I've been waiting for someone to do an U50 not a U50c in O scale. Its just a Veranda Turbine frame and trucks with a different shell.
sdmann posted:So that's why I always end my rants with, "Enjoy your hobby." For you this is your recreation." And we know this. Mine was model airplanes. So I get it. It takes you away from that stressful world outside and transports you to your own world that you created and control. It's a great hobby, and I love the history involved in it too.
Enjoy your hobby...
Scott Mann - China
Scott,
Always enjoy your candid information. And have seen many a man cry when his big R/C plane connects back with the earth at an incompatible angle and speed!
How about a Baby Train Master?
A smaller engine used by more than a few roads. Reservations would dictate if this foray into the competitive small market would work.
Norm
Norm,
I agree. I like the FM H-16-44. Is this the one you mean?
Ed
Didn't Lionel do at least a decent version of the H16-44 or H15-44? I know it's been a few years and it leaves out the 2 rail community. I seem to recall it was actually an okay model. I'd love one in CNJ as it would be great for short commuter trains running down the shore.
The CF7 is a good suggestion!
Jonathan,
I really prefer Sunset diesels with the horizontal motor to the China drives. I also believe than the detail on the Sunsets is better.
Ed
Ed Kelly posted:Jonathan,
I really prefer Sunset diesels with the horizontal motor to the China drives. I also believe than the detail on the Sunsets is better.
Ed
Ed,
I am with you 100% considering I have had a role in every diesel Sunset has done since 2011 starting with the E7. I'm very biased towards the quality of the product.
Originally posted by Rich Battista:
How about the SD60's? Only Lionel did this engine and it was poorly done, it has big gaps and hi-riding fuel tanks just to name a few problems.
So did MTH.
Yes MTH did an SD60. I have one that will be a donor for my E60MA project using the BDR shell. Future project someday.
I love my 3rd Rail diesels. When running in consist they run spectacularly smooth and im always impressed at the slow speed operation
OK. I stand corrected. But I didn't think Railking counted here. lol. Seriously though, I really wanted an SD60 and couldn't convince myself to buy the Railking, just not enough detail and too much work to fix up. I did buy the Lionel, and quickly turned around and sold it after a failed attempt to replace the fuel tank. Again, too much work, not enough detail. So I really think those engines from MTH and Lionel have not satisfied the market for an SD60, particularly the 3RS market and of course 2-rail. So Jonathan, is this engine a possibility or not much chance?
Ive got MTH Premier SD50's and they are beautiful
Rich,
If there was a way to get up to the 500+ range of units on this locomotive, It would certainly be a go. There is no bias as to what model Sunset would like to produce or not produce, it just comes down to reservations.
Ten roads purchased the original version. Then there are of course some oddball paint schemes when some went into lease service. The SD60F is probably too much of a tooling change, but the SD60I and SD60M might be possible to increase the number of roads and provide variation for roads that bought both. I'm not aware of many modifications made to the base model, but I'm sure you and others could enlighten me on any road specific mods.
I agree the MTH one is old tooling and that is why mine, which was an auction bargain to start is going to a new purpose. Both MTH and Lionel also came out with their version of the SD60E recently. Not sure, that variation would be viable at this point or not.
Jonathan,
Understood. I'm sure its hard to get the reservations you need for these higher end models, but they are worth it. The E8s I just bought sold me on 3rdRail diesels with the quality and performance. I would really like to see that same quality and performance in an SD60. As Matt pointed out, MTH's premier SD50 are very nice and I guess very similar to the SD60 and may affect your reservations, but they have not run the 2-rail version in about 6yrs. Unfortunately, the last attempt 3yrs ago and they canceled the 2-rail version. That's a bad sign, but 3RS has gained more popularity since then, plus 3rdrail engines are more detailed, run smoother, are more 3RS friendly with hi-rail wheels and fixed pilots options, so I think they will do better. Who knows? If you make SD60's I'll buy.
Rich
GG1 4877 posted:The CF7
Gosh, just say no!
Well,
I guess the idea of a Baby Train Master is not so good since so few were produced and only a couple of roads bought them.
Norm
Thanks for the clarification.
My vote still goes for the FM H-16-44 and the Train Master, of course.
Ed
Well, after those FAs (ABBA in Pennsy for me), maybe some C-Liners to round out the first generation?
I could see FAs being a great seller. They wore lots of of interesting colors.
Now about those drop-in P:48 wheel sets?
The baby T-M is trivially easy for the K-Line. You take an inch out of the long hood at a very specific joint, and slightly more than an inch out of the steel underframe. Join the hood with normal plastic methods, and join the frame with non-conducting stringers. Now you are in position to insulate the trucks for 2-rail operation, if you wish.
Laidoffsick posted:Well if you really want people to dive in and pay the higher prices, you have to tempt them with stuff that is not available from another manufacturer. Whether it was poorly done or not, SD40, GP7 & 9's, H16-44, SD40T-2's...it's all out there, and a lot cheaper. How many more F units does this hobby need, at $700 a pop. Think outside the box just a bit. Let Lionel and MTH fill their catalogs with re-runs!
Right there. SDL-39.
Dick
Attachments
What do you mean by big gaps in the SD60?
Bruk posted:I've been waiting for someone to do an U50 not a U50c in O scale. Its just a Veranda Turbine frame and trucks with a different shell.
Doing a sound set for that would probably be a different story.
Mike Caddell posted:This came up in the Tier 4 Locomotive discussion yesterday so I'm opening it up as a new topic. While I don't know the whole story, it would seem that SD40-2 reservations were sluggish so there will be a new announcement after the holidays. What will it be? The decision has already been made, obviously, or else no announcement, right? So as we, as a collective group, love to ponder and speculate, here's your chance to put in your twenty five cents (I'm allowing for inflation and a weak dollar). Maybe somebody actually knows and will let the truth slip! Remember, the decision's been most likely made so this is more about guessing what Scott is thinking rather than your "hoped" for production. As for myself, after thinking about all the 3 rail releases in the last 5 years and what hasn't been produced (remember, I'm a confessed loud mouthed 2 rail advocate), I've come up with my short list of what Scott might have decided to do. Any project is going to be a shared 2 rail/3 rail project that would be of moderate to high interest. So here is my guess....what about yours?
F-9/FP-9, GP20, GP40-2/GP40P/GP40X, SD24/SD26 SD40T-2/SD45T-2/SD45-2 (can you ever have enough Tunnel motors?)/SD45B, F45/FP45, Amtrak AMD103/P40/P42
My money would be on the F-9/FP-9 just because seems a natural follow-on to Scott's F-7/FP-7 project, and I confess that a lot of people model that time period. What ever it's going to be, if you want it, don't hang back, support your local importer with reservations!
If a P42 was done by them, that would mean Superliners beyond the quality of K-Line which would be something to see.
Since they already have access to Santa Fe Hi-Levels, I could see a Coast Starlight set release with 2 P42s in Phase V, and cars in IVb. Would be a very long set though with a baggage, 4 sleepers, the Parlour car, a diner, the Sightseer Lounge, and 4 coaches.
Now sure, MTH is sort of doing this already, but the quality is nowhere near what this would offer. The cars would probably sell for ludicrous prices on the second hand market after a couple years if they were to be made.
falconservice posted:What do you mean by big gaps in the SD60?
I'm referring to the gaps in the pilots vs having say a kinematic pilot or a fixed pilot like the MTH 2-rail versions. This includes gaps around the coupler. To fix the pilot you need to add fill which is a pain and doesn't always look right. These aren't any worse than any other 3-rail diesels I just prefer to buy the MTH 2-rail engines with fixed pilot or 3rdrail engines and use the 2-rail pilot.
I guess the idea of a Baby Train Master is not so good since so few were produced and only a couple of roads bought them.
Gosh, silly me.....And here all along I thought that Sunset 3rd Rail was the one manufacturer we could place our hope in for items we dream of having in O3R whose 1:1's fell into this category.
Well, thanks!
Now I better understand their recent announcement of the Virginian EL-2B Electric!!!
So, we're looking for something in the high volume, every-railroad-and-their-subsequent-mergers bought one, fairly standardized design with few structural/detail variants, and the Orange/Purple/Blue guys haven't made one...or more....or several....versions yet?
Hmmmmmm........
This may take more than one cup of joe this morning....
The coast starlight isnt that long my El Capitan is 14 cars I think and that is an awesome train. My daylight train is 10 cars but I wish that was 14 as well.
Matt Makens posted:The coast starlight isnt that long my El Capitan is 14 cars I think and that is an awesome train. My daylight train is 10 cars but I wish that was 14 as well.
14 cars? Dear god that's almost 25 feet long
Plus 4 F7's its up there in length but its such a cool train.
Matt Makens posted:Plus 4 F7's its up there in length but its such a cool train.
I'd imagine so. I highly considered getting a Hi-Level lounge for myself but missed my chance and I don't exactly have $2300 laying around to get the entire set. Wish they would make more than they do in the limited runs. 379, while very expensive, shouldn't be too bad if I ever manage to get a lounge. I wish Sunset's website was more accurate.
I bought an extra lounge, I may consider letting it go
Matt Makens posted:I bought an extra lounge, I may consider letting it go
If you're serious about that I would be more than happy to take it off your hands. I should have the cash for one in a couple weeks. Would make an amazing Christmas present.
Let me mull it over. Its out at the farm right now on the layout and I'm not going hunting again until Dec. 7th which is perfect cuz I over worked the dog last time and she needs time to recover. Ill decide by then
Matt Makens posted:Let me mull it over. Its out at the farm right now on the layout and I'm not going hunting again until Dec. 7th which is perfect cuz I over worked the dog last time and she needs time to recover. Ill decide by then
Ok sounds good to me.
GenesisFan99 posted:Matt Makens posted:The coast starlight isnt that long my El Capitan is 14 cars I think and that is an awesome train. My daylight train is 10 cars but I wish that was 14 as well.
14 cars? Dear god that's almost 25 feet long
You should measure my 12 Atlas Zephyr powered by 2 Sunset E7s and I threw in an Amtrak box car, it's about 35' long.
Dick
GenesisFan99 posted:Bruk posted:I've been waiting for someone to do an U50 not a U50c in O scale. Its just a Veranda Turbine frame and trucks with a different shell.
Doing a sound set for that would probably be a different story.
It has dual FDL-16's. I don't see how that could be an issue, it would just have two start up sounds laid over each other. But I would just rip out the TMCC and add DCC with either ESU or Soundtracks decoders. If MTH did it I would leave it alone...if they did it right on the sound.
SANTIAGOP23 posted:
Not my cup of tea but I'd venture to say these would be a great seller.
Unusual or unique things sell well in this hobby.