Large Scale Central

New USA Products?

General Discussion
#21

David,

Look at how popular the challenger was, if they made two complete runs… I think that casual modelers are interested in ‘neat looking’ locomotives. For example, when I worked at the LHS I sold a HO modeler a LGB sound equipped/MTS Mogul just to sit on his fireplace mantel because “it looked good”. He had no plans to ever run the thing. I wonder how many challengers are sitting on mantels and never have turned a wheel?

Hi cubes are too modern for me as well, but it’s nice to see that USAT is at least thinking about producing more. Personally, I think that the 1960-1980’s era is under served by large scale companies, and prototype modelers are focused on that time range.

#22

I do have to questions some of the choices they are presenting considering the fact AML has suggested some of the same items. I don’t get why they would waste investing money on products someone else might do. I am voting for the Heavy weights since they are no longer being built by Aristo and the K4 to go along with them. While I think the other steam engines they suggested are nice I am kind of surprised they aren’t going with ones that have more appeal over multiple railroads. Maybe something like the Texan if they are looking for a larger steam locomotive to offer along with the less expensive K4. I think they should again scrap the idea of the Hi cubes since AML is doing them, go forward with that Flat car as well, and seriously consider the Amtrak run also since it is popular but hard to come by since LGB stopped making them.

#23

Some of the choices are strange indeed.

AML already has molds for 1:29 K4 Pacific, and possibly the Dreyfus and Hi-Cubes on the way.

LGB already has molds for Amfleets and P-42s (in 1:27?). Surely the LGB Amfleets won’t look good with smaller 1:29 USA Amfleet…why not make Superliners or Horizons instead?

Its sort of like the GG1 all over again…

Oh well…still great to see some new hope in 1:29 scale!!! I like the new gons!

#24

AML’s K4 was a disaster, terrible pulling power and did not track well. Having a good passenger steamer is something, especially to go with the heavyweights.

On the Dreyfus, well, you can grab the market, the Dreyfus seems to fallen way back in AML priority, they garnered interest, USA trains could capitalize on it.

On the amfleets and locos, well the LGB stuff is not 1:29 as you stated, I won’t buy the LGB but I will buy the USAT.

I think these are pretty good choices… while I hate to see duplication, if AML helps make a market and then drags its feet, and USAT comes in and takes the market, well, it’s business, for a profit.

Greg

#25

Why all this push for rather large locomotives. Most people only have space for a small layout, that those large locomotives look rather ugly on. Time and again, we get people joining in here that state that they are having trouble finding room for anything more, and usually much less than 4 foot radius (8 foot diameter) curves.

How many people have those oversized -9’s pulling a train of 6-8 cars around 8 foot diameter curves…not a sight that you would see on a real railroad.

The 2-8-0 type steam locomotive is about the largest that the smaller (Average) pike can accommodate, and the GP7/9’s and Alco RS3’s are about the largest locos about the largest Diesel electrics.

It is nice that the GP38’s and GP30’s were produced, and now the FP40’s might see life, but the Aristo heavy weights were a bit too long for 8 foot diameter curves (Although nice looking, were blessed with poorly designed trucks). Here’s hoping wiser minds will use modellers’ license and trim them or any Amtrak equipment down a bit. The USTrains passenger equipment of the past, was also too long for most railroads.

It is nice to see the possibility of new products being produced, but they should reflect the type of MODEL Railroads that they might be used on. After all, those are the people that may actually buy them…although every model that sits in its box, or is over a fireplace, is still a product sold…

Another fact that few reflect on is the durability of the products. While I sure like the detail that is possible to produce today, it is a bitch to see all that detail getting broken off, or just plain falling off, when the product meets with the outdoor reality of mother nature. It hurts even more when it breaks off or falls off, just removing it from the box it comes in, to say nothing of how to store the stuff…Oh yes…will future USTrains product inherit the “Standard” gear problems ?

…just a few thoughts…I do hope that there will be a good market for what ever is produced. I’m at the point in my life, that I have much more than I can ever use, let alone buying more. About the only thing I might purchase, if it was ever produced, is an RPO for the narrow gauge passenger operations. One modeled after the D&RGW style…in 1:22.5 scale…LGB, or B’mann could easily, and inexpensively produce such a car to enhance their already produced lines, using mostly existing moulds…

…Fred Mills

#26

Greg,

Where the models in the background of the photos, O scale models or 1/29 models? The BNSF loco, caught my eye as it’s a newly released ES44AC… The new Tier 4 complaint locomotive that every single engineer seems to hate.

#27

Craig

that is a 1:29th SD70

#28

I agree,SD70.

#29

have to start saving!

autoracks must have sold well

#30

Rooster & Paul,

The locomotive in this picture, below the challenger doesn’t look like a SD70.

This is the SD70MAC… Notice the rear radiator grill. Looks different from this angle in the above photo.

Looking at the picture a little better it looks more like a SD70Ace… But maybe my eyes are tricking me into thinking something else.

#31

  

#32

I agree, with you Fred. I thought it kind of odd that they would go for the Dreyfus Hudson. And yes, many railroads are small. Thats why a small wheeled Mike, or Prairie locomotive might have more of a market. I think Aristo made a good choice in going with the USRA Pacific and Mike. I would have preferred a USRA light pacific, but thats just me.

I saw one of those large steamers in a display case at the one hobby shop. I don’t remember who made it or what locomotive it was, it wasn’t a big boy, but it was a monster. It sat in the hobby shop for as long as that shop was there, and I do not think it ever sold. The hobby shop bought it, so the manufacturer and distributer got their money, but I do not believe the shop sold it before they closed. So you are right, as far as the manufacturer is concerned, sold is sold, and if its never run, all the better, no warranty claims.

Fred I do have to wonder about the most popular choice of eras though. For me its steam. For many its the transition era. But for the younger generation its whats on the rails now. It what they see, and its what they know. To them the steamers died off shortly after the dinosaurs, or maybe the steamers died off first. It would be interesting to know what era is actually the most popular.

As for the guys who display stuff and don’t (hardly) run it, that is a source of new stuff for future needs. I have an old LGB Mogul with almost no run time on it. I will run the wheels off of it, like I do all my stuff, but to me it was nearly new since it just sat and looked pretty, on a shelf, for a decade or so.

#33

Greg Elmassian said:

AML’s K4 was a disaster, terrible pulling power and did not track well. Having a good passenger steamer is something, especially to go with the heavyweights.

On the Dreyfus, well, you can grab the market, the Dreyfus seems to fallen way back in AML priority, they garnered interest, USA trains could capitalize on it.

On Amfleets and locos, well the LGB stuff is not 1:29 as you stated, I won’t buy the LGB but I will buy the USAT.

I think these are pretty good choices… while I hate to see duplication, if AML helps make a market and then drags its feet, and USAT comes in and takes the market, well, it’s business, for a profit.

Greg

RE: AML K4, At least it looked great! If they were “into” doing second runs, past problems could be corrected?

RE: LGB vs USAT Amfleets. My fear is that “Mr. New G-Gauger” comes along and buys some LGB cars and then decides to add on, but buys USA cars instead…and becomes very frustrated. Even if they are a bit oversized, I still like the LGB Amfleets and I think it would be good for the hobby to see LGB do well in the American market again with the Amtrak line.

Surely an LGB P42 would look nice with USAT Super liners, as would LGB Amfleets look good behind a USAT F40PH.

#34

Seems to me they are shooting for the high end market and if that is where the money is more power to them. Maybe if the market is there they will partner with AML on some of the stuff. While I typically don’t buy “mantel pieces” I do have a couple, an A-B-B-A lash up of their PA’s for one. One of the Big Boys costs more than all of my rolling stock combined so I doubt they will be getting any of my money.

#35

Well, someway I would come up with the money for 844, even if it is in 1/29 scale. Not sure I could carry it, if they do it in metal. Guess they will? One carrier for the loco, one for the tender might work, that’s what I did with my MTH Big Boy. Made one carrier for the Challenger and tender, it’s heavy and hard to move around, with all that length of the two on one carrier. Wonder if USA will get one out before UP gets it running again? Wonder if I’ll be alive?

#36

Gary Buchanan said:

Seems to me they are shooting for the high end market and if that is where the money is more power to them. Maybe if the market is there they will partner with AML on some of the stuff. While I typically don’t buy “mantel pieces” I do have a couple, an A-B-B-A lash up of their PA’s for one. One of the Big Boys costs more than all of my rolling stock combined so I doubt they will be getting any of my money.

Aristo was for us, in the ‘low end’, but our niche wouldn’t support their mistakes…

With the Chinese boost of 40%, the only market with legs is the upper crust … sell for twice the value and you only need 1/2 the market… Some folks ‘up there’ won’t buy if it’s not expensive enough. I personally know such folks, mostly they are harmless, except when they skew the market.

Have fun with what you got, make what you need. That is my motto today.

John

#37

Everyone seems to be asking why this or that decision?

Follow the $$.

Gary gets it, they make more money on the larger, high ticket items. Remember that shipping by container is more by volume than weight.

The 2 gentlemen from USAT I spoke to definitely said they were going towards the high end of the market.

I hear all the people here that say “big locos don’t fit on sharp curves”… but some of them do. Yes, to purists, the full length heavyweights should be on larger curves, but NO WAY do I want to buy shortened passenger cars that look like toys.

To me, it’s tough to see the sharp angles between long cars, but at least the cars look prototype. Looking like Lionel pre-war is not my bag, and I can go tinplate if that ever floats my boat. I have 10’ diameter minimum and can run long trains, E8’s, Dash 9’s etc.

I know the NG guys will complain, “we don’t need big locos”… well news flash: USAT does not make NG, so why complain about them? You don’t hear the SG guys complaining that Bachmann does not make F7’s right?

Regards, Greg

#38

Rockwall Canyon Jeff said:

Some of the choices are strange indeed.

AML already has molds for 1:29 K4 Pacific, and possibly the Dreyfus and Hi-Cubes on the way.

LGB already has molds for Amfleets and P-42s (in 1:27?). Surely the LGB Amfleets won’t look good with smaller 1:29 USA Amfleet…why not make Superliners or Horizons instead?

Its sort of like the GG1 all over again…

Oh well…still great to see some new hope in 1:29 scale!!! I like the new gons!

Jeff,

AML made the K4 from brass and steel - no molds. The GP60 is there first plastic molded locomotive. USAT uses diecast moldings - they weigh a ton.

The Dreyfuss is an easy model - recall they already make a NYC Hudson. Just streamline the body and change the paint!

Re: upscale buyers? [Maybe it should be up-dollar buyers?] I recently bought a set of $300 coaches to go with my AML Dreyfuss hudson prototype. Quite expensive but scale models and beautiful details (apart from those horrible overscale shiny wheels - but you can hardly see them.) I think it is a good decision, if that’s the way they want to go.

#39

The heavyweights look different than the Aristo ones.

Anyway, I think the P42 or even the EMD F59PH would have been better. I am guessing no Superliners as USA trains has a more East Coast focus, but viewliners would have been nice.

#40

Greg, but USA does make some narrow gauge. Look at the wooden reefers (1:24) and they also had a line of 1:24ish steel boxcars. And they did the Overton passenger cars.

I do have to agree with everything else you said Greg. Its always about the money.

Fortunately, I have a nice selection of stuff already, so it won’t affect me much either way.