Schnabel Car

[ElginLoco]

Caboose decals will be a seperate item. There are 3 types of caboose I've seen. Nobody makes the exact body/roof/windows, etc as the prototypes. So I and others will have to decide how far if at all they want to go to detail the available models. Just paint them red and decal or super detail. The closest plastic bay window looks to be the Athern. It will want BLMAs rooftop AC unit and a twin horn, a vent stack and red lights on the ends of the roof. TrainCat also has several types of bays.
For the wide vision caboose I'd go with the Atlas. But the proto has a flat non-ribbed roof.
I've not sen enough of the 3rd type, it's a cupola but my decal guy knows it better than I.

[Jmwilson]

Cool, sounds like there is plenty of choices anyway thanks.

[TrinityJayOne]

Just a quick update, I am expecting castings this week for approval for production. The decals for the Schnabel itself are done except the artist is trying to be acurate down to an almost unprintable level. So yeah for that but I may have to put him in a headlock to actually release the art for printing. And I am not letting the Schnabel decals be held up by research for the flatcar decals or the 3 diferent caboose decal sets. That said, I could sell the kits and mail the decals later but I think it will all come on line close enough to not have to make someone pay postage twice.
I have a website domain name now, but it is just a billboard for the moment til it is all built.
So I was very optomistic in my 'soon' comments, sorry for the wait but it is gonna be a doozy.
-MarkR

Hi Mark, any updates since this post? I don't think it's come up yet so I'll ask- what sort of production numbers are you looking at? Will the kits only be made to order or are you going to just produce n kits and sell them on your website? I'm eager to lock-in a preorder of some kind on one of these.

[ElginLoco]

I have the brass details for 99 cars, I used one set for myself of course. The decals should be 25 sheets with 4 cars to a sheet. I have always hoped I could sell up to 100 units, that in itself would feel fantastic but if the demand exceeds that, so be it, I'll produce more kits. So don't worry about missing the boat. I'm not a fan of limited runs because somebody doesn't get the cool stuff they want. Trains should be fun, not disapointing or exclusive.
Update: parts are being cast. After seing the new spanbolster castings that fit the BLMA trucks, I'm rebuilding my own car with them and getting it ready for full paint. Decal quotes are anticipated.

[bigford]

GREAT to hear  POST PICS

[Jmwilson]

Sounds great, how's the website coming?

[TrinityJayOne]

Fantastic stuff, Mark! Really glad to hear about your views on production. I think that if it was me putting so much time & effort into this model I'd want it to reach as many people as possible too.

[Ian MacMillan]

Can not wait for this car!

[ElginLoco]

The Scnabels are coming, the Scnabels are coming! THIS FRIDAY! After 7 years of research and modeling and refinement.
So I have resin kits showing up and the decals are due the same day. So I guess this is the true announcement, they are available.
The kit includes resin parts (47 pcs), a wire reinforced drawbar, etched metal details (2 frets) for railings, ladders, stirrups and more, decals for 4 paint schemes, instruction sheet and paint/decal guide.
Kit does not include trucks and couplers. Proper trucks are 70 Ton ASF with 33" wheels, currently available from BLMA (catalog # 9025 I believe).
Schnabel CEBX 800 kit, $165.00  Shipping $7.00
Also available are the Scnabel Caboose Collection Decals for 5 different cabeese for $6.00 and can be shipped with the Schnabel kit for no extra shipping costs of course.
I still have to resolve getting a PayPal account. So, for now, sales will be thru the normal mail.
Send check payable to : Elgin Locomotive Works
Send to : 1000 Morton Ave, Elgin, IL 60120

[TrinityJayOne]

Excellent news! I'm in Australia so assuming you don't mind shipping internationally (not expecting it to still be $7 of course) I'll wait for the PayPal account, as international cheques are sure to be messy.


EDIT: I take it that at this stage there's no loads available, is that correct?

[ElginLoco]

Now I can concentrate on some of the business aspects so I hope to get the PayPal up and running on the website.
elginlocomotiveworks.com has been just a billboard, but I have sent content to my webmaster.
Thanks a ton for your interest. Look for the flat cars next.
I will look into international shipping, no worries.

[ElginLoco]

Loads: Yes there will be loads. I have sent the files to be mastered for a load and the tension cradle but who knows when it will get printed. I may get it done more local but then it will be a lower resolution 3D. So quicker or better, decisions, decisions. The load is the Belleli Energy tower seen in photos. I also modeled a litter for carrying loads that cannot be used as a compression member. Picture a bulkhead flatcar that bolts into the main arms. It will carry a load up to 80 feet long.
But as the flatcars are already mastered, casting them is my next project. Then at least the empty train is complete.

[TrinityJayOne]

I would go with "better". With the amount of time & effort that's gone into this already there's no point rushing things now.

[ElginLoco]

Thanks, I like that opinion and I agree. Some of the delay in getting the schnabel out has been issues where I found new detail and updated the model for mastering. I have tried and tried to make it better all the time.
Some folks have asked for pictures, there are some now on my website elginlocomotiveworks.com in a pdf that helps with building tips and super-detailing. Plus you can see the decal sheets for the cabeese.

[Smike]

Is this CGI or actual photo? No Matter, the other photo in the PDF (the unpainted model) is for sure real of the model, and detail is INSANE! Excellent work!!!!