I completely forgot about the husky stacks and coal porters. I also has helping Jim King with the Reefer and completely forgot about that as well. However, that's nowhere near enough to model today. There isn't even a 50' or 60' high cube box. Those are also needed. I am continuing to push for these things, but more need to get active in contacting the manufacturers.
Thanks Michael Ostertag --- In S-Scale@yahoogroups.com, Bob Werre <bob@...> wrote: > > Ken, > > I could probably be described as a bi-polar modeler to some degree. My > land based (home) layout is a traditional steam/diesel beast, but our > club as a nice series of modules where we run most anything including > fairly modern stuff which I normally provide. I run both plastic and > brass engines (SD-60's <brass, UP & plastic, BN>, SD-40, GP-30's, U-25 > dressed for the Milw, GP-35's in CNW & UP. So if your doing more of a > switching or a shortline layout, the older but still modern engines > might still be a good fit. > > Michael's description is indeed bleak but since he's fairly new to S > he's missed a few things (and Ron I'll be awaiting a commission check > for this! <G>). > > Desplains produces a Husky double stack car with a variety of containers > and decals for them. They have also produced Coal Porters with many > car numbers. So that does fill some gaps. Smoky Mountain also has a > mechanical reefer on the books to do. > > Michael also talks about the modern-ish tank cars. These were produced > under three names with the last one being Iron Horse. And as he states, > they are pretty decent models--I have several including a 8 car Tank > Train that I prize. These tanks pop up on ebay fairly often. Also note > that the diesel parts from BTS and the former Southwind are the same > items--again just a name/owner change. > > Producing contemporary items in S has been discussed many times, as they > certainly are needed. The problem is that manufacturers with the > exception of Lionel, generally don't have the investment money to > develop an entire line of contemporary products without immediate > return. Lionel probably took a gamble on making their new engines with > scale options, but it's likely most will be held as collector pieces or > run on hi-rail layouts, with only the minority seeing scale rails. > > Bob Werre > PhotoTraxx > > > > Ken, > > > > I am a recent convert to S Scale myself. I have only been in S for the > > past 2 years, coming over from HO scale. I am modeling the Milwaukee > > Road in the 1978 to 1981 era. I too have found it difficult to find era > > appropriate equipment. However, after just this short time, I feel I am > > knowledgeable enough to share with you what I know. > > > > Locomotives: > > Well if you are looking to model today's world, then your only option is > > Lionel's SD70ACe. Also, for 2013, Lionel has come out with the GE > > ES44AC in the NS Heritage Series. I haven't seen one yet, or even heard > > if anyone has one. They look pretty good in the catalog, but how close > > to scale accuracy they are I don't know. Lionel has also produced a GE > > U33C, and it looks good, but needs a little work to actually make it > > scale (attaching pilots, coupler boxes, etc.). Otherwise, the next most > > modern engine is American Model's SD60. Those look good as well, but > > availability might be an issue. The next most modern locomotive is > > American Models GP35. So there is a HUGE gap that is in desperate need > > of filling. They do make a F40PH for Amtrak, if you are into that, but > > no other real modern locomotives. > > > > There was talk and limited progress on a GP38 and GP38-2 being produced > > by Smokey Mountain Model Works, however a major problem with > > availability of 40" wheels has all but put this project on the shelf for > > a long time. Overland did produce some SD40-2's and GP38-2's a long > > time ago. Good luck trying to find one, I've been trying for 2 years > > and have had no luck. > > > > MTH is now in the S Scale market, but has only come out with a F3A/B so > > far. These aren't even out yet, so time will tell with these guys as to > > whether or not they will begin to fill the void that is there in S Scale. > > > > American Models: http://www.americanmodels.com/ > > Lionel: http://www.lionel.com/ > > MTH: http://www.mthtrains.com/ > > > > Freight Cars: > > Well the American Models car is now that only "modern" gondola that is > > on the market. There was a great gondola kit of the Evans 100 ton > > Gondola, produced by BTS, but for some insane reason he decided to pull > > the plug on the project and they are no longer available. I for one > > could use about 3 more of these, so if anyone has one they want to sell, > > let me know! > > > > The only Center Flow covered hopper available is the ACF 3 bay Center > > Flow covered hopper. It now produced by Des Plaines Hobbies, S scale > > America RTR line. It is of a design from the late 60's early 70's. > > There are no modern covered hoppers at all. Trinities 5161 cars are a > > long way away, if ever. There isn't even a PS4750 covered hopper > > available. Only American Models PS2CD 4427 car in a 4-3-4 rib > > arrangement, with low sides. Not exactly a car you see a lot of > > anymore. again a GIANT gap that is need to be filled. There are some > > Kaslo Shops NSC Cylindrical covered hopper kits out there (i have 5). > > The main problem with these is availability of decals. > > > > Center Beam Flat Car: > > No. Nothing, and unless MTH comes out with one, most likely will not > > see one at all. There is only 1 bulkhead flatcar available and that was > > by SHS and it is of a late 60's design. I'll say it again. A gap that > > needs to be filled. > > > > Tank Cars: > > American Models makes a semi modern tank car, but it is from a design > > that is from the early 70's at best. There were some really great > > modern tank cars being made by Iron Rail Models, but they have ceased > > production and as far as I know they have no plans on starting back up. > > Also, if you can find them, Downs Model Road Company, made two different > > Corn Syrup cars. I found one of each and they look great. There are no > > LPG cars at all available or any other "modern" tanks. > > > > Boxcars: > > American Models makes a 50' car, but it's based on an ACF design that is > > from the early 70's. Des Plaines Hobbies S Scale America line has a few > > boxcars for more modern modeling. PS 5344, FMC 5347 and Evans double > > plug door boxcar. These are all ready to run, and are really nice. > > Smokey Mountain Model Works made in the past a Southern 50'6" Waffle > > Side car kit that looks pretty good. I have 1 and am looking forward to > > getting around to building it. There are also a lot of kits from > > Pacific Rail Shops. These are all kits and the molds are now owned by > > Des Plaines Hobbies. Ebay is a good place to find these. > > > > Other than that there are a few other things you should know, that I > > have found after being in the scale. First, being in "scale" and being > > "modern" tends to put you in a very lonely category. There aren't a lot > > of "modern" modelers in S Scale. There are a lot of guys that model the > > 30's to 60's, but not a lot of 70's to present guys. The attitude of > > the scale and the industry reflects that. The future and survival of S > > Scale is going to be dependent on modern modeling, but it falls on deaf > > ears most of the time. You will find that the "modern scale" guys in > > here tend to stick together. I am hopeful that more modern equipment > > will be available soon. This scale needs an "ATHEARN" type of > > manufacture to stimulate more modelers coming to the scale through > > regular availability of product. > > > > There are very few diesel detail parts available. BTS has some, but > > most are for early diesels and also most are outdated designs, that have > > limited usage applications. They are great looking details, but only if > > you are modeling a GP9 or older. Other than that most every detail > > parts manufacturer has gone out of business. Southwind mad some great > > detail as will as sunrise Enterprises. both gone now, and it seams that > > no body is will to part with anything they might have. > > > > Decals are almost non exsistant. I am making my own using HO scale > > decals and a laser printer, but making white is impossible unless you > > want to pay 300.00 or more to have a run produced. There are a few > > decal companies that make S Scale, but they are limited production > > things. Microscale used to make S scale, but no longer does. > > > > It seems as if the S scale manufacturers are ok with NOT making anything > > new. American Models hasn't made anything new for a while. I think > > they are stuck in that China production issue and need to bring the > > production back to the USA and start making models again! Des Plaines > > is in the same boat, except they have an exclusive company making their > > product. However Des Plaines hasn't come out with even new road names > > that they could be making a lot of money with, but for some reason, they > > aren't doing it. The scale is not HO. The attitude is not HO either. > > That's too bad, because if it were, then S could be the scale to model > > and not HO. I know it sounds bleak and like I'm bashing the scale, but > > I'm just being honest with you about availability and where the scale is > > right now. I am loving modeling in S and have no immediate plans on > > returning to HO. > > > > I hope this helps > > Michael Ostertag > > Green Bay, WI > > wsmwrr@... > > > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: s-scale-dig...@yahoogroups.com s-scale-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: s-scale-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/
