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Post by atsfan on Aug 3, 2012 12:44:17 GMT -8
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Post by calzephyr on Aug 3, 2012 13:23:05 GMT -8
There are some interesting items at that link. It seems to me the Bachmann F unit has been upgraded but they seem to have omitted the door headlight for this model. Did the D&RGW have the units without the double headlight? The AC4400 sure could have used a door on the nose moved to the engineer's side to get the front look correct. Larry |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Aug 3, 2012 16:01:38 GMT -8
I picked up and looked at a couple of the Bachman engines, those with a second door mounted head light just had it painted on, no real light there. Same with the Alco FA and RS, L&N in particular. Still decent looking on the whole.
I'd like to hear their sound, maybe a few sound B units in consist with other makers A units might be a decent compromise. I have several Proto FA-2s that might find a good match there.
I thought their Alco S units looked nice.
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Post by curtmc on Aug 3, 2012 16:29:27 GMT -8
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... Other than the overpriced FGE reefers not much there I'm interested in...
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Post by atsfan on Aug 3, 2012 16:41:14 GMT -8
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... Other than the overpriced FGE reefers not much there I'm interested in... What about the Tangent cars Curt? |
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Post by buffalobill on Aug 3, 2012 16:50:11 GMT -8
Interesting no one has remarked about the Exactrail 68' Bulkhead flat.
Bill
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Post by riogrande on Aug 3, 2012 19:18:33 GMT -8
Interesting no one has remarked about the Exactrail 68' Bulkhead flat. Bill Bill, I agree. From what I understand, there has been no accurate version of the Trailer Train / TTX bulk head flat car. The MDC car is fairly accurate (and decent looking) for a few prototypes like maybe BN, SP, SSW - I don't recall... but the Trailer Train version is longer. Even ExactRails version may be correct for some and not others that they do. I recall the Yahoo Groups Southern Pacific list noting that many of the ER 5200 Gunderson 50' box cars are in correct - I thought they looked nice but I am steering my money toward more accurate cars if I can manage it - it's a mine field as always. It seems to me the Bachmann F unit has been upgraded but they seem to have omitted the door headlight for this model. Did the D&RGW have the units without the double headlight? Larry Larry, all of the D&RGW F units had two nose lights so the Bachmannmodel is not correct. But well, thats why I have always called the company Botchmann. Yes, their newer models are nicer in the sense that they look better and reportedly run better, but if you are after accuracey or fidelity to the prototype, you have to look at them and decide. Bachann did the D&RGW FT's and sure they aren't bad looking models but they don't match D&RGW - but the FT"s are hard to match since they mostly had home brew modifications like the home shop redone number boards and classification lights. The F unit in the photo in the link has badly matched strips on the side of the nose - worse than Stewart did on theirs - which weren't always prefect either, but better. |
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Post by buffalobill on Aug 4, 2012 6:13:20 GMT -8
Rio: I think this is a model of a mid 90's era Trenton, Gunderson's Canadian subsidiary, built TTX Flat. The information in Jeff Schultz's post on the MRH site was that it came in 3 different TTX schemes. You are right the MDC car is a decent car, but it is a 60' OL car. Too short for the very common TTX Bulkheads which were always longer, I believe 60' between bulkheads. I believe the MDC car was actually a BN prototype car, and there were are few other roads that had them. This looks like an interesting model. We will get more details as they announce it.
Bill
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Post by riogrande on Aug 4, 2012 7:55:28 GMT -8
Ah, if the bulkhead flat is a mi-1990's version, thats too bad, but the up side is it's money saved I guess.
The MDC car is good for some roads and definitely fits my 70's and 80's era interests so I do have a few of them naturally. As you noted, other popular bulkhead flats are longer but I'm not buying anything that was produced past 1990 or 91 - that is the extreme end of my modeling interest. I shun BN logo's on the left side, Golden West, and Speed TTX logo's, although a few years back I impulse bought a few of those items, I"m clearning most of them out now.
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Post by atsfan on Aug 4, 2012 8:03:43 GMT -8
The Bachmann F unit fills a good niche in the hobby.
Priced well as a started unit.
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Post by drolsen on Aug 4, 2012 8:29:57 GMT -8
Interesting no one has remarked about the Exactrail 68' Bulkhead flat. Bill, I agree. From what I understand, there has been no accurate version of the Trailer Train / TTX bulk head flat car. Actually, the Atlas Trainman bulkhead flat (the version with full-height bulkheads) is an accurate model of a Gunderson / Trenton Works car, TTX class GSH72, first built in 1997, and the ExactRail model appears to represent the same prototype: TTPX 804528: drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1679864TTPX 804610: drolsen.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=480913I'm pretty excited about this new model, because while the Trainman flat is a good-quality, affordable car, accurate bulkhead flat car models are scarce, as you mentioned, and I'm glad to have a highly-detailed model that will fit my 1998 modeling era. I have two undecorated Trainman flats that I had planned to superdetail and paint for TTX, but that would have been a lot of work, and I'm not sure there are accurate decals available for these flats. I think the Trainman car will still fill an important niche for people looking for affordable, quality freight cars, while the ExactRail model will offer a better detailed, but more expensive, alternative. Dave |
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Post by riogrande on Aug 4, 2012 8:38:03 GMT -8
So in essence another duplicated model? But sounds too new for me anyway.
Agree about the F unit. As an entry level diesel, it isn't bad looking and fills a niche.
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Post by curtmc on Aug 4, 2012 8:52:00 GMT -8
Frankly I am very disappointed that we are seeing repeat after repeat of the same cars... If this keeps up the manufacturers will be getting even less and less of my money (even with the skyrocketing prices)...
Everybody wanting to do redo what has already been done before... Well I have news... You are not going to have a blockbuster sales item doing that!
Yea, I might buy ONE single E-Rail bulkhead or centerbeam, or a single Tangent 4750, the day I see one at a shop or show dealer and can examine it first, but I am certainly not going to buy multiples of them direct... I have heard that from others too. Well guess what... It is going to be awful hard for the manufacturers to make enough income to survive relying on single sales of cars that have already been done (or even new paint on previous cars). If they keep this up we'll see which ones last a year and which manage to make it a few years longer...
In my opinion any manufacturer who duplicates the product of another should be yelled at for not using their efforts to expand the diversity of the selection modelers have, not lauded in any way for the repeated product...
PS. IMHO that Bachmann rail truck looks extremely crude for the over $100 asking price... The Athearn reefer is about 3 times the price of their other 57' reefer (about 6 times with sound), the E-Rail centerbeam over 5 times the price the Walthers longer 72' car was when released, and the new bulkhead likely about 3 times the price of the current Trainman version that is same car...
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Post by riogrande on Aug 4, 2012 9:13:39 GMT -8
When were the new Athearn Refeers made? The ones with the open area's on the ends look too new for me, but were some of the produced well before 1990? Just trying to get a sense if they fit my era or not. Frankly I am very disappointed that we are seeing repeat after repeat of the same cars... If this keeps up the manufacturers will be getting even less and less of my money (even with the skyrocketing prices)...that is same car... That the problem compounded. I'm more willing to shake loose money for a model that fits my time period that I don't already have for sure. But, crack on manufacturers... don't listen to us. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 9:47:20 GMT -8
IMHO that Bachmann rail truck looks extremely crude for the over $100 asking price... I'd agree for that amount of money you expect more. But since it is a Botchmann product you'll be able to get it for $60-$70.....but even THAT price is TOO much for what you are getting. |
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Post by buffalobill on Aug 4, 2012 10:04:28 GMT -8
Rio: The cars were built by Fruit Growers in Alexandria, VA starting in the late 1960's. The rivets and welded sides, and side sill style indicated their period of manufacture. The yellow FGE scheme was the scheme they wore in the 1970's. The FGMR solid cold scheme dates from the 1980's. The BN green was a 1990's repaint of a 1970 built car. The BNSF and UP cars were rebuilds done in the last 10 or so years with modern truck style refrigeration systems. The BN's at least were 100 ton truck equipped cars, unlike the Paccar cars of the same era which had 70 ton trucks.
Since the Rio Grande was a Fruit Growers owner, they would work for you.
Bill
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Post by riogrande on Aug 4, 2012 10:14:52 GMT -8
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Post by curtmc on Aug 4, 2012 10:28:38 GMT -8
The MDC bulkhead car was a $4 car when introduced over 25 years ago...
Anybody who is bashing it at this point is somebody failing to take into consideration the hobby economies of that time (when modern cars were highly sought after but perceived to be an extremely small market compared to transition period). The MDC 60' flat was a godsend and the bulkhead that followed sold like hotcakes for more than a decade.
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Post by curtmc on Aug 4, 2012 10:31:20 GMT -8
By the way, I have a general rule when it comes to freight cars and I know other club members and modelers who have similar views...
If you want to sell me a car for more than $20, make sure it is a car type and style I don't already have...
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Post by calzephyr on Aug 4, 2012 10:35:53 GMT -8
Interesting no one has remarked about the Exactrail 68' Bulkhead flat. Bill Bill, I agree. From what I understand, there has been no accurate version of the Trailer Train / TTX bulk head flat car. The MDC car is fairly accurate (and decent looking) for a few prototypes like maybe BN, SP, SSW - I don't recall... but the Trailer Train version is longer. Even ExactRails version may be correct for some and not others that they do. I recall the Yahoo Groups Southern Pacific list noting that many of the ER 5200 Gunderson 50' box cars are in correct - I thought they looked nice but I am steering my money toward more accurate cars if I can manage it - it's a mine field as always. It seems to me the Bachmann F unit has been upgraded but they seem to have omitted the door headlight for this model. Did the D&RGW have the units without the double headlight? Larry Larry, all of the D&RGW F units had two nose lights so the Bachmannmodel is not correct. But well, thats why I have always called the company Botchmann. Yes, their newer models are nicer in the sense that they look better and reportedly run better, but if you are after accuracey or fidelity to the prototype, you have to look at them and decide. Bachann did the D&RGW FT's and sure they aren't bad looking models but they don't match D&RGW - but the FT"s are hard to match since they mostly had home brew modifications like the home shop redone number boards and classification lights. The F unit in the photo in the link has badly matched strips on the side of the nose - worse than Stewart did on theirs - which weren't always prefect either, but better. Thanks. I thought all of the D&RGW units had the double headlight. Those FT's were modified by the road and they are sort of one of a type with those number board modifications. Bachmann does offer low prices for those who want a unit to run. There are so many good F units available in general, I am always amazed that they would even go the route to offer these. Probably be used in train sets. I visited the Museum at Golden Colorado last month and looked at the D&RGW A and B unit there at that location. Larry |
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Post by buffalobill on Aug 4, 2012 10:45:05 GMT -8
Curt: your right, the MDC Thrall flats and gonds, and the MDC boxcars based on the FMC-5347 boxes, and the PS-5277 were cars that set the new "Standard" for their time in the early 1980's for the boxes, and later in the 1980's for the flats and rail gonds. They are still not bad cars. Comparable to the new Atlas Trainman cars. Athearn has done revisions on the boxes and the gonds, not sure much was done on the flats.
I agree to shell out big bucks for a car that already has been done is tough for me. I think we all wish the manufacturers were not duplicating others previous efforts.
Bill
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