half century (1880-1930) that it still fascinates modelers. After all, how old is Major Vollmer?

[TrainCat2]

Guys, I don't want this to degenerate in to a grudge match between PRR and CR. Both are great roads for their own reasons.

I'll re-open res for the Jenny later this year and we will see if people step up to the plate.

Tom, injection would have to be around 5,000 cars to make it worth while with the mold amortization.