MELGAR posted:GG1 4877 posted:GenesisFan99 posted:They would probably have to work with Siemens to get the tooling and it would have to be licensed by Amtrak.
Licensing by Amtrak will possibly be required as anything with the current Amtrak logo is of interest to Amtrak. Bachmann is doing the ACS-64 in HO and H, but it doesn't appear that they will do it in O. As for tooling, we just need good quality photographs some key dimensions. The factory creates a 3D model in CAD that is reviewed for accuracy. If FP45s and SDP40Fs aren't hitting the 500-750 unit threshold, I have a hard time seeing this project do that. It could possibly fly as a brass project.
Superliners are a good idea but prices are getting close to $300 a car for Aluminum. It does allow for another run of El Capitan cars as perhaps individual cars for the Phase II and Phase III and Coast Starlight modeler.
Licensing agreements evidently have been negotiated by Bachmann for the ACS-64 in HO and N, so I don't see why Amtrak and Siemens would not do the same for an O scale manufacturer. A flexible licensing arrangement could make the fee proportional to the number of models sold. If they are willing to let Sunset/3rd Rail use their intellectual property such as logos, paint schemes, etcetera, they probably would agree to have a locomotive photographed as part of the deal. I would be interested to know whether drawings or photographs were provided to Bachmann... To me, the ACS-64 is a much more interesting possibility than another classic diesel or even a steam engine. We already have tons of those - including a nice P-42 model by MTH... And I think there would be a substantial market among O scale/gauge hobbyists. There are a lot of O scale/gauge modelers and fans along the NEC. Why not try it and see?
MELGAR
I didn't mean that licensing would be hard, it would just be costly. I do agree there would be a market for an ACS64 as much as I like my toasters.
