There is a need for an operating scale track,an ash pit and a gantlet track.Each of these items would enhance operations no end.Any thoughts?Armand premo
What I could really use is a DCC system with an address prefix on the decoder. The layout I am planning I could potentially max out all avialable 9999 address slots.
James
I want a computer program that could control lights, switches, signals, occupancy detectors, DCC, effects, and CTC all in one!
Past that, I want someone like P2K or Athearn to make a F59 (not the F59PHI!) and say Walthers or City Classics to make a good commuter station, I think that’d go a long way towards opening up some new operating possiblities for many people.
And somebody tell Athearn to bring back Blue Box!
I’ll second the call for a F59 - I’m not a big fan of the PHI variant as I prefer the looks of the normal F59, so one of these in Metrolink paint would look very nice with my Athearn bilevels. Maybe Walthers could consider making one using their F40 chassis?
I think these would have to be “Built-ups” rather than kits because they may be too complex to build for the average modeler. An advanced modeler could scratch build just about anything or modify an existing kit, but the smaller the scale the more difficult it is to build working mechanisms.
I would have liked to have seen a United Conveyor Corporation ash handeling plant kit made but there isn’t much of market for something like that because it’s specific only to the N&W and there are only two known prototypes built.
Part of the challenge of model railroading is if they don’t make it, scratch build it.
Funny, I though there were commercially available Ash pit’s.
Let’s see:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/254-40
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/465-1816
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-3181
And that’s a simple look, I’ve seen more.
As for the other, the gantlet is a pretty rare deal, not much demand for them to justify mass production, so you’re best bet is to hand lay one of these. Although i do believe there is a car scale that incorporates a gantlet in it available.
Jay
Anyone know of a good replacement for Cal-Scales #2003 Elesco feedwater detail kit?
All I find is individual pieces and need FW heaters that sit straddle atop the smokebox - not in front on brackets like PSC makes. How about self-gauging roadbed {like Truscale} with built in easements and super-elevation for curves?
I was thinking of the operating scale just the other day. If you could keep records of actual tonnage shipped, that would be so neat.
You might even be able to use that information to get some kind of track improvement grant from the Fed Government! A couple of million could go along way towards fixing some of my track problems!
There is a shortage of representative North American residential housing that is appropriate for most all model railroads set in the time frame of 1900 to the present day. Most of the affordable, esp plastic, models are of a distinctly European origin, and are too easily identifiable when seen on a layout. Almost all structures should blend into a scene (by looking like those we see, but don’t really pay attention to, when we’re railfanning, driving thru town, etc.). They shouldn’t scream out - look I’m a kit from Model Power, that used to be a ConCor kit, that was originally sold by Helgan 20 years ago, and designed in Denmark of a little house on the North Sea. You know, like the Revell Superior Bakery or the Atlas Suburban Station - both good kits even today, but too recognizable to quietly occupy our towns.
We need injection-molded plastic or resin 1900-1930 era typical ‘arts & crafts’ or “Craftman” style bungalows, four-squares, and other typical residential housing found all over the USA and Canada (w/ regional differances in details only). Usually they were in very close proximity to rail lines, esp close to town centers. Many exist today in varying condition from rundown conversions into commercial businesses, restored into professional structures (attorney offices, studios, artsy/fartsy restaurants, etc), and some as urban renewal improving ,and even high end neighborhoods. Atlas is introducing a new line of these now (3 out so far), but somehow ‘they miss the mark’, and require kitbashing (which is okay) to make them truly accurate and useful. Timberline Scale Products had a craftsman kit: “354 Juniper Street” that was right on the money, but they apparantly are no longer around. Spectrum had a “Sears Catalog Home” approx 10 or 12 years ago, depicting a large ‘four-square’, but it too, is no longer available.
Since many of these house designs were actually erected on-site from factory fabricated kits, they shared many common details. Model
I would like reliable HO scale turnouts that actually look like real turnouts. No “hinged” or cut switchpoints. Also, find a way to attach the points to a realistic throwbar from underneath, so those big “things” don’t sit right in the middle.
This may be terribly picky, but track is a model too, right?
I’d like to see an operating scale track. Then have a little guy to come out & add weight when it’s not up to NMRA standard. Perhaps a postal scale could be made small enough to fit in a section of track. Bring in a 50ft box, set the scale so that the car should be 1.25oz, thenadd more till it balances.
The second hi tech device is a laser grade leveler so that you could set up the perfect 2% grade.
I was given a Sears laser level for Christmas and have fond it invaluable. The beam can be rotateds to any angle. For my benchwork, I just place the level on a camera tripod and had a perfet level right around the room. For a grade I was making. I drew out a foot long grade at the correct angle. Then shot it with the laser rotated to match and then had a very long line to work with.
Bill,
Agreed, and also garages.
Also, are you aware of these models:
http://www.depotsbyjohn.com/city.html
I believe they are/were “supposed” to be available from Walthers but I quit checking as they never were. They are a bit pricey, IMO, as well.
Don’t forget the Atlas houses. They are looking pretty good. Especially the bungalows, except as a native Chicagoan, to me it seems bungalows “have” to be brick.
Paul-
If the new Atlas ‘bungalow’ were resided in brick looks a lot like a ‘Chicago bungalows’ that I’ve seen in publications like “Style 1900” and 'American Bungalow". I ran across an HO model of a Craftsman style single car free-standing garage recently. It was a laser wood kit selling for approx $20. and I think it was on Internet Hobbies ? website. When I run across it again, I’ll post it here.
I checked out the Depots by John website, and he only offers a couple of N scale bungalows, and no HO bungalows, although his N scale looks a lot like one of the new Atlas kits, except for the price, which is approx 2x Atlas’.
It amazes me that manufacturers haven’t grasped the market potential for residential structures such as these Craftsman style homes, for they are so much a part of just about anytown in the US and in some Canadian locales. It’s even more perplexing as to why scale conscious modelers, so focused on realistic models, couplers, trackwork, and now even vehicles, still haven’t realized that something is missing, or not quite ‘right’, in their portrayal of residential, close to the tracks, intown neighborhoods.
BILL
The Depots by John houses are from the tooling he made to produce buildings for the huge layout at Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry. John also offers lots of detail parts for depots, as he is a premier scratchbuilder of custom depots. Walthers offers some of his products but do check his website
Dave Nelson
I personally would like to see a more realistic “ready-to-run” track like what Central Valley makes.
It would also be great if Ertl would reproduce all their 1/64th farm eqipment in 1/87th as well.
I’d like to see more modern day automobiles. I’ve never seen (they might be out there) common cars such as Accord’s, Camry’s, Civic’s, Maxima’s, etc… it seems like the more rare a car is in real life, the easier it is to find in model production. I’ve seen BMW’s, Porsche’s, and Mercedes all over the place, but when it comes to everyday cars you see in an average american town, they are hard to come by.
I agree about the veh’s, you can only have so many MB Gullwings tooling about your small Kentucky coal town.
As for houses, the closest ones I’ve found to suburban (Anderson In) homes like I grew up in are the Rix ? Ave(cant remember that street name!) They have the look of small town USA, and at around 8 bucks, you can build a decent edition pretty reasonably. There also is a small 1 car garage from Rix, and both lend themselves to kitbashing.
And if we can get an HO fella to add weight to rolling stock, can we get whole construction crews to build the layout while I’m working?
I think that P2K or Athearn needs to make an MP36PH-3C. Athearn is currently making F59PHIs for Caltrain, but Caltrain does not run any F59’s, it runs MP36’s. Thus, there needs to be MP36’s.