N&W caboose project Spring Mills Depot status

Fri Apr 15 09:28:47 EDT 2022

I have to agree that "failure to communicate" is extremely poor practice but in my world of small scale live steam we suffer the opposite problem.  Manufacturers announce a model and then issue clearly fictitious updates on a regular basis regarding delivery dates.  Products are announced with a 12 to 18 month delivery and often take 3 or 4 (sometimes more) years to deliver.   

The worst was a 1:32 (Gauge 1) 3 bay C&O hopper that was meant to come out with their C&O H-8 and VGN AG.   the cars were ready for production about three months before the locos.   But the owner held off and the cars were not released for another FOUR YEARS. A missed opportunity and many unhappy customers.  

I am working on two kits for 1:32 but will not announce them until the parts are in the boxes and can be delivered to the customer.  I realize that I will not have nearly as much at stake as the cost of injection molded products with a huge initial investment, but I don't want to promise what I cannot deliver. 

I am also disappointed that these guys are unwilling to respond directly to this thread.  At the very least they could post to this list and maybe admit publicly that either "life is getting in the way", or that costs are way out of control, or whatever.   As Jimmy L says"we aren't getting any younger". 

Jim Stapleton
Hillsboro VA

On Apr 15, 2022, at 08:44, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

I keep wishing that BLI would produce a CF caboose.
With all the N&W steam they sell, you'd think it would be a no-brainer.

Mike Rector

On Thu, Apr 14, 2022 at 7:03 PM NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> I agree with Roger, what SMD is doing is unbelievable. I found a Overland a year ago and went with that for N&W. 
> 
> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 12:27 PM NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>> Mike, 
>> 
>> I agree 100% about the disrespect nature of their dealings with customers who only want to support their projects. Yes, it's just 2 guys and they have jobs and families and all that but, seriously, just how long does it take to send one email to a group or two advising of the issues they have run in to? I really can't buy that excuse. People are normally patient but there is a limit to patience.
>> 
>> It has been since 2013 (I believe) that they claimed to start on the I-1 B&O caboose. I understand all the stuff about the Chinamen being on vacation, strike, days off, closing factories, and blame it on covid like everything else, etc but there have been tons of HO and other products produced since then by many small and large manufacturers. Look at Rapido! they announce something and it's not long before modelers have it in their hands to nitpick. Same with all but SMD.
>> 
>> I agree SMD has produced the finest models I have ever seen in any scale since 1956 when I started out with getting in to all this. I'm a serious modeler and truly appreciate fidelity to detail and gorgeous paint but I don't "do" contest models and I'm close to 72 and don't know if I can outlast SMD's lousy delivery schedule. I'm not knocking folks that want prototypical details and thicknesses of walls, wires and stuff but I'd personally settle for a Balboa or Westside CF cabin car behind my M-2s and enjoy my trains than maybe wait another 3-8 years for them to get off the pot and deliver what they have long promised.
>> 
>> If you are aware you can't meet the production of an announced product in a reasonable time WHY announce other projects you can't put out to loyal customers?
>> 
>> I'm like so many B&O and N&W modelers hoping for beautifully detailed, quality cars and left with nothing but cancelled checks and silence.
>> 
>> Just my 2¢.
>> 
>> Roger Huber
>> Deer Creek Locomotive Works
>> 
>> 
>> On Thursday, April 14, 2022, 10:00:25 AM CDT, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Roger, this is really my only concern with them. It's disrespectful of the loyal customer base to not provide any updates to the website, pretty much at all over the past four-five years.
>> 
>> If they would only update the website every 6 months or so, I don't think anybody would be complaining. (Well, someone will always complain! But you get the point)
>> 
>> No one can argue that they have made phenomenal models so far. If the N&W cabins look anywhere near as good as their previous caboose run, I think we will be very fortunate.
>> 
>> Regarding brass options as someone else mentioned, I'm not giving up on those either!  I have five or six stripped Westside Models brass cabins on my workbench that I walk past every couple days. I just need to get the nut bolt washer castings drilled and installed under the cupola sides on the CF's, and I will be ready to paint them.  I'm debating doing an interior, now that I can easily 3D model and print it.
>> 
>> Mike Rector
>> 
>> On Thu, Apr 14, 2022, 8:20 AM NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>> Amen! I think I'll take my chances on the brass market NOW rather than lots of hopes and promises at an undetermined time. Yes, they do good work but they have pretty bad business practices when they make promises of products many, many years into the future and haven't the decency to report any status to folks who have trusted them with their hard earned money to come through. I'll put my faith in a given...Balboa and Westside.
>> 
>> Roger Huber
>> Deer Creek Locomotive Works
>> 
>> 
>> On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 09:17:13 PM CDT, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> On 4/13/2022 9:51 AM, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List wrote:
>> 
>> > Many of those models will be around a long time after we are gone.
>> 
>> Then again, many of us might be gone before the cab ever comes around! ;)
>> 
>> Jimmy Lisle
>> 
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