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Post by keiffer on Apr 29, 2021 14:21:16 GMT -8
It’s a bunch of new paint schemes on the 4785 hoppers, another run of the SD45’s in new schemes
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Post by mdvle on Apr 29, 2021 14:35:33 GMT -8
Just announced and in stock now - coil cars - new roadnumbers for their CSX/Boxcar log and NS/Protect III paint schemes.
Rivet Counter - PS 4785 - BN (green small logo), Conrail (Gray "Conrail Quality" / Gray), CSX (NYC reporting mark with/without conspicuity stripes), PC (green), Hubinger (yellow), Monfort (yellow), Staley (gray), Boyll & Son (yellow)
- delivery Fall 2021
Rivet Counter SD45 - EL (standard / Bicentennial), PC (white logo / red & white logo), Southern (gold with high short hood / dulux gold with high short hood), SP GRIP II Rebuilds (bloody nose), VMV Enterprises ("patched" ex-Southern high short hood)
- delivery Fall 2021
Operator SD45 - ACL, CEFX/Bluebird, EL, Ferromex, Undecorated
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Post by oldmuley on Apr 29, 2021 15:09:47 GMT -8
So, no Wisconsin Central SD45's this go around? Oh well...
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Post by riogrande on Apr 29, 2021 15:29:19 GMT -8
Mmm., SP GRIP SD45s.
Price inc as well? That's the down side to waiting for later runs.
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Post by simulatortrain on Apr 29, 2021 15:35:41 GMT -8
No Reading again  |
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Post by packer on Apr 29, 2021 16:05:56 GMT -8
When are SP GRIP SD45s good for? My GP38-2s are kinda lonely.
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Post by riogrande on Apr 29, 2021 16:33:32 GMT -8
The SP GRIP numbers that ScaleTrains is offering per utahrail.net were rebuilt during 1984. So as ST mentioned mid 80s and later. Being that's the case, these are a bit late for me. I may get the lowest number. Nearly all of SP SD45s were rebuilt from 1981-1986.
The Athearn SD45Rs were all lower numbers rebuilt 81-83 in the 74xx series. Not as nice as ST rivet counter of course.
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Post by lars on Apr 29, 2021 16:49:12 GMT -8
They held the price on the 4785s at around $43/ea. However, the Intermountain 4785s were getting blown out by Midwest Model RR for as low as $27 recently.
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Post by cemr5396 on Apr 29, 2021 17:09:17 GMT -8
CEFX Bluebird in Operator only? For the amount of work it would take to do one of those up properly it'd be more worthwhile to find an old KATO or WalthersProto for cheap and start from scratch. It's not like it's a hard paint job...
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Post by fr8kar on Apr 29, 2021 17:33:04 GMT -8
FINALLY, Montfort Feed Lots PS 4785. I knew if I held off the Intermountain model my patience would be rewarded!
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Post by elsdp45 on Apr 29, 2021 18:09:12 GMT -8
Erie Lackawanna SD45's in Rivet Counter need black roofs. Otherwise look great. I know the Operator version is made to keep the price down, but the standard exhaust outlet and roof fans kind of ruin the EL appearance. If they replaced them and moved the horns, I would buy them as well and detail them up. Does Scale Trains offer individual parts?
Chris
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Post by 690 on Apr 29, 2021 18:51:31 GMT -8
CEFX Bluebird in Operator only? For the amount of work it would take to do one of those up properly it'd be more worthwhile to find an old KATO or WalthersProto for cheap and start from scratch. It's not like it's a hard paint job... Probably because most of the CEFX 45 car bodies have different details between units. Be nice to see rivet counter versions, but I’m sure it’s easier for them to do a generic one size fits all and allow the buyer to detail it. It’s too bad they still haven’t done Guilford SD45s, and instead choose to do VMV patched ones. |
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Post by cera2254 on Apr 30, 2021 4:59:07 GMT -8
CEFX Bluebird in Operator only? For the amount of work it would take to do one of those up properly it'd be more worthwhile to find an old KATO or WalthersProto for cheap and start from scratch. It's not like it's a hard paint job... My guess is they will do river counter in the next run, or at least it seems that’s what has been happening with some roads. |
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Post by markfj on Apr 30, 2021 8:35:21 GMT -8
The PC SD45s are tempting, but I really don’t need another locomotive. Of course I’m sure those will sell out fast, so it’s another “get it while you can” situation.
Thanks, Mark
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Apr 30, 2021 9:15:54 GMT -8
I was hoping for Southern SD45 Radio Control Master units with the white background number boards. Oh well maybe next time.
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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Apr 30, 2021 9:24:49 GMT -8
Erie Lackawanna SD45's in Rivet Counter need black roofs. Otherwise look great. I know the operator version is made to keep the price down, but the standard exhaust outlet and roof fans kind of ruin the EL appearance. If they replaced them and moved the horns, I would buy them as well and detail them up. Does Scale Trains offer individual parts? Chris If these units represent EMD Factory painted ones "As Delivered" then yes they need black roofs but if they represent EL Shop Repaints then gray roofs would be correct. ScaleTrains should put out that information! |
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Post by schroed2 on Apr 30, 2021 10:06:48 GMT -8
Erie Lackawanna SD45's in Rivet Counter need black roofs. Otherwise look great. I know the operator version is made to keep the price down, but the standard exhaust outlet and roof fans kind of ruin the EL appearance. If they replaced them and moved the horns, I would buy them as well and detail them up. Does Scale Trains offer individual parts? Chris If these units represent EMD Factory painted ones "As Delivered" then yes they need black roofs but if they represent EL Shop Repaints then gray roofs would be correct. ScaleTrains should put out that information! they put that information sort of under "product details", first line: "Era: mid 1970s to late 1970s". www.scaletrains.com/product/rivet-counter-ho-scale-emd-sd45-erie-lackawanna-run-3/ |
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Post by dti406 on Apr 30, 2021 11:01:38 GMT -8
The PC SD45s are tempting, but I really don’t need another locomotive. Of course I’m sure those will sell out fast, so it’s another “get it while you can” situation. Thanks, Mark I have enough Kato SD45’s to do all the PRR and PC units that I need their is not a lot of detail parts that have to be added to make a good looking model. Rick Jesionowski |
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Post by drolsen on Apr 30, 2021 11:35:57 GMT -8
CEFX Bluebird in Operator only? For the amount of work it would take to do one of those up properly it'd be more worthwhile to find an old KATO or WalthersProto for cheap and start from scratch. It's not like it's a hard paint job... My guess is they will do river counter in the next run, or at least it seems that’s what has been happening with some roads. The issue that I believe he’s referring to is that when these lease units were rebuilt as SD40M-2s (basically an SD40-2 in an SD45 body), their external appearance was changed. That usually means a different hood door arrangement, and sometimes different radiator fan spacing as well (an SD45’s fans have a larger gap between them than an SD40-2). In the case of the CEFX units, I can see that the engine compartment has only 9 doors, vs. 10 on the SD45 drawing on the ScaleTrains product page. Hard to tell if the door sizes in the radiator section match, but the number and pairing is correct, at least. It would be awesome if ScaleTrains captures those rebuild differences in the Rivet Counter line, but I haven’t heard of they plan to tool separate long hoods to replicate that. The CP Rail units that were rebuilt in the ‘90s and painted in the dual flag scheme are the same way, and I’d love to have a couple of those if they were done correctly. Dave |
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Post by el3625 on Apr 30, 2021 12:27:24 GMT -8
I already contacted Scaletrains about the black roofs on the EL SD45's and they said they do not represent "as delivered" but found a late picture of one with a black roof yet and would do 33623 with a black roof. Then I added that if they do not represent "as delivered" then all should have high brake cylinders on the side frames because EL changed all of their low brake cylinders to high ones not long after taking delivery of the units. I will wait to see what their explanation is one this one. The EL shops repaints did loose their black roofs though, that is correct.
Bruce
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Post by elsdp45 on Apr 30, 2021 17:07:14 GMT -8
I looked through most of my Erie Lackawanna books today and found a few examples of the roof being gray on EL's second generation 6 axle locomotives. Most were U33C's. It is hard to tell if the roof is black or gray since the black fades, flakes, and becomes dirty. Thus looking more gray. These units are only eight to nine years old when Conrail started on April 1, 1976. I find it hard to believe that 5 of 14 of the second group of SD45's got repainted. Especially when the EL is in bankruptcy awaiting the startup of Conrail. EL did not last into the late 70's. Mid 70's was it.
I don't want to be too critical, but at $200 to $300 each model, not to be painted correctly is an expensive mistake. Can we have clearly lit pictures of each locomotive's roof to prove they were gray? I noticed from the sides that you have to looked at the fans to see if it is black. Where the black wraps down over the sides varies on the SD's. Some don't wrap down at all.
I remember Athearn made a few mistakes with the paint. One locomotive had the whole cab roof painted black. They also made a mistake with the yellow rear end on the second run of the SD45's. It did not wrap around far enough. Over all they did a nice job.
One last comment. They should have made one of the Operator's edition 801 from the D&H. It had the standard roof fans and exhaust. Cab had regular windows, and its horns were in the front center to start before being moved. 802 and 803 would also be close except for the L-shaped engineer's windshield.
Chris
PS I was hoping Scale Trains would be a step up from my Kato's and Athearn's. Let's see.
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Post by markfj on May 1, 2021 6:05:26 GMT -8
Chris, I would say the best place to look on an EL SD45 to determine if the roof is gray is around the dynamic brake assembly (especially on typical roster shots). The line between black and gray is well defined in that area. Sorry, I don’t have any photos showing a gray roof. And these photos below I grabbed of eBay.   The issue mentioned above about the repositioning of the brake cylinders is a bigger problem since you would have to rework the trucks to make them match the service time frame based on the color of the roof. Thanks, Mark |
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Post by elsdp45 on May 1, 2021 6:40:44 GMT -8
Mark,
Thanks for grabbing a couple pictures. The pictures show how the separation between the black on the roof and gray on the side can appear to move up or down. Might just be the angle of the shot, but I think it was mask differently sometimes. Also the bottom picture shows how the black might be mistaken for gray. Look at the trucks, air tanks, and fuel tank. They look gray, but we know that they are actually painted black and are just covered in road grime. One last thing, Erie Lackawanna had a tendency to swap trucks between the units depending upon what was ready.
Regards, Chris
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Post by 12bridge on May 1, 2021 8:39:21 GMT -8
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Post by mdvle on Jun 3, 2021 15:30:26 GMT -8
From the end of the ScaleTrains "Live: All About Tunnel Motors" session with Tony Cook and Harry K Wong
0:55 - more Rio Grande locos? - yes - Tony asks for Museum Quality Krauss-Maffei - make any L&N units? - SD40-2's in development for L&N, Rock Island, ... (shown under development in the how trains made video)
-
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Post by mdvle on Dec 24, 2021 12:37:50 GMT -8
A Modelers Life Podcast - ep 183a
Shane Wilson of ScaleTrains
- Watco Wisconsin Southern SD40-2 anniversary unit - wanted to do it in Rivet Counter, but changes to unit over the years make it impossible (like unique ditch lights)
- Rivet Counter 90%, Operator 10%
- 10% not enough to sustain Operator brand
- discussions held on attempting to save Operator, brand will likely morph in some way
- (this applies to locos only, freight cars are doing okay)
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Post by elfan on Dec 24, 2021 14:41:10 GMT -8
I heard that interview also. Pertaining to the Operator brand, I think it goes to underscore that while there are those that post on forums lamenting the dwindling availability of cheaper, stripped down locomotive models, they are not backing up their desires with their wallets. Or more likely, there just isn’t really that many of them.
Tom
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Post by severn on Dec 24, 2021 18:05:30 GMT -8
Is the idea with the operator you can upgrade it to the rivet level?
I have one and only one scaletrains model which I bought on a whim at a shop. It's operator level and when I took it out of the box I could see all the missing bits... And I sort of regretted it.
But it runs well enough and I use it as a kind of test engine for this layout I'm building. Reliable enough.
By now though the rails have fallen off and there's some wear spots on the paint.
But from 2 ft or more I can't really tell.
So some ideas...
Perhaps they should drop this concept I have about upgrading. Well if it's right. Just differentiate the two lines but with similar functionality overall.
Maybe put on some fat handrails that won't fall off and some thicker paint that won't rub away.
But that doesn't sound cheaper.
They could skip the unreadable little print all over it. That's save money. Hoses and plow one molded piece...
Less is more in the exterior. I don't really know what can be downgraded to save money there really except I always hear "hand applied" which to me means labor.
Then they have to keep the dcc but maybe just provide an "auto" mode with no independent CVs except perhaps horn, bell and volume control.
Maybe that could be a cheaper part then...
I mean who needs all these little delicate doodads if it all just falls off or rubs away? And who needs 100s of CVs that'll never be programmed anyway...
Perhaps if I could buy 2 operators or 1 rivet I might think about that...
And then there's... Oh, wait... what? Oh ok. Yeah, so just letting you know my friend, the devils advocate said he has a xmas party go to now.
Ok, Good night da! We'll pick this up another time dude!
Sheeze some guys don't know when to shut up!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 25, 2021 7:48:55 GMT -8
I have found that with reasonably careful handling the rivet counter models hold up just fine for me (but I don't take them to any clubs).
Seven rivet counter diesels purchased in 2021. All are stellar.
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Post by NS4122 on Dec 25, 2021 9:18:53 GMT -8
They are definitely a vocal minority. While the Operator rolling stock is fine, I haven't even felt tempted to buy a locomotive. I heard that interview also. Pertaining to the Operator brand, I think it goes to underscore that while there are those that post on forums lamenting the dwindling availability of cheaper, stripped down locomotive models, they are not backing up their desires with their wallets. Or more likely, there just isn’t really that many of them. Tom |
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