New Schemes&Ideas for Atlas

Atlas is doing another run of the MP15DC of the latest paint scheme for NS. It is a shame the they are not upgrading with ditch lights and cab air conditioner that go with them. Why would we want the newest paint scheme without the newest details? Not me.

Stephen

If Atlas would do the couplers and throw switchstand to add to their track. Count me IN  ! ! ! ! ! Stephen

Just my opinion but, I really believe you are beating a dead horse concerning those shelf couplers.

That's OK, CBQ'er kept plugging an SDL39 on the Atlas forum until they shut it down to make him stop.

I was going to refrain.  I think I still shall refrain, but it is really tempting.

Who's the horse expert here that says the horse is dead? Certainly not anyone in any postion of authority!

Stephen

Do I spy idiots with tunnel vision?

-A Pessimist sees a dark tunnel

-An Optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel

-A Realist sees a freight train

-The Train engineer sees 3 idiots standing on the rails

Uh- oh.  Shelf couplers are indeed a dead horse.  They are not happening. Period.  Self-proclaimed expert.  Prove me wrong!

Originally Posted by mwb:

       

Originally Posted by Hot Water:

Just my opinion but, I really believe you are beating a dead horse concerning those shelf couplers.

       

Well I and others "beat that dead horse" long & hard in HO for years. Now 3 companies make shelf couplers & that tunnel showed NO light at the end of the tunnel. If you don't ask how are manufacturers to know what you want?

If more products don't become available to attract new modelers interests,O scale will continue to decline in popularity. There has to be incentive. I'm trying to make

o scale's future brighter not kill it. Modelers know that all modern freight have shelf couplers,it's a mandate on tank cars after 1975. Some of you modelers sound like the guys that said if man were meant to fly he'd have wings. Wonder why we have jumbo jets today if that were the case?

Just My Opinion.

Al Hummel

Originally Posted by Erik C Lindgren:

Originally Posted by mwb:

       

Originally Posted by Hot Water:

Just my opinion but, I really believe you are beating a dead horse concerning those shelf couplers.

       

Well I and others "beat that dead horse" long & hard in HO for years. Now 3 companies make shelf couplers & that tunnel showed NO light at the end of the tunnel. If you don't ask how are manufacturers to know what you want?

 

 

 

 

If more products don't become available to attract new modelers interests,O scale will continue to decline in popularity. There has to be incentive. I'm trying to make

o scale's future brighter not kill it. Modelers know that all modern freight have shelf couplers,it's a mandate on tank cars after 1975. Some of you modelers sound like the guys that said if man were meant to fly he'd have wings. Wonder why we have jumbo jets today if that were the case?

 

Just My Opinion.

Al Hummel

Al,

You make a very good point for this product. Why not start up a business and produce them yourself? Then you can make all the money these other manufacturers don't seem to think is out there for this product.

I model 1952, so I won't be one of your customers.

Originally Posted by Alan Hummel:

Originally Posted by Erik C Lindgren:

Originally Posted by mwb:

       

Originally Posted by Hot Water:

Just my opinion but, I really believe you are beating a dead horse concerning those shelf couplers.

       

Well I and others "beat that dead horse" long & hard in HO for years. Now 3 companies make shelf couplers & that tunnel showed NO light at the end of the tunnel. If you don't ask how are manufacturers to know what you want?

 

 

 

 

If more products don't become available to attract new modelers interests,O scale will continue to decline in popularity. There has to be incentive. I'm trying to make

o scale's future brighter not kill it. Modelers know that all modern freight have shelf couplers,it's a mandate on tank cars after 1975. Some of you modelers sound like the guys that said if man were meant to fly he'd have wings. Wonder why we have jumbo jets today if that were the case?

 

Just My Opinion.

Al Hummel

Al,

You make a very good point for this product. Why not start up a business and produce them yourself? Then you can make all the money these other manufacturers don't seem to think is out there for this product.

 

I model 1952, so I won't be one of your customers.

 

 

Thank you George.

I'd have developed the items I speak of long ago,but unfortunately like most of the population,my finances are against me,or this discussion would've been over a long time back.

I posted this again after reading Atlas was a sponsor here so I thought it would be a good time to put the "bug in their ear," so to speak,or I'd have never reposted here about the shelfs.

I understand most of O scale seems to be before my era of modeling,but O scale is facing a tough challenge being hit with increasing prices like all scales are,but it's being hit hardest because it's more expensive. Expense will get worse regardless of scale,but the smaller scales don't have the materials involved in their products so modelers can still survive. so there has to be great incentives to make new modelers as well as older modelers change over from other scales.

With modern era freight,so should come modern developments,or it doesn't look right. 1 need only watch modern trains to see most freight even from past eras carry shelf couplers. To ignore them is a shame.

The ground throws would be nice for O scale especially & given the size,I think they could be developed to work very close to the Prototypes. Unlike shelf couplers,these are in many eras of railroading.

Thank you for your kind input & happy railroading to you & all.

Al Hummel

Alan, et al,

It has been my experience that Atlas is not responsive to ideas that come from O Scalers.  I can site several important issues that Atlas has ignored which is why I buy as little from Atlas as I can.  

George made a good point and I don't think he was being mean, just realistic.  

Partnering is the rage these days so why not partner with an established, small, basement company that produces castings, etc for O Scale.  It would require cash input on your part but it would not be the first time a modeler put up his own cash to get a product he wanted. 

Just my $0.02,

Ed

Allan has approached all of the O Scale producers of such items, including Kadee and Protocraft, our two major coupler manufacturers.  They are tired of hearing from him, I think.  They are not going to do it.

There is only one reason Kadee won't do it - it is not commercially viable.  Protocraft, like most of us, is a hobby, and that hobby is late steam/early Diesel, so no go.

I think Allan is obsessed with this one little teenie weenie detail, and cannot get around the idea that nobody else is at all interested except NW.  It is interfering with his enjoyment of the hobby.

If I am wrong (as you know, that is often the case) then Allan and his friends could pool their money and get a master made.  A couple grand is an outside guess.  Then the mold is under $50, and Stevenson or Valley Brass could start popping them out in small quantities, just like the Protocraft coupler.  In the end, I could see $15/ pair, not including draft gear.  Make them the same shank as Protocraft, and buy Protocraft draft gear.

Opinion - why do I have to keep adding that?

Well, my opinion is that you have hit the nail squarely on the head!!!!

We have concurrence.

Potentially, a quorum.

I would like to see Atlas O make  some more demo schemes of the equipment they already made:

As I stated above: "Idiots with tunnel vision"!

Al - it amazes me that those who say nay are early era modelers.

It also amazes me the Proto craft and Kadee are brought up. Your post stated Atlas. Can they not read and comprehend?

Atlas does a lot of modern era cars so why not shelf couplers?

Atlas developed their own couplers even though there are several others couplers available. Stephen

Just my opinion, potentially, a quorum, my 2 cents, we have concurrence, Well, my opinion is that you have hit the nail squarely on the head!!!! ,  I model 1952, so I won't be one of your customers (cause I'm old school)., Period. Self-proclaimed expert. Prove me wrong!