Just wondering why none of the O companies offered Undecorated.
Seem like in HO almost all were offered in undecorated format.
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This comes up occasionally. It sounds reasonable, especially to those Hi-railers like me who paint, decal, smash and bash and the like.
Unfortunately, there are so few of us 3RO types who are actually "model railroaders" (I didn't say that I am a good one, now) that the market is just not there, or is at least perceived to be not there.
Most in 3RO tend toward the toy train or "run it out of the box without looking back" category. That's fine, but it does not lead to many O-gauge opportunities for parts, decals, upgrades and the like.
As for 2-rail O - wonderful stuff, but there are, what? - 2 dozen of those guys...? I'd prefer it, but it's impractical in a home because of their huge curve demands (and unwillingness to compromise, to be honest), and it's too late to change, anyway.
The recent Lionel ATSF 2-8-2 was available in painted/undecorated. I was proud of them. I hope that they do more locos with that option.
Atlas O Master Line engines are offered in an undecorated version each run.
Had to be ordered from Atlas, with the offering, as un-decorated. (4) SW9's , same price, I had to order the correct MU handrails/pilots.
Also a GP7 from Atlas.
Note the choice, above picture. Dynamic Brake blister, or the flat hood, right side part. There was discussion about the (4) engine cooling fans, apparently that also changed with time and upgrades of the GP7 model.
At the end of K-line they were offering some scale steam engines with no numbers or lettering. They are very hard to find now.
I had to strip lettering and numbers from my 8 K-line scale engines to do them in Milwaukee Road. I'm with you guys. Wish they made more. Don
D500 posted:This comes up occasionally. It sounds reasonable, especially to those Hi-railers like me who paint, decal, smash and bash and the like.
Unfortunately, there are so few of us 3RO types who are actually "model railroaders"...
Sorry, but I think that I and many others on this forum who have 3-rail layouts qualify as "model railroaders" even though we may not purchase undecorated models nor paint and decal them.
MELGAR
MELGAR posted:D500 posted:This comes up occasionally. It sounds reasonable, especially to those Hi-railers like me who paint, decal, smash and bash and the like.
Unfortunately, there are so few of us 3RO types who are actually "model railroaders"...
Sorry, but I think that I and many others on this forum who have 3-rail layouts qualify as "model railroaders" even though we may not purchase undecorated models nor paint and decal them.
MELGAR
Correct. Particularly nowadays, many of the manufacturer/importers come with superb paint jobs in all of the scales.
Rusty
If there were a market, they would be produced. As noted above, some have been done. I think Weaver did a generic Consolidation in die cast.
Two railers just work with what is available, and modify to suit. I personally will not use smaller cylinders or omit a tail beam just to go around corners, but one could easily use smaller steam or Diesel models on a tight radius 2-rail layout without compromise.
The lettering on MTH and Lionel die cast is easy to remove without damaging the paint. In 15 minutes you can turn one into an undec. Easy peasy.
Pete
GVDobler posted:Just wondering why none of the O companies offered Undecorated.
Seem like in HO almost all were offered in undecorated format.
Atlas O offers Undecorated locos in both 3 rail and Two rail. The trouble is the price is the same regardless if decorated or not.
I wouldn't mind the same price. It would save a lot of work stripping paint off. I'm referring to complete paint jobs, not just changing road numbers or minor decal work. Just a thought anyway.
I'm with all of you guys, I really wish there were more undecorated options. For example, as some of you probably know from one of my threads here I'm having a Veterans NPCU custom painted. It would be a ton less work for the painter I use if undecorated models were offered. While yes, 1 thing is not enough to justify undecorated, I plan to have a lot more custom painted stuff done in the near future, including another NPCU. I think we all can look past undecorated locomotives being the same price as regular because either way you're still usually paying the same amount for custom paint work and decals.
Number one reason-----there is no market for them.
A dozen or so guys wanting undecorated models does not qualify as a market.
Dave
The only reason I don't buy undecorated O3R scale models is that there are many locomotives offered in the paint schemes of the railroads that I collect and run, and mostly with a prototypical road number and paint scheme. On the other hand, I have a small collection of On30 steam engines all of which are "undec" because, if I ever build a narrow gauge layout, it probably would have a freelanced road name.
MELGAR
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Atlas O offers Undecorated locos in both 3 rail and Two rail. The trouble is the price is the same regardless if decorated or not.
To me, its worth it being undecorated. For someone like me, having each and every little detail part in bags, waiting to be painted and installed after the body is painted and decaled. New and unbroken. My fat, little fingers break stuff. lol
There still are many Champ O scale decals to be found.
I have some undecorated's on order with MrMuffin Steve.
As I stated above, its Atlas's Master Line engines that are available as undecorated ….. not Trainman.
I can see a line of undecorated USRA engines, if the detailed pieces came in a separate bag to be added on at the buyers discretion, otherwise you would have engines that will need to be chopped on anyway paint or no paint.
