Just released; Tangent Scale Models: General American 1928-Design 6000 Gallon 3-Compartment Tank Car
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Nice cars! Thankfully they do not come in S Scale at $525.00 each.
I wish them luck
Gunny
I'm a working living Man. Tangent just priced me out of there market with the brass tank.
Will see what else might come around that I might be able to afford. Hopefully some modern rolling stock.
John
Coeurd Alene, Idaho
Beautiful tank car for the serious O scale modeler. I'll just have to settle for the Lionel 6415 3 dome tanks.
A bit pricey. I’ll pass.
The price is other worldly.
Can someone explain the difference between O Scale and Proto-48? Thanks.
O scale is 5'-0" gauge, with wheels with (usually) .145" wide treads. P48 is gauged to the prototypical 4'-8½" width, with wheels at a prototype tread width of .115". Ideally, but not always, the bolsters are distinct so that the sideframes and brake beams are correctly positioned.
Jim
SERIOUSLY would have rather seen a plastic one for a decent price. They probably just realized that there are still a few "O Scale" people with more money than they know what to do with. 98% of O Scale people will laugh and walk away.
I can afford these, but IMHO they are way to expensive.
No thanks !!!
Ron H
@Mark V. Spadaro posted:Can someone explain the difference between O Scale and Proto-48? Thanks.
Mark,
The most direct explanation I can give is as follows:
O gauge, O scale and Proto-48 models are 1:48 (1/48th actual size). That is - one-quarter inch on a model is equivalent to one foot at full scale. On a real railroad, the gauge (distance between the insides of the rails) is four-feet eight-and-one-half inches (56-1/2 inches). Dividing 56-1/2 inches by 48 gives 1.177 inches - which would be the exact gauge for model track at 1:48. Lionel arbitrarily decided to make their O gauge track 1.25 inches (1-1/4 inches) between the rails - which is equivalent to 5 feet at full scale - and O scale also adopted the 1.25-inch (5-foot) track gauge. Therefore, on O gauge and O scale models, the track gauge(1.25 inches) is slightly too large for a 1:48 scale model. Proto-48 models operate on track with the correct gauge (1.177 inches). Proto-48 also has more accurate (scale) wheel profiles, flanges and wheel width, and has higher fidelity to other aspects of modeling as well.
MELGAR
Business model is questionable, IMO. For that price, I would want something really unique like a Helium or Heinz Vinegar tank car. Maybe a tank car with mixed domes, like the Lobaugh Magnolia Tank car or something like the Precision Scale five dome tank car. It seems like kind of a pedestrian example of rail cars...again my opinion.
@oscaletrains posted:SERIOUSLY would have rather seen a plastic one for a decent price. They probably just realized that there are still a few "O Scale" people with more money than they know what to do with. 98% of O Scale people will laugh and walk away.
Yes, they are targeting a specific niche market and not the general O scale 2-rail hobby. And, if that works for them, good!
But this really doesn't do much for the vast majority of the O scale 2-rail hobby.
$500+? It costs that much for models identified to your modeling era? I sure like the fact they specifically state year when prototype cars began to run... like to see that printed on every orange and HO, N, S, box. Maybe luckily, my uses, a small oilfield, and gasoline delivery, wouldn't ship crude in three dome cars, although maybe multiple petroleum products would deliver in three domes.
Their entire HO line is plastic. Prototype cars and paint schemes only. Caters to and sells only to scale rivet counters. Super detailed exactly like the prototype and very affordable. Sorry to see they did not adapt this business model in O Scale. Wish they could have targeted the same group in O instead of the elites.
- Crank
It is hard to understand how Tangent will find niche in a very very small market.
Compare to 
brass tanker offered for $225.
Which is still high.
Attachments
Images (1)
BINGO!!!
Hope they will do some plastic pieces in the future.
John
@AlanRail posted:It is hard to understand how Tangent will find niche in a very very small market.
Compare to
brass tanker offered for $225.
Which is still high.
And those models sell for 1/2 that much on eBay now....if they even sell for that much. That particular model was not very "high end", 
"The best things in life are free", but the really good things in life cost a lot........
The price, while a limiting factor for me, reflects the research and development, and quality of materials and workmanship which we all want..........more importantly, it represents a new O scale entry into our marketplace, and when one manufacturer endeavors to "raise the bar" other manufacturers will take note of the positive responses and will work just a bit harder to raise their quality levels by which we will all benefit.
How many other manufacturer's currently make 2-rail models? Atlas...3rd Rail...? Whatever level of fidelity Tangent brings to 2-rail O won't have any impact on future models from said manufacturers.
Lets see, how many Red Caboose plastic Tank cars can I buy for $500 bucks. Think I'll wait for the 50% off sale Tangent will be having soon. I must say the detail looks on par with Koh's and admire Tangent's chutzpah and hope they sell out. j
WBM built, Drake tank cars sell upwards of $400 these days lmao. These tangent cars are very affordable all things considered.
@AlanRail posted:It is hard to understand how Tangent will find niche in a very very small market.
Compare to
brass tanker offered for $225.
Which is still high.
These tank cars in this photo, were poorly made , brass is jagged --- domes details over size., they wee a mess . Yes there were 225.00 when he came out. I sold mine very fast, now you can get these for 65.00 on the bay and there still crap..
bob
No K brake versions offered for a 1928 car?
Would be nice to see some in-service photos of the cars being offered.
There is some in service photos on their website.
Response from Tangent Models:
Tangent Scale Models - This is what we wrote in our O scale newsletter: Why a Brass model? Our decision to provide a hand-crafted model constructed from brass - as our first foray into O scale - is simple. We are testing the waters for this market, both in style of product offered (painted and RTR) as well as what sort of volume the market will support. We understand that some customers might prefer a plastic-based model, however that is very unlikely from us in O scale. New tooling for O Scale cars costs well into the $6 figures, and a majority of our HO scale tooling has multiple variations in parts and bodies which effectively doubles or triples the plastic tooling cost. We do not and will not offer simple "one size fits all" models. O Scale Brass can yield beautiful results, as our first model has demonstrated.
This explains for
I hope they do well with this release. While I am not in the market for a brass O scale tank car at this price point I do own somewhere around 300 or so HO cars and have not had a single reason to question their quality or service.
First, lets call a spade a spade. I have no financial interest in this company or model production. It's a beautifully done car with a nice era span and well thought out for both 2-Rail and Proto 48. I'm thrilled for once something does not have to be converted! I've not purchased one yet, but I very well might if anything for the sake of integrity. Read on and I'll explain.
While I can't say I would have used this model as a basis for an introductory experiment it is hard to guess the niches in our scale. I would probably have gone for a more constant revenue stream with RTR track and 36" wheelsets in P48 and OW5 both with ball-bearings but that's just me thinking in a different general market context.
Irregardless of how you feel or your purchase decision for it we need to get Tangent to the O Scale Meet in Chicago. We need to go shake their hand and thank them for considering our scale and market.
Why? The decision to make this car out of brass and manufactured in South Korea is telling. Not so much in the sense of RTR molding vs. brass but in another context entirely. It is currently available with no pre-orders taken (your money), which is consistent with their previous HO scale endeavors. Unlike another vendor at the meet there wasn't excuse after excuse, a different reason every year, or illness etc. in why things have not been delivered (vaporware). That's integrity plain and simple. The issue of consistent "vaporware" is well beyond time and needs to be forced by vendor participation denial and/or settlement through the courts if there is default.
We need to restore faith in getting products delivered and/or engines rebuilt etc. as promised. If that can't happen then they should not be a part of the Meet or the hobby for that matter. So, welcome Tangent. I wish you the best and thanks for making an outstanding product with integrity behind it!
I think they look terrific. I will give it a whirl. I have several of Bill McClung’s cars from WBM and love them dearly. Great stuff Tangent! Keep ‘em coming. 👍😊
I give Tangent credit for stepping into O scale, but come on.......do a plastic model at a respectful price point! How many are they going to sell at that price????? Does Midwestern Model Works ring a bell, with their 600 plus dollar Beth gons, or the 750 plus dollar centerbeam car?? Problem is, when they don't sell....Tangent will dismiss O scale all together.......... If they do an O scale version (in plastic) of their modern HO cars, then we'll talk! Just my two cents.
@R Nelson posted:I give Tangent credit for stepping into O scale, but come on.......do a plastic model at a respectful price point! How many are they going to sell at that price????? Does Midwestern Model Works ring a bell, with their 600 plus dollar Beth gons, or the 750 plus dollar centerbeam car?? Problem is, when they don't sell....Tangent will dismiss O scale all together.......... If they do an O scale version (in plastic) of their modern HO cars, then we'll talk! Just my two cents.
Sir you have not been reading the post the last few days. Tangent has stated there position on plastic for O scale. It's tooling cost in the 650K range.
Bob
@Railthunder posted:First, lets call a spade a spade. I have no financial interest in this company or model production. It's a beautifully done car with a nice era span and well thought out for both 2-Rail and Proto 48. I'm thrilled for once something does not have to be converted! I've not purchased one yet, but I very well might if anything for the sake of integrity. Read on and I'll explain.
While I can't say I would have used this model as a basis for an introductory experiment it is hard to guess the niches in our scale. I would probably have gone for a more constant revenue stream with RTR track and 36" wheelsets in P48 and OW5 both with ball-bearings but that's just me thinking in a different general market context.
Irregardless of how you feel or your purchase decision for it we need to get Tangent to the O Scale Meet in Chicago. We need to go shake their hand and thank them for considering our scale and market.
Why? The decision to make this car out of brass and manufactured in South Korea is telling. Not so much in the sense of RTR molding vs. brass but in another context entirely. It is currently available with no pre-orders taken (your money), which is consistent with their previous HO scale endeavors. Unlike another vendor at the meet there wasn't excuse after excuse, a different reason every year, or illness etc. in why things have not been delivered (vaporware). That's integrity plain and simple. The issue of consistent "vaporware" is well beyond time and needs to be forced by vendor participation denial and/or settlement through the courts if there is default.
We need to restore faith in getting products delivered and/or engines rebuilt etc. as promised. If that can't happen then they should not be a part of the Meet or the hobby for that matter. So, welcome Tangent. I wish you the best and thanks for making an outstanding product with integrity behind it!
Very nice post and well said. I agree.
Bob
Hi Bob........ No, I understand the cost in tooling for O, I just question why a brass car that probably has been done in O by other manufacturers. Didn't Intermountain do a 3 dome tank car some years back? I am not saying that the Tangent model is going to be bad, it looks beautifully detailed, just not sure there is a demand for another 3 dome tank car..... I do model modern era, so this car would not suit my needs. I do like the idea of the car in both OW5, and proto 48, that is good thinking! I wish them luck in their endeavor, however.
I was ready to pull the trigger on one (yeah, I know I said it was a bit pricey) and then I looked at an intermountain tank car kit I built and weathered. $500+ vrs $37.50. Decided ti skip it. I hope they do well because they will eventually build something that I’ll be grabbing my wallet at warp speed.
Larry
@mwb posted:And those models sell for 1/2 that much on eBay now....if they even sell for that much. That particular model was not very "high end",
I picked up two of those Ambrose Wine tankers and a chlorine flat (but with no Cl tanks) for about $150 from one of the Stout auctions and am thoroughly pleased with them.
Just received my Cosden & Co 3 dome car - - - am extremely pleased!
@mark s posted:Just received my Cosden & Co 3 dome car - - - am extremely pleased!
Please post pics.
For those unhappy with the price point on this car, they might be quite contented with San Juan Car Co's ON3 RTR Conoco tank car. Comparably detailed and priced at 109.95. Grab 'em up and support our O Scale vendors!
Matt: any picture I might post would be inferior to those available on Tangent's website !!
