BLMA bx-166 boxcars are up

[Spades]

Craig and Bryan are two people who I don't know but I gather are in it because they love trains and model trains and not in it simply for the money.  There are better ways to make money.  Some prototype modelers are passionate and focused combined with a limited social skill set can come across as well... a little EDP.    They have to have infinite patience and very thick skin.

G

That said, it's always slightly frustrating to hear comments on any model before they are 'in-hand'.  When thousands of hours have been spent tirelessly researching a project and doing our 110% effort on all levels, it's a shame to see a snap judgement based on a highly modified picture of a pre-production model. 

[John]

These threads always amuse and irritate me.  I remember 40 years ago when I was happy to get anything that looked close -- now if some manufacturer makes a slight mistake, the inquisition starts and 293rd Cyber Force keyboard commandos go wild .. ..   quite frankly, these good looking cars do nothing but make my crappy layout look better ..

[davefoxx]

Did any of the ATSF cars get to the Southeast in the mid-1980s?  Because, "Holy crap!," those are some beautiful cars.

DFF

[Philip H]

@davefoxx I intend to use several for bringing micro brew to the masses east of the Mississippi. These definitely merit a Rule #1 invocation.

[GaryHinshaw]

If I may:

1. BLMA and ESM are at the very top of my list of N scale manufacturers that can be trusted to do reliable research.

2. I stated above that I was perfectly prepared to believe that the MBK photo was not especially represenative.  The photo that Craig posted is proof, and I am very happy to see it.  I will be getting many of these cars (I was going to in any case).

3. In defence of the consumer, the MBK photo is (effectively) portrayed as a production model, and for many of us it is practically the only info we have to go by in making purchase decisions in this day and age.  I think we just have to agree that the 21st century supply chain makes these kinds of situations ocassionally inevitable.  Thick skins all around, please.

4. I already have my pre-orders in for 24 of the upcoming Trinity tankers.  I know the black will be right.

5. But seriously, I have the utmost appreciation for anyone who is willing to be an N scale manufacturer today.  It's a very difficult business, and we really are being very well served given our small numbers.

[lajmdlr]

This image was taken by Charlie Slater 10-15-74. Santa Fe had just made them in August 1974. It is sitting in the LAJ B Yard waiting for a Santa Fe pick up. It had been to Murray Bag after delivering paper. So these cars aren't just for beer & wine but anything that needs insulation & double doors for easier loading.
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[ednadolski]

we really are being very well served given our small numbers.

+100

Try modeling in Proto:48.   That will make anyone very appreciative for the manufacturers & offerings we have in N scale.

Ed

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, so which ones do I want for hauling shitty beer in 1985?

[Denver Road Doug]

BLMA and ESM are at the very top of my list of N scale manufacturers that can be trusted to do reliable research.

   

Agreed, although unfortunately ESM hasn't made anything relevant to my modeling era yet.  I would add Atlas Master and Trainworx to that list.

In defence of the consumer, the MBK photo is (effectively) portrayed as a production model, and for many of us it is practically the only info we have to go by in making purchase decisions in this day and age.  I think we just have to agree that the 21st century supply chain makes these kinds of situations ocassionally inevitable.  Thick skins all around, please.

This.  All day This.

We have no way of knowing a photo isn't production.  And especially on higher profile sites like MBK and N-Scale Supply, they could be considered defacto new product showcases.  From my perspective they've sold more product than they've dissuaded over the years, trust me.

But seriously, I have the utmost appreciation for anyone who is willing to be an N scale manufacturer today.  It's a very difficult business, and we really are being very well served given our small numbers.

Truth.   

My comment about "stuck with it" was tongue-in-cheek, and I have always accepted everything I order.   Worst case if it just completely isn't what I wanted/expected I simply resell it.  If I take a couple dollars hit on an item that's a cost of doing business in my mind.   I certainly don't want to stick the LHS/e-tailer since they get the short end of the straw all-around.   And I certainly don't expect a money-back guarantee from the manufacturer.  So to say I'm unreasonable, is way off base.

What I *do* expect is what BLMA, Atlas,  and a few others typically do provide and that is "product commensurate with price versus current state of the art".   That means for a $30 freight car it has certain "features" and high on that list of features is reasonably accurate decoration.   The color that MBK was pitching would definitely not have met that expectation.   Whereas, the one Craig posted is perfect.

Now, does that mean I'm not gonna jockey for something to change if it seems like something than can reasonably be accomplished by the manufacturer?  Absolutely not.  Some may recall Intermountain's early photos of the BNSF 5161's were that same brown color, and I questioned IMRC on it.  Fortunately, I was not alone (nor the first) to bring that up and they eventually moved the needle toward red before production.   Unfortunately, with Deluxe's Maxi-IV's, they went WAY on the other side of the spectrum with a bright red which was completely wrong for the BNSF version despite their preproduction models looking closer to correct. (and yes, I have held one in my hands)    So I get it, it's TOUGH to get it right, I'm not saying that at all.  Not just the "thousand shades of ATSF/BNSF reddish-brownish-red-brown-red"  but almost every scheme on every model.  It frankly astounds me that most models get as close as they do...and some are so spot-on its scary.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This thread reminds me of one of the things we wrestled with back in the day when I was at MBK.

When showcasing products online, your website is the showcase.

It was one of the things I liked about working with Walthers and Atlas at the time, because they made it easy to get good photos, and it was a nightmare working with Intermountain (because their product photos were not sexy).

Investing in good product photos, and a good system for making sure that your retailers have the newest and best versions of those photos is money well spent by any manufacturer.

It's the equivalent of DeWalt making sure that Home Depot and Lowes are properly merchandising and showcasing their products. There's a LOT of money and effort spent on doing that, and luckily the hobby world is much smaller (and therefore easier).

[lajmdlr]

Ok, so which ones do I want for hauling shitty beer in 1985?

That's the point of my post, these cars are NOT used just for booze!

[davefoxx]

Ok, so which ones do I want for hauling shitty beer in 1985?

Well, the shitty beer they hauled to the East Coast, if they did so, probably wasn't Coors.  Wasn't that stuff distributed only within a certain geographical area by Coors, i.e., west of the Mississippi River?  But, the good news is that you can get the Snowman's truck from Trainworx.  Eastbound and down! 

DFF

[Mark5]

MBK also takes pics of a lot of the product on their site - so take the color rendering with a grain of salt.

On Coors in 1985, I know that in the 70s it was trucked into the DC area, maybe by the 80s enough was sent east to warrant rail traffic (don't know). By 1987, Coors was brewing in the Shenandoah valley, so getting east was a non issue by then.

[Blazeman]

After delivering beer in Lubbock for Texas Tech football games (circa 1989-1993), ATSF would run the cars down the Seagraves branch for us to load with bags of sodium sulfate to go INTO THE SOUTHEAST (Charlotte).

[davefoxx]

After delivering beer in Lubbock for Texas Tech football games (circa 1989-1993), ATSF would run the cars down the Seagraves branch for us to load with bags of sodium sulfate to go INTO THE SOUTHEAST (Charlotte).

Ooh, now that's hitting close to home on my layout.  Thanks for the information.

DFF