NSE 2018 Swaporama - manufacturer products announced

[bbussey]

I'm really excited by those slightly smaller Lunde buildings.

I don't recall Red Caboose producing Woodchip Gons.  Those look like Deluxe tooling.

I will confirm the origins with Matt later today and advise.

[bbussey]

Adding to this, not everyone wants sound, and Atlas has a history of offering both sound and non-sound locomotives, which BLI doesn't. I like sound, but I'd rather have ESU Loksound than Paragon3, but that may just be me.

What I really want is for Atlas to make a new mechanism for the SW8/9/1200. Something with better pickups and DCC integration, maybe sound too?

New DCC/Sound chassis for all former Life-Like motive power.

[bbussey]

Amazing stuff here Those Rio grande cabooses are jaw dropping, the 4785 covered hoppers just wow! I'm also very excited to see the PS boxcars I'll definitely need several of those. Did Trainworx have the ICG 86' Hy cube on display?

There were 86’ auto parts boxcars on invthe TWX display case, but I didn’t make specific note of the roads featured. ICG might have been one of them.

[bbussey]

N Scale Kits also has some new cars for 2018. One that is of interest to myself was the Impack/Fuel Foiler cars

I didn’t notice it yesterday, will get pics later today at the public show when I get back to the hotel.

[Point353]

New DCC/Sound chassis for all former Life-Like motive power.

I hope Atlas doesn't continue the trend they've begun of making speakers standard equipment even on the "DC" versions of locos.

[BCR 570]

Hi Bryan

If you are speaking with Matt perhaps you could ask for an ETA on his wheels - some if us are getting desperate.  Emails have gone unanswered.

Thx

Tim

[jpwisc]

New DCC/Sound chassis for all former Life-Like motive power.

I’m glad to see Atlas is continuing the trend of adding sound to all their Locomotive releases. It adds so much to a layout and operations.

[jdcolombo]

I hope Atlas doesn't continue the trend they've begun of making speakers standard equipment even on the "DC" versions of locos.

Why not?  I suspect it is cheaper for them to build everything with the speaker in place than to have two separate chassis, one with speaker and one without.  So the benefit is a slightly cheaper price for everything than if they had to manufacture two different frames.  Yes, in theory you lose a bit of chassis weight with the speaker installed (depending on where they put it - suspect it will be a fuel tank installation, like the IM SD40-2, but I don't think that has yet been confirmed), but in practice I've found that the weight loss is pretty much irrelevant to pulling power - and you can usually find spots to add tungsten putty or lead to add weight if you want.  Or if you really care, take out the speaker and fill the open area with lead, which will give you significantly more weight than if they built it with no speaker using modern chassis metals. 

And having the speaker means that if you ever want to resell the unit, someone who wants sound can easily add it later, which probably makes it more valuable on the secondary market.

I don't see that having a non-sound-with-speaker unit is at all a downside.

John C.

[bbussey]

Hi Bryan

If you are speaking with Matt perhaps you could ask for an ETA on his wheels - some if us are getting desperate.  Emails have gone unanswered.

Thx

Tim

Tim,
He’s at the mercy of the contractor unfortunately, but I will ask.

[C855B]

I hope Atlas doesn't continue the trend they've begun of making speakers standard equipment even on the "DC" versions of locos.

I see this as a product opportunity - retrofit weights to replace the speakers, for those of us who prioritize pulling capacity over sound. The trend of otherwise nice locos that don't pull... well, don't pull for cr@p without traction tires began with factory-installed DCC and the commensurate loss of chassis metal. Filling the speaker space is a chance to get some of that back.

I don't see that having a non-sound-with-speaker unit is at all a downside.

I'll differ with you there, John. An Atlas loco that comes to mind is the C628/C630. The original DCC-ready release can barely manage a dozen cars since so much of the frame was designed "short" to hold electronics. I expect the new release with yet more frame milled-away for the speaker is probably going to have a rough time getting out of its own way. OTOH, I see it as opportunity to beef it up.

[Bill H]

Hi Bryan

If you are speaking with Matt perhaps you could ask for an ETA on his wheels - some if us are getting desperate.  Emails have gone unanswered.

Thx

Tim

I will second that one...

[Point353]

Why not?  I suspect it is cheaper for them to build everything with the speaker in place than to have two separate chassis, one with speaker and one without.  So the benefit is a slightly cheaper price for everything than if they had to manufacture two different frames. Yes, in theory you lose a bit of chassis weight with the speaker installed (depending on where they put it - suspect it will be a fuel tank installation, like the IM SD40-2, but I don't think that has yet been confirmed), but in practice I've found that the weight loss is pretty much irrelevant to pulling power - and you can usually find spots to add tungsten putty or lead to add weight if you want.  Or if you really care, take out the speaker and fill the open area with lead, which will give you significantly more weight than if they built it with no speaker using modern chassis metals. 
And having the speaker means that if you ever want to resell the unit, someone who wants sound can easily add it later, which probably makes it more valuable on the secondary market.
I don't see that having a non-sound-with-speaker unit is at all a downside.
John C.

Based upon the retail prices quoted by Atlas, the prices of the "sound-ready" versus "DCC-ready" units seem to be higher, so the speaker isn't free to the retail customer.
As with factory-installed decoders, one wonders how many customers will end up replacing the factory-installed speaker, too.
While the chassis may be the same, the speaker doesn't have to be installed in all units. It could be sold as an accessory.
Atlas ought to include the weight to replace the speaker, at no extra charge, for those sound-ready units.
Also, potential resale value is never a factor in my buying decisions.

[cjm413]

Hi Bryan

If you are speaking with Matt perhaps you could ask for an ETA on his wheels - some if us are getting desperate.  Emails have gone unanswered.

Thx

Tim

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=43727.msg559231#msg559231

[peteski]

Hi Bryan

If you are speaking with Matt perhaps you could ask for an ETA on his wheels - some if us are getting desperate.  Emails have gone unanswered.

Speaking of wheels, how about the different kind of wheels:  truck wheels (and other parts) from Traninworx?
I spoke to them at the last NSE convention and supposedly they were being made - a year later and nothing.  Or did I miss them somehow?

[bbussey]

Speaking of wheels, how about the different kind of wheels:  truck wheels (and other parts) from Traninworx?
I spoke to them at the last NSE convention and supposedly they were being made - a year later and nothing.  Or did I miss them somehow?

Same contractor, same situation.