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@SANTIAGOP23 posted:

I’m just glad they didn’t compromise their historical relevance and prestige by offering pizza cutter flanges and lobster claws. Let’s leave that for PEZ dispenser collectors!

Now be nice.

Actually, I agree with you to a large extent. I tend to be more concerned about Fantasy Island paint schemes, though I do own two fantasy items -- an ATSF SD70ACe and an ATSF TTX Articulated Auto Rack (both with scale wheels). Everything else offered is subject to a roster/photo check.

Atlas seems to have addressed supporting both the 3-rail and 2-rail markets well. Tangent caters to the high-end museum/collector class and though the price point is high, from the photos I've seen it looks like a well detailed car. I vaguely remember some limited run brass cars going for over $400 each so we'll see.

The price quoted is in tandem, keeping in mind inflation, with Rich Yoder cars, of 5+ years ago.  Rich's cars are all sold-out.  Suspect these will be sell-outs, too.    I will be purchasing one. Think the era selected - 1928 to 1970's - is quite sensible, covering pure steam, steam to diesel and all diesel eras. Judging from the photos, the detailing is meticulous and are of museum quality.

Who else is currently selling ?

The last party with a available right now inventory of o scale brass freighters is / has been selling them 3 - 400 ea - unpainted

I find it amazing that in the current inflationary environment we can buy a brass car of this quality for 525 (with a $150 paint job)

Prototypical o scale tank car choices are few; Tangent - thanks for giving o scalers a model which fills a (small sliver of a) big void

Last edited by bob3
@bob3 posted:

Who else is currently selling ?

The last party with a available right now inventory of o scale brass freighters is / has been selling them 3 - 400 ea - unpainted

I find it amazing that in the current inflationary environment we can buy a brass car of this quality for 525 (with a $150 paint job)

Prototypical o scale tank car choices are few; Tangent - thanks for giving o scalers a model which fills a big void

A big void? Just how many modelers do you think want a 70-year old tank car design to meet their modeling wants?

I'm curious to see what the next release from Tangent will be. It will give a good indication where they're headed in O scale. Take the brass route and they will alienate about 98% of the hobby.

Catnap wrote:

"A big void? Just how many modelers do you think want a 70-year old tank car design to meet their modeling wants?

I'm curious to see what the next release from Tangent will be. It will give a good indication where they're headed in O scale. Take the brass route and they will alienate about 98% of the hobby."



You're right it does cover a BIG VOID!! From 1929 thru 1970s. That's a dang good spread for their first model.

Also where did you get - alienate 98% - or are just making stuff up to fit your agenda as I sure did not get to vote?

@Derailed10o posted:

I Got 2 SP Tunnel Motors ordered.

Would order many GP40-2s in Western Pacific paint if available.

Central Locomotive Works should have many Locomotives available next year.

I think I'm the only 2railer in my area. Anybody else in Spokane or local area?

John

Coeurd Alene, Idaho

John I am headed to 2 rail from 3. I just got into deadrail . Converting all my stock into battery power . Hope I can pick your at your knowledge of 2 rail. I live in Spokane Valley

@SANTIAGOP23 posted:

What we need is options in between Atlas O and High end brass (ie Protocraft). Both in detail and price range.

I'm confused, as you seem to be arguing against this position in later posts on the other Tangent thread.  Or are you saying that Tangent is to be congratulated for producing this model, it just isn't "what we need".   Or is the Tangent model not "high end brass" ?  How are you defining "we"?

********************************************

I think the most interesting aspect of this Tangent release is not just that it is in brass, but that it:

-  is not a model that they have produced in HO or N [ to the best of my quick research ]**

-  is built in Korea [ whereas I think their existing plastic production is all mainland-China sourced ]

That means both the overheads of research and creation of a new 'supply chain' [ hopefully with the help of an old Korea hand ] were borne entirely by this model -- unless they took over / were given a project by another importer who just didn't, for any number of reasons, want to do it.  Anyone else thinking like this ?

SZ

**Edited to add:  I was wrong -- they DID do it in HO.

Last edited by Steinzeit

I received the Tangent O scale email blog a few minutes ago... I  believe they will only be making brass in O scale ...From the email.

"Why a Brass model?  Our decision to provide a hand-crafted model constructed from brass - as our first foray into O scale - is simple.  We are testing the waters for this market, both in style of product offered (painted and RTR) as well as what sort of volume the market will support.  We understand that some customers might prefer a plastic-based model, however that is very unlikely from us in O scale. New tooling for O Scale cars costs well into the $6 figures, and a majority of our HO scale tooling has multiple variations in parts and bodies which effectively doubles or triples the plastic tooling cost.  We do not and will not offer simple "one size fits all" models.  O Scale Brass can yield beautiful results, as our first model has demonstrated."

I am on the fence buying one or not...Will be curious to hear the reviews when they start being received.  Maybe that will help me decide to buy one.

Last edited by roll_the_dice

Awesome, that clears things up. The discerning modeler who prefers brass over plastic should be pleased to read this. I’m not surprised they’re probably not going to tool up plastic models. Lots of investment required with little in return. I’ll promptly unsubscribe as I have zero interest in future releases.

I received the Tangent O scale email blog a few minutes ago... I  believe they will only be making brass in O scale ...From the email.

.........We do not and will not offer simple "one size fits all" models. .........

Yet, with one exception, as near as I can tell, all these models are identical except for paint;  the exception is the two 'modern' schemes with the ACI labels.  And they applied a common solution for both which -- based solely on the single prototype photo they furnished for each -- is certainly incorrect for one car, and looks incorrect on the other;  surprising, considering the emphasis on the ACI-era in the text.  This might not bother me on some car types, but it would on a tank car.  Or am I expecting too much on a $ 500+ model ?

SZ

As mentioned earlier, the Tangent O Scale newsletter reveals a lot of their positioning of this model as well as sets up some potential guidelines around future releases!   As David noted, Tangent never reveals future products, but the cool thing is when they announce a new product it generally is available immediately.   As a happy HO customer of Tangent and an O Scale modeler I am excited by the future.

O and larger scales bring with them the potential for other materials and types of construction to bring the most accurate representation of the prototypes in a way without oversized or super delicate details.  I'm also thinking about the hybrid approach that PRB and Atlas went into with their Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper back in the day, and all the runs they have produced.  While I believe a similar approach for an PS4750 would be successful, I would be happy with a brass version too.

I'm extremely happy to see Tangent Scale Models enter the O Scale market with such a high-quality first release, I am even more excited to see what David has up his sleeves for future Tangent Scale Model releases that fit into my modeling era where I can support his efforts by buying the products!

Keep up the great work!

@SANTIAGOP23 posted:

The argument that more modern stuff will sell more stands rebutted by how long it has taken 3rd Rail to make those unattractive sd40s. If you guys want these nice stuff, you better reach deep into your pockets.

Unfortunately in my very humble opinion the two are not related.

The SD40-2 is the equivalent of the Pennsy x29 box car.   Both are required items for those modeling their time periods.  Modelers need them.

Yet there is no demand for a model of the SD40-2 (one of the most popular and finest EMD locomotives produced and still earning it's keep) and the x29 box cars are either generic plastic Atlas, which are OK, or old brass Lhee Do which are generic brass.  Market saturated, those are "good enough"

Logically speaking, there should have been a series of Pacific Limited quality x29 box cars done, in all of the correct PRR variants,  but no demand exists. 

Thus the conundrum of what is needed versus what is wanted versus what is popular and sells.

Big boys, Cab forwards, Alleghenies, latest production EMD/GEs, and obscure three dome tank cars sell.  

Common auto racks, well cars or accurate x29 boxcars or basic black UTLX X-3 tank cars are lacking.

What sells is the key. I’d buy a nice X-29 (actually I’d prefer a nice X-25), but as you note there is no market for a $500 brass X-29 when the choices you mention, and a Grabowski version, are “out there”

While I do not buy items outside of my period of interest - I cheer their availability - as they hopefully sell, and show potential manufactures there is a marketplace / there is a reason to invest in o scale (Yawns / negativity are not helpful in attracting new manufacturers)

Like others, I too was looking for something plastic at a better price point to mimic what this manufacturer has been offering in HO, but fully understand and support the reality of the risk that presents in the O scale market.  Hindsight is easy, but brass is really the only logical choice for an initial offering.

I really like the prototype offered and one would look at home in my collection.  My only challenge with purchasing one is having one freight car at this level of fidelity stand out against so many others that are not. 

I hope these sell out and we see more offerings from this company in O.

@bob3 posted:

What sells is the key. I’d buy a nice X-29 (actually I’d prefer a nice X-25), but as you note there is no market for a $500 brass X-29 when the choices you mention, and a Grabowski version, are “out there”

While I do not buy items outside of my period of interest - I cheer their availability - as they hopefully sell, and show potential manufactures there is a marketplace / there is a reason to invest in o scale (Yawns / negativity are not helpful in attracting new manufacturers)

Dearest Pat O'boyle, may he rest in peace, was going to do an x25.  It always amazes me that most every train consist video up through the sixties, no matter what part of the country,  always had a string of cars with a lowly x29 stuffed in it.   But common things tend not to garner deep interests and most folks don't look at the details close enough to care.

I'm not a modern era modeler but if it comes out and sells I'm all for it. 

These tank cars sound sweet.

Dearest Pat O'boyle, may he rest in peace, was going to do an x25   -   Yes, the Pacific Limited ad in the January 1989 Mainline Modeler shows eight X-25 versions!

I met him once at an O Scale West. Circling us back to the subject - he wanted to do the IC Single Sheathed Boxcar which had been re-built from an auto car; but he knew it would not sell; so even when you are controlling the Projects you cannot always do what you want

@GG1 4877 posted:

Like others, I too was looking for something plastic at a better price point to mimic what this manufacturer has been offering in HO, but fully understand and support the reality of the risk that presents in the O scale market.  Hindsight is easy, but brass is really the only logical choice for an initial offering.



...

That's the irony. Plastic is available at a lower price point per unit, but the tooling is so expensive you have to sell a ton of them to pay for it. Brass has a lower start-up cost, but then the production is higher since there's still a lot of hand-labor involved, so you have a high price point. Atlas seems to have the plastic market pretty much tied up, especially with the acquisition of a large share of the MTH tooling. Sunset took a hybrid approach through their 3rd Rail line so they were able to offer a lower price point on the brass. Time will tell.

Last edited by AGHRMatt
@GG1 4877 posted:

I really like the prototype offered and one would look at home in my collection.  My only challenge with purchasing one is having one freight car at this level of fidelity stand out against so many others that are not.

This is where I'm at. Early tank car prototypes are not often accurately modeled in O. They're usually part of traditional 3-rail sets, with gargantuan brake wheels and molded in details that are not crisp.

So I'm interested, but $500 is steep for a single piece of rolling stock that might stick out like a sore thumb, and won't be something I could afford a lot of.

I hope these sell out and we see more offerings from this company in O.

100%, and this is coming from someone who is a 3-railer.

@AGHRMatt posted:

That's the irony. Plastic is available at a lower price point per unit, but the tooling is so expensive you have to sell a tone of them to pay for it. Brass has a lower start-up cost, but then the production is higher since there's still a lot of hand-labor involved, so you have a high price point. Atlas seems to have the plastic market pretty much tied up, especially with the acquisition of a large share of the MTH tooling. Sunset took a hybrid approach through their 3rd Rail line so they were able to offer a lower price point on the brass. Time will tell.

@bob3 posted:

Some back of the envelope calculations -   let's say tooling is $750k and you can sell 5000 units of whatever --> $750,000 / 5,000 = $150 of tooling cost in each unit -  doing these tank cars in brass seems like the easy and only choice

Maybe the industrial 3D printing world will save us with a nice middle ground?

@rplst8 posted:

This is where I'm at. Early tank car prototypes are not often accurately modeled in O. They're usually part of traditional 3-rail sets, with gargantuan brake wheels and molded in details that are not crisp.

So I'm interested, but $500 is steep for a single piece of rolling stock that might stick out like a sore thumb, and won't be something I could afford a lot of.

100%, and this is coming from someone who is a 3-railer.

Maybe the industrial 3D printing world will save us with a nice middle ground?

At some point, the resolution will be fine enough to do these kind of projects and the materials will be more durable. I've seen some nicely done 3D prints in smaller scales and have some 3D printed parts, but [at this point] they can be fragile. There are currently 3D metal printers out there, but you don't even want to THINK about what those must cost.

@Derailed10o posted:

I Got 2 SP Tunnel Motors ordered.

Would order many GP40-2s in Western Pacific paint if available.

Central Locomotive Works should have many Locomotives available next year.

I think I'm the only 2railer in my area. Anybody else in Spokane or local area?

John

Coeurd Alene, Idaho

I look for unique models that I doubt will see Lionel, 3rd Rail, or MTH put forth.  Im hoping for an SD45-2 from CLW.

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