NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 62, Issue 19

[NW Modeling List]

Agreed on Mike and the Dave's points - these kits are nicely designed and it's easy to assemble the basic structure.  Depending on what level of detail you are after, the remainder of the car (beyond the main structure) can be fairly straight forward to complete or take an immense amount of time - that's partly me though...

One thing they are *not* is inexpensive - which is why I was also interested in learning more about the BLI CF's.  The AMB kit can be had in the $37 - $42 range, but then you have to buy a detail kit, trucks, wheelsets and couplers which puts it easily in the $50 range prior to assembly.  In my case, I also installed a TCS FL4 decoder to control interior lighting and all the sundry parts that go along with a lighting project, so it's closer to a $65 investment for me.

All that said, I liked my first one well enough to buy two more, which are currently under assembly.  These two are going to get an additional circuit comprised of a capacitor, diode and resistor added to the decoder to prevent the lights from flickering (frogs, dirty track and such).  We'll see how that goes - if it works well, I'll be doing a retrofit on the first model.

I posted another note last night on this same topic prior to seeing this discussion - apologies for any redundancy.

Matt




________________________________
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Monday, March 2, 2009 9:05:12 AM
Subject: Re: NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 62, Issue 19


I'll chime in on the  CF cabin cars. (notice my tricky sidestep of trying to figure out the pluralization of the word caboose).  The AMB laser kits are very nice, although a bit of a time consumer.  I chose to build 3 at once.  Really made it seem not-so-bad, but I can't imagine doing more than that.  It took a long time to complete.  If BLI would have put out RTR versions that were as nice looking as their locos for around $50, I would buy 10. Perhaps we should inundate Bachmann Spectrum with requests.  They made an incredible aux water tender when you consider they were had for under $30.  I probably have 3 for each articulated loco I own.

I have 2 A's and 2 PCM Y6b's.  I have not had one problem with any of them.  One issue I don't care for is the driver treads on the A's are not a shiny, smooth, nickel-plating, like the Y6b's.  I haven't really noticed them getting dirtier, but seems likely to happen.  I keep my track pretty clean though.

I, too, look at the local hobby store as a place that needs supported.  Buying online is incredibly easy, and often less expensive. But when you need something right now, there is nothing like a good local hobby store.  I was fortunate to have such a hobby store in Columbus (shameless thumbs-up for The Train Station), and I tried to buy from them whenever possible.  Not only is the loss of a hobby store an inconvenince in terms of availability, it is a loss of information, and a loss of exposure of the hobby.  now I live in Dayton, and have not found a good hobby store yet.  There are some, but they are small and poorly stocked.

Another side effect of the loss of hobby stores is that there are less buyers of new products, which leads manufacturers to run smaller and smaller runs.  In old days, if Athearn made an engine, they bilt thousands because every hobby store in the country was going to buy a couple.  Who here wishes that PCM Y6b's were still readily available for under $400?  Now, you are lucky to find one on eBay for less than $450.

Mike Rector




________________________________
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 10:40:42 AM
Subject: Re: NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 62, Issue 19


I am disappointed in Broadway/PCM.  Granted I love their steamers and have two J's a Y6b and an A.  I also bought 16 of their coal hoppers to run behind either the A or the Y6b.  Passenger cars for the J has been more of a problem.  I currently use pull a Walthers lightweight coach and a diner, and two chair cars from Rapido.  They may not be 100 percent accurate but they do look good and I get nice comments on them when I run with my modular HO group at trainshows.  I digressed a little.

Broadway has kept putting off the hi-hood SD40-2 since late 2006.  Their latest date is now July 2009, but I am not counting on that either.  I believe Atlas will have the hi-hood U30b out before then.  I had pre-ordered the caboose that Broadway was promoting.  Maybe I should have pre-ordered two. I was disappointed when I saw that Broadway no longer listed them on their web site.  They kept leading us along and leading us along, like they are doing with the hi-hood SD40-2.  It is frustrating what Broadway is doing.  I had put a deposit it down for both the caboose and a SD40-2.  I got frustrated and had my deposit money go towards the Athearn SD45 hi-hoods.  My local hobby shop said he would still keep the order active as he knew me and knew I was good for it.  I just wonder how many other people have cancelled their orders.  

It is ridiculous that a company sets a delivery date and then keeps moving it back and moving back or puts TBD.   I believe when Broadway first put out the SD40-2 hh announcement they stated winter 06-07, then it was April 07,  then June,  then fall. etc. etc.  Now it is July 09 which will probably turn into January 2010 before the next change.  3.5 years and counting.  That is poor business.  I know a couple of local modelers openly discussed that may Broadway was having financial problems.   I know it costs a lot to tool up for a plastic model.  I like it when a company states that it is taking orders and then has a pretty firm delivery date, even if they have to close the ordering dates, like Atlas does.  I feel a company once it announces something, should have it in the hobby shop within 9 months.  Not lead us along like Broadway has done with the SD40-2 hh and the caboose

 Anyway there are some appropriate steam era cabooses.  I was fortunate enough to pick up a brass one of a steel steam era caboose made by Division Point.  I picked this up at the Springfield, MA show about 3 or 4 years ago.  I also check eBay and managed to pick up two wooden kits which are awaiting their turn on my work bench.   

A.J. Gemperline




 
.At the recent show in Springfield, Broadway was asked what happened to the CF caboose to go with the locos; "not enough interest" was the response. They were asked to reconsider.Russ Goodwin has great contacts within the major manufacturers and has worked hard to interest them in N&W/NS projects. But again, the manufacturers have their own agendas. The late Jim Gillum worked tirelessly on model projects; Jim Brewer produced beautiful resin kits of two N&W cars. And no one has worked harder on the subject of accuracy than Jim Nichols. I am sure there are others who have worked behind the scenes to get stuff done. My point is that the NWHS modeling community has accomplished quite a bit; that it has not satisfied every desire, or responded to every fleeting idea should not diminish the efforts of a number of dedicated members.Now, how about an HU hopper!! Been trying for years, in plastic, resin and brass, alas.... Bill McClure



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