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sdmann posted:

So that's why I always end my rants with, "Enjoy your hobby." For you this is your recreation." And we know this. Mine was model airplanes. So I get it. It takes you away from that stressful world outside and transports you to your own world that you created and control.  It's a great hobby, and I love the history involved in it too.

Enjoy your hobby...

Scott Mann - China

Scott,

Always enjoy your candid information. And have seen many a man cry when his big R/C plane connects back with the earth at an incompatible angle and speed!

OK.  I stand corrected.  But I didn't think Railking counted here.  lol.  Seriously though, I really wanted an SD60 and couldn't convince myself to buy the Railking, just not enough detail and too much work to fix up.  I did buy the Lionel, and quickly turned around and sold it after a failed attempt to replace the fuel tank.  Again, too much work, not enough detail.  So I really think those engines from MTH and Lionel have not satisfied the market for an SD60, particularly the 3RS market and of course 2-rail.   So Jonathan, is this engine a possibility or not much chance?

Rich,

If there was a way to get up to the 500+ range of units on this locomotive, It would certainly be a go.  There is no bias as to what model Sunset would like to produce or not produce, it just comes down to reservations.   

Ten roads purchased the original version.  Then there are of course some oddball paint schemes when some went into lease service.  The SD60F is probably too much of a tooling change, but the SD60I and SD60M might be possible to increase the number of roads and provide variation for roads that bought both.  I'm not aware of many modifications made to the base model, but I'm sure you and others could enlighten me on any road specific mods. 

I agree the MTH one is old tooling and that is why mine, which was an auction bargain to start is going to a new purpose.  Both MTH and Lionel also came out with their version of the SD60E recently.  Not sure, that variation would be viable at this point or not. 

 

Jonathan,

   Understood.  I'm sure its hard to get the reservations you need for these higher end models, but they are worth it.  The E8s I just bought sold me on 3rdRail diesels with the quality and performance.  I would really like to see that same quality and performance in an SD60.  As Matt pointed out, MTH's premier SD50 are very nice and I guess very similar to the SD60 and may affect your reservations, but they have not run the 2-rail version in about 6yrs.  Unfortunately, the last attempt 3yrs ago and they canceled the 2-rail version.  That's a bad sign, but 3RS has gained more popularity since then, plus 3rdrail engines are more detailed, run smoother, are more 3RS friendly with hi-rail wheels and fixed pilots options, so I think they will do better.  Who knows?  If you make SD60's I'll buy.

Rich

The baby T-M is trivially easy for the K-Line.  You take an inch out of the long hood at a very specific joint, and slightly more than an inch out of the steel underframe. Join the hood with normal plastic methods, and join the frame with non-conducting stringers.  Now you are in position to insulate the trucks for 2-rail operation, if you wish.

Laidoffsick posted:

Well if you really want people to dive in and pay the higher prices, you have to tempt them with stuff that is not available from another manufacturer. Whether it was poorly done or not, SD40, GP7 & 9's, H16-44, SD40T-2's...it's all out there, and a lot cheaper. How many more F units does this hobby need, at $700 a pop. Think outside the box just a bit. Let Lionel and MTH fill their catalogs with re-runs!

Right there. SDL-39.

Dick

Mike Caddell posted:

This came up in the Tier 4 Locomotive discussion yesterday so I'm opening it up as a new topic. While I don't know the whole story, it would seem that SD40-2 reservations were sluggish so there will be a new announcement after the holidays. What will it be? The decision has already been made, obviously, or else no announcement, right? So as we, as a collective group, love to ponder and speculate, here's your chance to put in your twenty five cents (I'm allowing for inflation and a weak dollar). Maybe somebody actually knows and will let the truth slip! Remember, the decision's been most likely made so this is more about guessing what Scott is thinking rather than your "hoped" for production. As for myself, after thinking about all the 3 rail releases in the last 5 years and what hasn't been produced (remember, I'm a confessed loud mouthed 2 rail advocate), I've come up with my short list of what Scott might have decided to do. Any project is going to be a shared 2 rail/3 rail project that would be of moderate to high interest. So here is my guess....what about yours?

F-9/FP-9,  GP20,  GP40-2/GP40P/GP40X,  SD24/SD26  SD40T-2/SD45T-2/SD45-2 (can you ever have enough Tunnel motors?)/SD45B,  F45/FP45,  Amtrak AMD103/P40/P42

My money would be on the F-9/FP-9 just because seems a natural follow-on to Scott's F-7/FP-7 project, and I confess that a lot of people model that time period. What ever it's going to be, if you want it, don't hang back, support your local importer with reservations!  

If a P42 was done by them, that would mean Superliners beyond the quality of K-Line which would be something to see. 
Since they already have access to Santa Fe Hi-Levels, I could see a Coast Starlight set release with 2 P42s in Phase V, and cars in IVb. Would be a very long set though with a baggage, 4 sleepers, the Parlour car, a diner, the Sightseer Lounge, and 4 coaches. 

Now sure, MTH is sort of doing this already, but the quality is nowhere near what this would offer. The cars would probably sell for ludicrous prices on the second hand market after a couple years if they were to be made. 

Last edited by GenesisFan99
falconservice posted:

What do you mean by big gaps in the SD60? 

I'm referring to the gaps in the pilots vs having say a kinematic pilot or a fixed pilot like the MTH 2-rail versions.  This includes gaps around the coupler.  To fix the pilot you need to add fill which is a pain and doesn't always look right.  These aren't any worse than any other 3-rail diesels I just prefer to buy the MTH 2-rail engines with fixed pilot or 3rdrail engines and use the 2-rail pilot.  

 

I guess the idea of a Baby Train Master is not so good since so few were produced and only a couple of roads bought them.

Gosh, silly me.....And here all along I thought that Sunset 3rd Rail was the one manufacturer we could place our hope in for items we dream of having in O3R whose 1:1's fell into this category.

Well, thanks!  

Now I better understand their recent announcement of the Virginian EL-2B Electric!!!

So, we're looking for something in the high volume, every-railroad-and-their-subsequent-mergers bought one, fairly standardized design with few structural/detail variants, and the Orange/Purple/Blue guys haven't made one...or more....or several....versions yet?

Hmmmmmm........

This may take more than one cup of joe this morning....

Matt Makens posted:

Plus 4 F7's its up there in length but its such a cool train.

I'd imagine so. I highly considered getting a Hi-Level lounge for myself but missed my chance and I don't exactly have $2300 laying around to get the entire set. Wish they would make more than they do in the limited runs. 379, while very expensive, shouldn't be too bad if I ever manage to get a lounge. I wish Sunset's website was more accurate.

GenesisFan99 posted:
Matt Makens posted:

The coast starlight isnt that long my El Capitan is 14 cars I think and that is an awesome train. My daylight train is 10 cars but I wish that was 14 as well.

14 cars? Dear god that's almost 25 feet long

You should measure my 12 Atlas Zephyr powered by 2 Sunset E7s and I threw in an Amtrak box car, it's about 35' long.

Dick

 

 

GenesisFan99 posted:
Bruk posted:

I've been waiting for someone to do an U50 not a U50c in O scale. Its just a Veranda Turbine frame and trucks with a different shell.

Doing a sound set for that would probably be a different story.

It has dual FDL-16's. I don't see how that could be an issue, it would just have two start up sounds laid over each other. But I would just rip out the TMCC and add DCC with either ESU or Soundtracks decoders.  If MTH did it I would leave it alone...if they did it right on the sound.

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

imageimageI think the Krauss Maffeis would make great candidates for brass models. Between SP and RG modelers each getting two units or more a 150 unit run is not crazy thinking...plus they are awesome and unique! 

 

Not my cup of tea but I'd venture to say these would be a great seller.  

Unusual or unique things sell well in this hobby. 

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