mdvle

5 hours ago, WisTramwayMan said:

Of note is that Rapido have also announced a project to produce a class 04. These took over from steam on the tramway until it's closure in the mid 60s - one would hope (please !) that Rapido are going to produce tramway versions with side skirts and cowcatchers (maybe even a figure of Charlie Rand for the cab !)

It was announced as a W&U announcement in the newsletter with side skirts specifically mentioned so I am guessing you should be happy.

22 hours ago, Ribird said:

Third, in one the previous announcements, Rapido had said that the roof is not removeable. Has this been changed? Or the wording should be "If you can get the roof off...."?

On 25/08/2022 at 14:40, NFWEM57 said:

I have been waiting for ESU decoders from a UK supplier, due shortly according to the website, for nearly 6 months.  Searches on the internet have revealed ESU availability for all products outside the UK is fine, USA & EU, but we seem to be getting a trickle of supply

Several North American manufacturers have for many months now made it clear that decoder availability issues have delayed products from leaving China so I suspect availability elsewhere isn't as good as you think it is.

22 hours ago, NCB said:

Peco is relying on others to build the  locomotives.What happens if they come back and say it can't be done to an accreptable standard? Ican see 2 options; drop the project, or build stuff in 3mm on 12mm  track.

The rest of the world seems to be able to produce models in HO and N where the track width matches the scale so I am sure most of the UK stuff can also be done.

Is it possible some of the steam stuff could be a problem?  Perhaps - but steam is now 50+ years in the past and while it would be nice to have for TT:120 it isn't necessary - though I expect steam will be available.

Newsletter 21 - https://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-projects--updates-AND-a-Wisbech---Upwell-special-.html?soid=1138500243749&aid=K3WWqdlQ6aI

• Welcome to Dan
• Order deadline reminder
• First listen to the 15xx
• Lion in colour
• Titfield figures update
• A word about North American orders
• Exclusive E1 announcement
• E1 correction
• factory update
• W&U coaches: order book opens
• W&U announcements x 3
• Wisbech & Upwell then and now

Athearn - September 2022 - preorders due September 30th, eta October 2023

30k Ethanol Tank Car - Abengoa Bioenergy, Midwest Ethanol Transport, Archer Daniels Midland, Union Tank Car, CHS, CTCX

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/08_ATHN_30K_Ethanol_Tank_082622.pdf

PS-2 2600 Covered Hopper - BN, C&NW, DT&I, B&O, MKT, Winchester & Western

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/09_ATHN_PS-2_2600_Hopper_082622.pdf

52' Mill Gondola - Railgon, Conrail, Frisco, C&O, Rio Grande, NS

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/10_ATHN_52ft_Mill_Gondola_082622.pdf

40' Low Cube Container - Textanier, ONE, Capital, Mobile Modular, Herc Rentals

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/11_ATHN_40ft_low_Cube_Container_082622.pdf

Athearn - September 2022 - preorders due September 30th, eta October 2023

Genesis - SD70ACu - CP (7020 "NATO" / 7023 "air force" / Block / Beaver), NS

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/01_GENHO_SD70ACU_082622.pdf

Genesis - SD90MAC - UP, CP (ex-UP-patched, 2 versions)

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/02_GENHO_SD90Mac_082622.pdf

30k Gallon Ethanol Tank Car - Midwest Ethanol Transport, Abengoa Bioenergy, Archer Daniels Midland, Union Tank Car, CTCX, CHS

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/03_ATHHO_30K_Ethanol_Tank_082622.pdf

40' Ballast Hopper - ATSF, NS, NYC, SP, Frisco, UP

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/04_ATHHO_40ft_3-Bay_Ballast_Hopper_082622.pdf

PS-2 2600 Covered Hopper - BN, C&NW, B&O, DT&I, MKT, Winchester & Western

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/05_ATHHO_PS-2_2600_Hopper_082622.pdf

52' Mill Gondola - RailGon, Conrail, Frisco, C&O, Rio Grande, NS

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/06_ATHHO_52ft_Mill_Gondola_082622.pdf

40' Low Cube Container - Textanier, ONE, Capital, Mobile Modular, Herc Rentals

http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/082622/07_ATHHO_40ft_low_Cube_Container_082622.pdf

17 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

If time allows I may attempt the "tramming" of an 04. However, I've put this particular project down as a Winter job and have no intention to rush into it.

Won't be available this winter but Rapido have just announced their Class 04 with several variations.

https://rapidotrains.co.uk/br-class-04/

30 minutes ago, BroadLeaves said:

@rapidoandy Is this going to be on the main Rapido site? I'm not a Facebook person.

They do have a YouTube site....

https://www.youtube.com/rapidotrainsuk

6 hours ago, F-UnitMad said:

The Pedantic will be able to shoot lots of holes in the credibility of this plan. This loco was only painted like this in early 2007. Before that it was in a very tatty Santa Fe silver/red scheme. The most recent photos I've seen of it are from about 2013 IIRC, so it may not even be currently in service any more!!

Quick search found this picture from 2019, appears to have been repainted

https://www.railpictures.net/photo/697610/

And this site says it is being rebuilt be GE

https://www.thedieselshop.us/BNSF.HTML

7 hours ago, Kelly said:

 

Plenty of industrial designs for battery,  electric,  diesel and steam (and even petrol).

True, but they also aren't the mainstream BR diesels that is the mainstay of much of the market and has fewer options left.

7 hours ago, Kelly said:

The Hornby pecketts and 48ds as well as the sentinel have been some of their more popular releases in recent years. 

Full credit to Hornby for taking the risk and getting the reward.

But there is a danger in reading too much into their success - it is easy to be popular when you are the only one in the market.

Now that the viability is established and as others bring product in (as noted by another poster) then you end up with a smaller potential sales as you are all splitting the available interest - while hopefully also growing that interest.  But it likely will remain a much smaller market than the more mainstream steam/diesel market is.

7 hours ago, Kelly said:

Certainly an area for the smaller makers to exploit as there's so many options available to choose from and their unlikely to be copied by the bigger names. 

I don't think Accurascale can be considered a small maker at this point, they are (in terms of new tooling announcements - it takes time to build up an inventory of tooling for re-releases) up there with Rapido/Bachmann/Hornby.

9 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

Depends if Accurascale are aiming to increase the diesel-era-heavy emphasis in their range, or a take more balanced approach. 

I would suspect both for later this year.

While balance may/may not be a desirable goal the limited number of diesels left means if Accurascale wants them as a product they need to announce/have them arrive sooner than later - otherwise someone else will take them.

9 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

My guess is the next major announcement is more likely to be steam-outline and LMS or Southern in origin. Probably not another GWR/WR prototype immediately following the Manor and not LNER/ER because potential purchasers must have been near-bankrupted by Hornby recent times.

I agree GWR/WR would seem unlikely to be the 2nd steam loco in the range.

4 hours ago, adb968008 said:

 

no its 4 car. Please check again

Really?

You linked to https://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/Drive+trains/Electric+Railcars/Piko-51450/gb/modell_367126.html

The prototype image is clearly 3 cars - there are 6 passenger doors (2 per car) and 6 trucks/bogies - for those on small screens hovering over the image magnifies it or clicking on it brings up a larger image.

The German description later on that page Google translates the relevant portion to "The three-part multiple unit has always been used for local transport"

It's a model the the PKP EN57 which Wikipedia helpfully has a page on - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKP_class_EN57 - which states they are "3 cars per trainset"

So I would suggest if you think you are buying a 4 car multiple unit you check that you are ordering the correct item.

Railroad Model Craftsman - September 2022

• Let’s Run Trains! • by James EuDaly — It’s 1949 on the author’s O scale Chesapeake & Ohio centered around Hinton, W.Va.

• Pullman-Standard 40’ MDT Reefer • by James Kinkaid — In 1960, Merchants Despatch ordered 40’ insulated boxcars from Pullman-Standard

• Bachmann 2-8-0 to CNJ Camelback • by Alan Mende — Transforming Bachmann’s 2-8-0 into a credible model of a Jersey Central C-39 camelback.

• Easy Removable Lumber Loads • by Randy Watts — Perfect for operating sessions, freight cars stay on the rails while loads are removed.

• Junk Box Hero: CN Rebuilt Boxcar • by Will Lawrence — 1990s Railbox boxcars rebuilt and relettered for Canadian National in HO scale.

• Capturing the Trackside Perspective • by Lance Mindheim — Simple ideas and techniques to capture the excitement of being trackside on your layout.

Railfan & Railroad - September 2022

• Dad • by Kevin EuDaly — Sharing the highlights of seven decades of inspirational photography and the special bond between father and son.

• Great Western Steam Up • by Jeff Terry — Historic steam engines gathered in Carson City, Nev., to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Virginia & Truckee.

• Southern Ontario’s Funnel • by Marcus W. Stevens — Busy Bayview Junction is expanded to cope with increased freight and passenger traffic around Hamilton, Ont.

• Revolution • by Greg McDonnell — Picking up a digital camera for the first time, and seeing old familiar scenes through a new creative tool.

• BART at 50 • by Gordon Lloyd Jr. — Designed from the ground up, Bay Area Rapid Transit opened 50 years ago to connect transbay suburbs and city.

• Exploring Ferromex • by Matt Sell with Trey Holland — For the adventurous railfan, a wide variety of operations and 62 motive power can be found south of the border in Mexico.

Trains & Railroads of the Past - 3Q2022

• Kansas City Southern “White Knights” • by Carl Graves — Railfanning the KCS in the Era of White Diesels.

• New York - New Jersey Area Freight Action • by George Hamlin — Metropolitan New York in the Years Leading up to Conrail.

• 1972 and the “Usual Suspects” • by Mike Bednar — Lehigh Valley Railroad’s “Rogues Gallery”.

On 16/08/2022 at 11:55, martin_l_jones said:

Would anybody really want to buy another customers tools , it would probably define the manufacturing facility as the tools are probably not that interchangeable between plastic injection production machines... 

The selling of tooling certainly happens and there are at least 2 examples in the recent past over in the US market.

Not a great time for those in the UK but in case it interests anyone it is an online lecture presented by the Toronto Railway Museum.

Lecture is 90 minutes and starts at 7:00pm EDT.

Registration (Free) is required.

https://torontorailwaymuseum.com/?tribe_events=online-lecture-railway-technology-in-the-canadian-first-world-war-effort

Aurora Miniatures has posted CAD drawings to Facebook for a Gunderson 6276 cu ft 50' boxcar.

Built starting in 2004 with the largest purchaser being TTX with over 1300

Official announcement coming soon.

https://www.facebook.com/AuroraMiniatures/

6 hours ago, jasond said:

Having grown up with copyright and trade marks, etc to deal with, I assure you I felt suitably uncomfortable posting Homer's pic.

There likely is no issue posting the picture - it is simply documenting a real thing.

My point regarding licensing was referencing having a model produced - Atlas/whoever would need a license to recreate that graffiti.

47 minutes ago, Boxcab said:

I made these tanks from Pringle tubes

Eating junk food for the sake of the hobby seems to be an acceptable sacrifice...

9 minutes ago, APOLLO said:

Why ? It's graffiti,

Irrelevant - it's Homer Simpson whose image is owned by however owns the Simpson's which means anyone wanting to make use of the image of Homer needs to get a license.  Technically the graffiti artist is also in trouble for IP infringement but finding the offender would seem unlikely.

On 13/08/2022 at 14:02, Hal Nail said:

So its not so much whether a 4 car would sell, its why would a manufacturer do it when they could make more from their capital doing other things.

There is truth in what you have said, but it is the second part of your sentence that is the key in OO these days.

With so many companies now tooling stuff, and with so few diesels still needing a new/first tooling, what else can they tool and make money on?

Over on the Accurascale side there are claims of great unclaimed gold mines in the available choice of steam locos but I do wonder how true that is.  Steam locos are more expensive to tool than diesels/electrics and much/most of the unclaimed steam locos are very geographically limited.  I mean while I favour GWR stuff I would love for someone to do the SR Z-class, but how well would that actually sell?  There are still some potentially popular steam locos available but I don't think it is the abundant choice some claim/hope.

Which brings us back to multiple units.  They may not bring in more profit for the tooling £ spent that a 47 does, but they are also still available to be done. 

It would be an interesting one but would require license approval from whoever owns the IP for The Simpsons.

Tangent - August 2022

B&O I-18 Steel Bay Window Caboose - B&O "original blue 1968+", Chessie "B&O 1982+", Chessie (B&O) "Dark Blue Safety 1973+", Chessie (B&O) "Orange Safety 1979+", Chessie (B&O) "Raceland Repaint 1979+"

https://www.tangentscalemodels.com/icc-bo-i-18-steel-bay-window-caboose/

3 hours ago, Chris116 said:

I am very pleased with the news that the Wisbech and Upwell tram coach is being produced. The version from the film that has been shown looks very nice but I am wondering what other versions/liveries are planned and when we might see an early sample of them @rapidoandy?

Partially covered in their newsletter last month:

Quote

Now, to pre-empt your next question: yes, we are producing Great Eastern, LNER and BR versions of this coach – and its sister.

 

However, we have a couple of surprises related to the non-Titfield versions of this coach that we’re keeping up our sleeve for now. All will be revealed in a future newsletter!

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Titfield-Thunderbolt-tramcar---ready-to-order-.html?soid=1138500243749&aid=PiA9flmi1JI

Another pre-announcement at the National Train Show - company called Class One Modelworks is working on 2 new products.

1) EMD GP40

2) GSC Depressed Center Flatcar