@CBQ_Bill. Yeah, the HO people have it all. I have made enlargements of HO decals. It is easy if the decal paper has a white background. Many decal sets have a blue backing, and I do not have the software to capture text from a picture file. Lately I have bought an inexpensive Zephyr font to make decal sets using MS Publisher. I think I have shared some of these as .pdf files on other threads. In keeping with this 3rd-Rail subject I have not tried to modify the E5 set I already have…there is no way to improve upon them. !!
Hi All,
Santiago and Jonathan will no doubt select a variety of names/numbers for the E5s based on your input. But we can't offer all names for just a few models made. And we can't promise names/numbers because they are made in such low quantities. I have resisted breaking out SKUs for each engine name, as it makes the logistics of repairing/replacing/delivering the exact name/number that multiple customer would want. So I don't see how I can change this issue on this project either. But we take suggestions with the orders and try to make those names / numbers that a few customers requested and we randomly pick name/numbers for the remaining orders. We just can't do this for all orders, it's just not possible.
Hi Scott @sdmann, Jonathon @GG1 4877 , & Santiago @SANTIAGOP23 :
Thank you for the update !
My order is through Chicagoland Hobby.
My requests are:
BLACK Stripes
E5A #9911-A Silver PILOT
E5B #9911-B Silver MATE
RED Stripes
E5A #9910-A Silver SPEED
I also want to purchase an extra set of truck skirts for my red-striped E5A.
Thanks in advance !!!
I like Greg at Chicagoland. I hope he communicates your order details to us as we don't know who the order is for.
just roughly, what would be a projected on the water date for these if all goes reasonably well? Or a range perhaps. thanks Scott
The E5/E6 project is a gap filling rerun. When the factory has a gap in production, we put it in. I can't say when that would happen exactly. I hope this year. I've asked to start it, and they are considering the timing based on their current projects. But when that time comes, I will post that reservations are closing in a few weeks, and that will be that. 
@sdmann posted:The E5/E6 project is a gap filling rerun. When the factory has a gap in production, we put it in. I can't say when that would happen exactly. I hope this year. I've asked to start it, and they are considering the timing based on their current projects. But when that time comes, I will post that reservations are closing in a few weeks, and that will be that.
Thanks for a heads up on this Scott. Do the brass steam offerings have their own “flows” or are they in the same Q as the plastic models ? Just wondering how they “fit”.
Though the Mlk. Rd. EP3 and SD40-2 Might be high in the Q, there are no “reservations closing soon” notices. And somewhere in the mix , the E5,6s.
The EA E1s will be finishing soon. 😜 I’m just curious if my wallet will catch a breather after the the EA E1s. 🤔
I totally understand the budget situation. I don't want anyone to skip an order because it came it too fast or all at once. We offer 3 month layaways on most projects and longer if one has orders from several projects coming together.
Here's what I see for production scheduling in the next 12 months. The delay between finishing and arrival is about 2 months.
VGN Battleship Gondolas are Done, Coming in May/June.
EA/E1 - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw - Hiawatha 2.0 Cars - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw EP3 - Production Finished August. Tooling Done, samples coming in 30 days. We have 85 reservations and we are making 100 units, so reservations will remain open until they are filled.
E5/E6 - I think it will start in May, finished in August / September
1948 20th Century Cars - Starting in May, Finished in August / September
SD40-2 - It will start in September and finish in Dec/Jan. Design almost finished.
C&O Chessie Cars - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
1948 Broadway Ltd - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
Steam engines are not getting enough orders to start. I don't think there's much we can do to change that.
FAs in 2023
P42 Genesis in 2023
RDC Rerun, GP79 and SD 79, Rerun and new announcements coming this year, will be produced 2023.
All other projects are in the planning stages.
That's what I know. I hope the information helps.
Scott Mann
Wow !!!!!! 👍👍👍👏👏👏🙂🙂🙂 Yes Sir !!! 😜 That Helps SO MUCH !!! (And I bet just not me 🤔)
Cheers !!!
@sdmann posted:I totally understand the budget situation. I don't want anyone to skip an order because it came it too fast or all at once. We offer 3 month layaways on most projects and longer if one has orders from several projects coming together.
Here's what I see for production scheduling in the next 12 months. The delay between finishing and arrival is about 2 months.
VGN Battleship Gondolas are Done, Coming in May/June.
EA/E1 - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw - Hiawatha 2.0 Cars - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw EP3 - Production Finished August. Tooling Done, samples coming in 30 days. We have 85 reservations and we are making 100 units, so reservations will remain open until they are filled.
E5/E6 - I think it will start in May, finished in August / September
1948 20th Century Cars - Starting in May, Finished in August / September
SD40-2 - It will start in September and finish in Dec/Jan. Design almost finished.
C&O Chessie Cars - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
1948 Broadway Ltd - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
Steam engines are not getting enough orders to start. I don't think there's much we can do to change that.
FAs in 2023
P42 Genesis in 2023
RDC Rerun, GP79 and SD 79, Rerun and new announcements coming this year, will be produced 2023.
All other projects are in the planning stages.
That's what I know. I hope the information helps.
Scott Mann
Can't wait for the Chessie Cars and battleship gondolas. By any chance, are there any future plans for different rolling stock?
Would someone please confirm for me that these 3rd Rail E5/6s will operate on O54 Gargraves curves.
Thanks in advance.
Tom
Eventhough our diesels are designed for 072 and larger 3 rail track, we have a 90 degree turn in Atlas 054, and all our engines go through it just fine. But a turnout, S curve or Switch in 054 might be a problem.
Ref above sdmann post.
Good ... on the O54 for my 90 degree Gargrave track turns on my layout.
My turnouts are all Ross Superline O72, plus paired Ross Superline 11 degree turnouts connecting my two Gargrave oval sets of tracks, and lastly I have a pair of Ross Superline O72/O96 curved switches at one end of my layout. So, now comfortable going ahead with one of the 3rd Rail E5/6s.
Tom
@sdmann posted:I totally understand the budget situation. I don't want anyone to skip an order because it came it too fast or all at once. We offer 3 month layaways on most projects and longer if one has orders from several projects coming together.
Here's what I see for production scheduling in the next 12 months. The delay between finishing and arrival is about 2 months.
VGN Battleship Gondolas are Done, Coming in May/June.
EA/E1 - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw - Hiawatha 2.0 Cars - Production Finished May 15th.
Milw EP3 - Production Finished August. Tooling Done, samples coming in 30 days. We have 85 reservations and we are making 100 units, so reservations will remain open until they are filled.
E5/E6 - I think it will start in May, finished in August / September
1948 20th Century Cars - Starting in May, Finished in August / September
SD40-2 - It will start in September and finish in Dec/Jan. Design almost finished.
C&O Chessie Cars - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
1948 Broadway Ltd - Begin in September Finish in Dec.
Steam engines are not getting enough orders to start. I don't think there's much we can do to change that.
FAs in 2023
P42 Genesis in 2023
RDC Rerun, GP79 and SD 79, Rerun and new announcements coming this year, will be produced 2023.
All other projects are in the planning stages.
That's what I know. I hope the information helps.
Scott Mann
OK But What about the Superliner1 and the rerun of Amfleet I and Viewliners? Inquiring minds want to know!
Re: 054 curves and just something to think about. 054 is roughly equivalent to 15" radius in HO. In comparison, 18" radius curves in HO (which are pretty much the standard minimum) are roughly equivalent to 65" diameter curves in O.
054 is a 54" diameter circle. 27" radius. Very small radius for scale engines.
Fantasy names? Skirts on red stripes E5s? 
In the meantime, I’m here wondering why C&Ss 9955, former 9914-A SILVER ARROW never got a complete set of Q maintenance nose grabs... the other side of “passion”, I guess.
Photo credits Steve Goen
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@SANTIAGOP23 posted:Fantasy names? Skirts on red stripes E5s?
In the meantime, I’m here wondering why C&Ss 9955, former 9914-A SILVER ARROW never got a complete set of Q maintenance nose grabs... the other side of “passion”, I guess.
Photo credits Steve Goen
I think if one looks long and hard, you’ll find exceptions to any “rule”.
Factory signed the Purchase Order for the E5s and E6s. They will be next in production after the EA/E1 project is finished in May. We will be closing reservations May 1st. Stand by orders are accepted after that and we will continue to add to the production list until the factory says, 'No More'. So don't delay if you want something from that project.
Again, thank you all for your support and interest in our Fine Scale models.
