I have done base-level research into tooling; I think that by using Xometry for some and doing some myself will be the best method. By the way, there is at least one tool and die company in town here. No, 1950s detail levels are not a huge advantage in tooling cost–in fact, I might make quite a bit more molded-on detail. It’s the separate detail that’s the problem; that requires a longer assembly line, more workers or more automated machinery, more actual tooling, and a lot more money just for fancier handrails that will be broken off two seconds after it is unboxed (or, worse, while it’s being boxed). Production quantities only in the thousands, though? This isn’t gonna be any o’ that limited run junk! I want to do popular prototypes and make them until the tooling wears out entirely! Also, can everyone please remember that (1) ND roadnames includes stuff like BNSF, the GN, the NP, the Milwaukee Road, and so on and so forth and (2) I am not limited to ND roadnames!
Also, now that everyone has happily eviscerated my locomotive plans, I will put forward here some of my railcar plans.
Would any of you want to buy a modern-style black tanker? For less than $15?