Mark the Menards Train Guy, How about offering a Scale Pullman Standard 50' Box Car?

When did that car first appear ...after WWII?  And there must be some run-of-the-mill passenger cars...coach, bag., RPO, that Menard's could get made in 60' prototype lengths, obviously not  name trains, that could be lettered for roads Maine to Calif. , if sticking a toe in that morass.

This would be the 1970's era Pullman-Standard exterior-braced 50' box car with the peaked roof or the flat roof. 

Andrew

Many of these 50' exterior-braced box cars were built by Pullman-Standard for Railbox in the 1970's. 

But the price would not be $20.00

Dominic Mazoch posted:

But the price would not be $20.00

No, but it would be far less than any of the others.

I believe that Menards is using existing molds maybe from K line or others,  however there is a few I do not recognise.  I think they like to keep it around 20.00 to 30.00 range with a few above that mark, those new flat cars I cannot put a finger on it,  maybe they made a mold for it.

Sorry Frank, I hope you get it.

Didn't Weaver make this car?  If not this exact car, one very close to it.  I have several in 2 rail both built and in kit form.

Lionel has the former weaver tooling for that car and it is available in the LionScale line.

These Pullman-Standard doors are different. 

Andrew

Three words:

Tooling

Price Point

No fair offering a scale 50' box car until they first offer a scale 40' box car.   

Guys,

#1 As an example WbB engines were very affordable until everyone started clamoring for more of everything. Their 44 Toner is a great example. They did a wonderful job. BUT you're never likely to see these in the $175 or less price point.

#2 It is my best estimation that the margins in this hobby are 20% or less. IF Atlas could make their 20% and sell a Master Line boxcar for less than Lionel/MTH, don't you think they would? Don't just assume that if a company sells a car for $75 that they are making 50%+ profit on it.

I applaud Menards for bringing affordability back to the hobby. If they were to offer the finest scale brass box car, who would be the first to complain about the sudden "price increase"?

It would have to be the Pullman-Standard 50' box car with exterior bracing that has the flat roof which was built during the 1970's and the 1980's. That P-S box car has never been produced in 1/48th scale. 

They need to make a classic, distinct box car which can be produced in many actual railroad schemes from the 1970's and the 1980's, before all the huge mergers.

Andrew.

Menards is making great and affordable items for the masses!

I'd hate to see them stop that because of cataloging a scale car that doesn't sell.

My thinking ....affordable scale rolling stock would sell very well! 

Regards, Swafford 

The 14 3/4" flat car is a scale flat car that is most likely selling alright. The closest scale flat cars are PS-4 flat cars produced by Lionel or the O scale flat cars produced by MTH.

These Pullman-Standard 50' box cars have already been out on the rails for 30 to 40 years. They would be producing a model of a still active type of box car. The real ones will only be around 10 to 20 years before being replaced by another type of car.

Anderew

Swafford posted:

My thinking ....affordable scale rolling stock would sell very well! 

Regards, Swafford 

Do the Lionscale and Trainman lines not appeal to you?