ExactRail Announces the Thrall 63' "Opera Window"

[choochooboy]

ExactRail is proud to introduce the HO scale Thrall 63’ “Opera Window” Center-Beam Flat Car:

Through the input and participation of the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads, Thrall developed a new style of bulkhead flat car called the “Center-Beam.” The intention of the design was to prevent hapless fork-lift drivers from dumping lading while loading and unloading the car. Introduced in 1977, the innovation has proved successful, and it became colloquially known as the “Opera Window” due to the large cut-outs along the center partition. The Thrall 63’ “Opera Window” Center-Beam is still common to the rails, and they are as one of the most distinctive prototypes of all time.

ExactRail’s Thrall 63’ “Opera Window” Center-Beam is an extraordinary replica. Easily one of our most intricate and part-intense models to date, the “Opera Window” is a hybrid model of etched brass and plastic that is without equal. The model consists of 125 separate parts, which include a 0.010” etched brass center partition, individually tooled ratchets and separate deck panels so that there are no ejection marks on the body from the injection molding process. The model also features wire coupler cut hangers, which match the “loop” style coupler cut lever hangers on the prototype.

• MSRP $64.95, ExactRail Direct Price $46.95
• Designed, engineered, tooled and injection molded in our own Orem, Utah facilities!
• 0.010” etched brass center partition, COTS and ACI labels.
• Factory installed Kadee #58 couplers
• Narrow-style draft box, featuring: shank wedges, striker castings and full nut and bolt detail
• ExactRail’s exclusive ASF 100 ton ‘Ride Control’ trucks
• CNC-machined metal wheel sets with metal axles
• Wire grab irons, brake rods, and coupler cut levers
• Accurate painting and lettering schemes
• Wire coupler cut lever hangers which match the “loop” style hangers of the prototypes!
• Etched metal Morton crossover walks
• Separately applied air hoses
• Available in 6 paint schemes: Burlington Northern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Union Pacific, Western Pacific, and Milwaukee Road in what we are referring to as “As Delivered” and “Bilboard” paint schemes.

Please visit www.exactrail.com to watch our video announcement and view pictures of production samples! The Thrall 63’ “Opera Window” Center-Beam is available now for pre-order! Pre-orders close on August 10th. Please visit www.exactrail.com for more information and to place your pre-order

[bnsf971]

SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS FOR A FLATCAR??

[nw611]

Why there is such a difference between MSRP and ExactRail Direct Price ? My understanding is that ER is selling only directly from its website. Ciao.
Raffaele

[nw611]

And why there is a MSRP if ER products are not sold by retailers, but only by the factory ? Ciao.
Raffaele

[bcrn]

wow, at that price, maybe i should be expecting functional airlines and brake rigging too. but seriously, thats the kind of prices that would almost certainly drive a person to join a club to be able to afford the hobby.

[Chad]

Forget the listed MSRP, what do you care? They are selling them for $46.95. Look at it this way, a car full MSRP is $35,000 but who pays that price? Nobody.

Higher MSRP is a reference point to add to the "value" of the sale price. $46.00 for this car from the pictures seems like a reasonable price in this day and age. You have to admit it does look like a very nice car and detail.

[edwardsutorik]

Interesting that they're doing the ENTIRE roster of the WP version.


Ed

[curtmc]

At that outrageously ridiculous price I bet they sell about as well as the Berwick 7480s aren't...
If they had actually done a Berwick 7327 boxcar body on those I bet the Chessies would have sold out in a few days... But they did different body and even with the discounting every roadname and every car number is still in stock (and not even down to the level of showing a number in stock) almost 2 months later.

By the way, what happened to ERail not doing preorders?

[Brakie]

Curt,Like the Atlas centerbeam I decided I won't be buying any due to the price..My six ten year old Walthers centerbeams will suffice for my needs.

[Deleted]

The price isn't that out of line with what's being offered in HO with the level of detail and etched metal parts being applied here, IMO.

I have a Moloco RBL boxcar that is $45 and it's a very nicely done model...several metal parts that go with it...and it's well worth the price, IMO.

Are they pricey? Yes...So that means I'll get two BN cars...and be happy with that.

[riggelweg]

Beautiful car. $46 does seem steep, but you are paying for a detailed car. FYI, there's a typo ("pre-poduction") in the announcement on your main page of your website.

Kadee open-top hoppers are just a little less than this price, but they are worth it. There is no comparison between an Atlas trainman 2-bay offset hopper and Kadee's.

I tend to buy the nicer cars, but I buy fewer given what I can afford. I derive greater satisfaction from all of the details rather than building up a huge fleet of cars.

[Deleted]

Looks like a nice car. Just needs the tie down cables

[sd80macs]

I love the MSRP. Back when ER was changing over to direct sales only, people complained that they ahould at least get a discount as ER wouldnt be selling at discount to retailers. Well that was when their cars were in the $40 range. All ER did was jack up the MSRP so it looks like you are getting a good deal but your still paying what they wanted for the cars at the older MSRP range which I can bet that is what the MSRP would have been if nothing changed. Hell they can say the MSRP is $100 and people would be glad to get the car at $50 because in their head they think they are getting a 50% discount. Dont get me wrong as its a nice car but not worth anything close to what the MSRP is.

[riogrande]

Is this the car everyone has been waiting for to replace the aweful FR/McKean centerbeam? It's a much needed model and yes, the price isn't cheap.

[drolsen]

I think the point of the "MSRP" is to show what the price would have risen to if they were still selling through dealers. This is their way of showing the customer how they were able to keep the price lower by going to direct sales. You may agree with it or not, but I think that's the idea behind the "MSRP" vs. "Pre-Order" or direct "discount. Theoretically, that also gives dealers the option of ordering direct and then marking up the price to whatever percentage of the "MSRP" they want to see the model for. Again, in practice, it wouldn't make sense for someone to pay more to go through a dealer, but it's a way of demonstrating how they are keeping the price down by going direct by offering a comparison to what the price could be. I'm sure everyone will have their opinion about that, and I'm frankly not interested in that - I'm just trying to offer my interpretation of their methodology.

Anyway, I'm thrilled to see this model. I've been waiting for a quality model of this prototype for years, and as I learn more about my modeling subject (the CSX Old Main Line), I'm discovering that I will need plenty of centerbeams for the various lumber yards along the line. I'll probably just buy 2 or 3 BN cars, because I don't recall seeing any of the others back East, but I'll check around for photos and maybe pick up another roadname too.

I think the etched brass center partition is a fantastic idea for capturing the look of the prototype. It's great to see ExactRail experimenting with a more involved multimedia model like this. The Walthers 73' opera centerbeam was a good model for its time, but I would love to see a new 73' version from ExactRail like this 63' car.

Thanks, Blaine!

Dave

[drolsen]

Jun 21, 2012 17:41:01 GMT -8 curtmc said:

At that outrageously ridiculous price I bet they sell about as well as the Berwick 7480s aren't...
If they had actually done a Berwick 7327 boxcar body on those I bet the Chessies would have sold out in a few days... But they did different body and even with the discounting every roadname and every car number is still in stock (and not even down to the level of showing a number in stock) almost 2 months later.

Curt - I've noticed the same thing. I check the website occasionally, just because I'm curious, and they don't seem to be selling very fast. I'm not sure it's the price though - I think it's quite possible it's simply because they started selling direct, so dealers aren't placing large orders for their stores that clear out ExactRail's inventory faster, and some people don't want to buy direct. I ordered 8 Berwicks, including 6 undecs to model CSX cars, and while I like that a model of this prototype is available, I would have bought about 3 dozen of a correct Chessie B-130.

By the way, after researching the prototype cars for a couple months, I completely agree with you that this model should have been called a Berwick 7580, since the prototypes that this model matches are all 7580 cuft cars. I'm not sure why it's been labeled a 7327 (could be for a number of reasons that we've already discussed), but I think it should be corrected to avoid confusion (the way the Thrall 3564 gon description was corrected) to match the 7580 cuft Berwick prototype it represents.

Dave

[pltbrnch]

Interesting this car happens to be "number one" in the now infamous Exactrail "To Do" list ad in the June issue of MR.

"One down, 288 to go?" I know....I won't hold my breath!

Rick

[nw611]

On TO forum, Blaine "choochooboy" explained which is the difference between MSRP and Direct Price. Apparently MSRP will apply to foreign dealers, while the domestic US market will be covered by ER at $ 46.95. I did not notice in the car description that the "opera" center beam will be in etched brass. Being a crossing between a plastic car and a brass car (75/25 ?). I think that $ 46.95 is a fair price, if you live in the US. Canadians, Australians and Europeans wil have to pay $ 64.95. In Continental Europe retailers apply 1 to 1 rate of exchange and the price wil be 65 Euros, equivalent to the beautiful passenger cars LS Models is releasing in these days. Most important: the car has been approved by Dave "drolsen" and this means it is a very nice car. Ciao.
Raffaele

[el3637]

The price isn't shocking. I do find it interesting that Bill McKean fired a few shots on the facebook thread about this car and Exactrail. The former FRP centerbeams were once sold under his name. That was from a different era, and those kits were crude even for that era.

Actually a top notch 63' centerbeam was pretty high on my wish list, until I began looking at my photos and had to come to terms with the fact that they didn't exist in my primary modeling period of 74-76. I do look forward to seeing these cars, although in order to see one I'll probably have to buy one since I'm not going to find them at the LHS.

Andy

[riogrande]

Certainly the transition to direct sales could explain the speed at which items are selling. The transition probably will mean it will take time to adapt, and it may always be slower this way since you don't have all the hobby shops rushing to meet cust demand etc. I am not used to the direct sales model either, although I have no decent LHS around so I have to acquire models from train shows and mail order/online etc. Certainly ExactRail makes a nice product and it seems to be up there with Atlas, Genesis and Walthers RTR Gold series.

I read Blaines comments on the old FR Centerbeam, how years ago he spent a third of his summer lawn money on them and then threw them out in frustration.

I still have 1 FR Centerbeam in storage - it is a Front Range dark blue Western Pacific version. I somehow managed to get it built back when I first got it around 1987, and then was told later that it should be black. When I had my airbrush working in the 90's I painted flat black but never got the decals on it. The model is assembled but not really "ready" to run since it isn't properly weighted and decalled. I don't recall there being a place to put a weight under the body. The car did, for the most part fit together but I did have to do some filing etc. The lower side sills were the worst fitting for me and they are sort of wavy looking since the didn't mount nice and true. I imagine if that car doesn't get tossed out, it may become part of a lumber yard scene with a fork lift getting it loaded since I don't see myself going to the trouble to get it weighted and fully finished now that the ER cars are out. I have one unassembled BN green opera window McKean center beam kit stored - that will probably never get built now unless I am in the mood for a "challenge". I only kept it in case no company ever got around to making a better kit or an HQ RTR version since I always felt 63' centerbeams were very needed for my era and RR. Lumber has always been a big part of D&RGW bridge freight, much of it out of the Pacific north west.

The ER Centerbeams are MOST welcome and like many others, I have considered this a very needed model for many years and always felt it was necessary to have a few to model the late70's thru 80's general freight traffic. The cost will limit how many I collect to only a few but I do plan on adding them to the roster. This is simply things will be for all new releases, I will be only getting one or two of many things due to cost.

[espeenut]

...unfortunately, I live in Canada, a few measly miles from the US border, but nonetheless, I have to play exactrail's "foreign order MSRP" game in order to get their product, and even though they look very nice, I'm certainly not willing to pay out $65 for a single car PLUS shipping. So please tell me Blaine, how are you going to satisfy me along with all those people, because your new business plan sure cut most of them out of the picture. I love your products, already have over 50 of your cars, but now there is no practical and affordable way to obtain them, so put yourself in my shoes and tell me what you'd do...

cheers,

Lorne Miller

[riogrande]

Well, if you are just a few miles, do you ever make trips south of the border? Might be a good time to stock up?

[espeenut]

Jun 22, 2012 8:11:50 GMT -8 riogrande said:

Well, if you are just a few miles, do you ever make trips south of the border? Might be a good time to stock up?

...and where would I go to buy them, just a slight problem that they've created - no more retail outlets...
...over the last twenty years or so that I've been actively modeling in HO, close to 75% of what I have has been purchased in the states, so, to answer your question accurately, I do make trips south of the border, but there is no place to "stock up" on ExactRail's products anymore...

cheers,

Lorne Miller

[drolsen]

Jun 22, 2012 8:07:01 GMT -8 espeenut said:

...unfortunately, I live in Canada, a few measly miles from the US border, but nonetheless, I have to play exactrail's "foreign order MSRP" game in order to get their product, and even though they look very nice, I'm certainly not willing to pay out $65 for a single car PLUS shipping.

Lorne - ExactRail does offer free USPS shipping to Canada for orders over $150. I know some Canadians on other lists are banding together to place group orders so they can meet the $150 minimum. That doesn't help you with the MSRP, obviously, but it could at least save you some money on shipping.

Dave

[mlehman]

Well, I might as well take a couple of whacks at this poor dead pony...

You know, there's the complaints about nobody stocking items on a regular basis -- summed up as "preorders are evil!"

Then there are the folks who say a car is a failure if it's not sold out in two months.

Not sure how we're going to square this circular logic...

Most businesses are not gonna worry about having stock on hand after two months. They still have six months to move it until we hit the next tax year and if they sell without any more than a few going at a clearance price, then I'll bet they've covered the cost of the funds needed to produce the run.

But this is all basic business. It never ceases to amaze me that we get calls for manufacturers (and yes, ER is definitely the builder on these, as they're made in Utah, to satisfy the common complaint that most products are no longer made by those who sell them, but off shore through a contractor) to do various things that obviously will raise their costs, while at the same time many folks are saying the price is already too high.

Not sure how we square that circle, either.

Looks like a very nice car and the street price is not out of line with other current offerings at this detail level. A little too late for my era, but having built the McKean, I can see the value. YMMV

[edwardsutorik]

RE: BUYING EXACTRAIL FROM CANADA:

I just called Exactrail. I was told that if someone wanted to buy these cars, they would pay the lower non-MSRP price and would get free shipping for orders over $150.

So, Canadians DO NOT pay MSRP. This just out from Exactrail.



Ed

[riogrande]

Yeah, no worries Lorn. I don't have alot of options in an area with millions of people, the metropolitan Washington DC area. I know of 3 shops so far, two aren't worth visiting and the 3rd is kind of a long drive. Dave's suggestion is good if ER has free shipping and you want to "batch" enough freight cars to have that work. For the US I think it's 50 dollars minimum. In the US a couple of freight cars meet the minimum usually and in Canada it might take 3 or 4 but worth it for the free shipping.

[Brakie]

Jim:For the US I think it's 50 dollars minimum. In the US a couple of freight cars meet the minimum
-------------------------
Yes,its $50.00 and as you noted 2 freight cars.

Personally I wouldn't want to order one car even at deep discount because I prefer to have a full order to help off set the shipping.

As a bad example I'll share this..

I found a Athearn RTR car that I've been searching for and finally nail one down for $17.99 plus shipping..Long story short the car cost me $ 4.54 more then MSRP.The road name has not been reran since it first appeared in 2005.

[riogrande]

Larry,

It all comes to what econmically makes sense vs. need/demand etc. Nice thing is MB Klien will ship to the DC area USPS a one or two freight cars is about $6.xx shipping. Of course bigger, heavier shippments will be closer to 8-10 dollars but some places will charge $9.95 even on a single freight car, like one of the bigger mail order places (having a brain fart on the name) and I have to build up 3 or 4 things to justify the higher minimum shipping.

At least ER is helping to make up for the higher prices by the shipping so that will help me out with the direct order thing.

[Donnell Wells]

Although the price seems high, I think this "premium line" offering holds much more value at $47 than the "entry-level" 40' boxcar that Atlas just announced for $26...

For $20 more I would get much finer detail, heck, more detail, period! I think my model purchases are quickly becoming more "value-added" purchases, especially when I can buy a beautifully rendered El Captian and California Zephyr for a fraction of an equivalent set in brass...

I guess the point is that I had to get smarter about my purchases given the constraints and conditions of the current market...