Guys (and gals):
Obviously, I've got too much time on my hands, or in my head :roll: - has anybody in our link thought about a custom nScale.net car? Say a box car or another type of car, celebrating us.
I got no idea how much it would cost - I've read somewhere that companies require an order of at least 300. Is this within the realm of possibility?
:D :D While I'm creating ideas, the "Grime Master" could weather the cars for people who want them "dirtied up". I'd certainly pay extra for it. I can see Griff, right now, saying " What's the matter with that moron, i'd be detailing till I was an old man!" :evil:
Seriously, has any one else thought about this?
oldcook43
"Still a kid at heart :!: "
nScale.net car - should we?
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
The minimum run varies depending on the company. IIRC, Bowser is 100 and Atlas is 300. Not sure about the others.
I would certainly be interested in buying one! My cousin just had Atlas do a run of HO tankers for Irving Oil. The cars sold at less then MSRP and the club still made a profit. I'd be willing to pay for one of these cars. The problem becomes which car and style it would be.
It would be interesting to know if there was further interest in this.
AR
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Hello;
I might be interested. Depends on what car, price, and appearance.
In my opinion, if this gets to the point of real seriousness, I suggest that all orders be handled by the Administrators (Todd or Bryan) and Fiefer, paid up-front on a pre-order basis. Then after ordering period (a fixed number of pieces required in a fixed time) is closed, then contract with a supplier to provide the product.
Thanks
Ron
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
69Z28 wrote:
Why Mike? Not that i have anything against mike, either as a person or a hobby shop, but the cars don't need to be sold through a hobby shop. Paying up front wouldn't be an issue for me, but why not pay up front to Bryan or Todd?
All this, of course, being said as a big "If" this comes to light.
The problem with cars like this is they do require a large financial investment before the cars are delivered. up front payment would take care of this. It would be nice, however, to have some of these cars for any future member to purchase.
ARIn my opinion, if this gets to the point of real seriousness, I suggest that all orders be handled by the Administrators (Todd or Bryan) and Fiefer, paid up-front Thanks Ron
nScale.net Custom Car - Pic
Hey Guys,
This was just a quick throw-together between other pending things i was working on. I just wanted to see what the car could potentially look like.
It's an ACF 4650 covered hopper...Intermountain makes these in N-scale. There are, obviously, other alternatives, should it be decided that something like this would be worth looking into.
Later
AR
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
that's a hell of a "throw together"! just do me a favor, be sure that the car says "built" after 1974. don't do what intermountain did and slap logo's on a car that were wrong! :oops:
btw: if someone could talk IM or ATH in doing a 86 foot high cube, i think that would work even better :shock:
mrpiggss
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
siderod wrote:
I think having Mike involved is an asset to getting this idea off the ground. First of all he has contacts in the industry for getting the car made and secondly he can accept credit cards for their purchase.
I'm game - bring on the nscale.net car. I'd be willing to purchase a few depending on the type car.69Z28 wrote:Why Mike? Not that i have anything against mike, either as a person or a hobby shop, but the cars don't need to be sold through a hobby shop. Paying up front wouldn't be an issue for me, but why not pay up front to Bryan or Todd? ARIn my opinion, if this gets to the point of real seriousness, I suggest that all orders be handled by the Administrators (Todd or Bryan) and Fiefer, paid up-front Thanks Ron
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
How about complete cars and/or decals to do your own?
Since there are many eras represented here picking just one particular car could make some of us feel left out.
A covered hopper would be a good choice but some of the models available now are no longer in use.A boxcar would be a good choice but there aren't many 40' in use (if any) now.
The 50' cars have been around foir a long time but even so may not fit on some of our layouts.If we did one without a roofwalk it would work for me but not Greg (3rd rail).
I like the whole idea but I think we need to do some serious planning before we make it happen.
By the way Andrew,that's a nice "throw- together" :mrgreen:
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I'm in.
You guys need a UK agent?
I don't have many contacts in thne modelling world but I could make some pretty quickly or drop a lineage ad in the magazines.
As for credit cards, my business accepts them anyway but anybody can with paypal; costs a few pennies more than a merchant account but as long as you're not processing a dozen transactions a day it won't kill you.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Catt,
I'd rather avoid the car/decal idea if possible. I think many would rather buy a RTR car, myself included (never decaled anything yet), as opposed to having to do it themselves. I would be willing to pay extra for an RTR car, as well.
As far as era, well, thats a subjective thing. You can have an older car in the modern era, but you "can't" have a modern car in the steam era. However, since we're breaking prototype rules to put a car with this scheme on the rails in the first place, era seems less important. Though, i do think it should be a common car...one that could be found in most places, doing numerous tasks. It should also be something (duh) that manufactures already produce.
I must admit, i didn't figure this would see as much support as it did. I'm both amazed and excited! :D
AR
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
What about a water tanker/car (~40')...
Not a high volume car, and they would have been used for as long a period as they could possible stretch them... and something that would work in almost any era... useful in the days of steam as auxillary water to extend a locos range, and could be used in more modern times to supply remote worksites, or as a backup for an industry with a failed water supply (temp service)...
This would tie in, as in;
Water being delivered as an essentual...
nScale.net delivering essentual N scale info...
--
Bryan
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I would definately be in for one personally would prefer a box car but bryans idea IMO is the better choice making it more appropiate for more eras I feel my other nz member/friend would be in as well but he`s not back online yet after his big move. that would be two for the deep southern hemisphere so far.
Jeff
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
69Z28 wrote:
I'll keep an eye on this thread to see if the interest continues beyond the initial few... if it heats up, I'll take a look at what it's going to take, and we'll start some poles to determine what it will be...Hey, Admins, this looks like it may have legs, is it time to start getting serious and take the next step?
--
Bryan
nScale.net car
N Scalers,
Jeez, it looks like I've opened a can of worms. But that's what I find so great about this site. A lot of ideas, all of which are good, and we can filter out what we can't use!
My original idea was a 40" box or a 33' or 40' coal hopper - but every one has a good reason for his choice. I like the idea of a water car; it covers a lot of eras. Loved the covered hopper design too.
We need to hear from more n scalers in the site.
Regards,
oldcook43
"Still a kid at heart :!: "
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Forum cars
The Atlas Forum has far more members than any other, yet it took a very l-o-o-ng time for all the Forum cars made in 2004 to be sold, and it would not have been made at all if one member had not put up the money up front. Trainboard has more members, too, and they could never get theirs off the ground.
Siderod before you finalize any design. there are requirements as to size and placement of reporting marks and dimensional data on freight cars. Suggest you familiarize yourself with these before committing to anything. Your proposed car's reporting marks are too small, in the wrong place and lack the required weight data. And, as a private car, the reporting marks should end in "X".
--
Put the MODELING back in model railroading.
Re: Forum cars
thirdrail wrote:
Yes, Gregg, i know all this. Thus the reasoning behind the words "Throw together" being used to discribe this car.
How many cars did Atlas produce in their 2004 run....any idea?
ARSiderod before you finalize any design. there are requirements as to size and placement of reporting marks and dimensional data on freight cars. Suggest you familiarize yourself with these before committing to anything. Your proposed car's reporting marks are too small, in the wrong place and lack the required weight data. And, as a private car, the reporting marks should end in "X".
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Depending on final, selection and price I would buy 3-5 cars.
Of course Siderods and my examples were just to get a quick visual look at what some cars may or may not look like and were not intended to be an exact representative prototype.
When the time comes and since this will be an nScale.net car I think the Admins should determine the ground rules for selecting type of rolling stock, it's appearance, etc. And then submit the final choices to the participating members to vote and select one.
I 'm running off at the mouth here but again I'm just throwing out ideas here and not trying to be bossy. :) While I'm at it though, A lot of us have said we will buy at lease one car. Well to kind of separate the wheat from the chafe, with Admins approval, why don't we all show our seriousness by sending to Admins a small nominal fee ($5) and it can be held and applied toward a purchase or refunded if the project fails.
Ron
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I wouldn't be so quick to discount the decal idea. The other forums have their cars. It might be kind of cool to see the nscale.net logo splashed on a multitude of different rolling stock of different eras. I'm sure some of the talented members here would even try putting logos on vehicles, locos and everything else RR. That might make for a great Images Album.
Just a thought. But I certainly be interested in having one of whatever is decided upon.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Gargoyle wrote:
Thats not a bad idea. I read the original post to mean we should give people a car and a decal sheet and say go nuts. I'd personally rather have a car then a decal sheet, but if both were available, i would purchase the decal sheets as well...as i do agree with you, Tony, an n-scale.net MOW truck or somethig of that nature would look pretty cool too!
ARIt might be kind of cool to see the nscale.net logo splashed on a multitude of different rolling stock of different eras.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
The decals would be a much lower cost investment.You could also do them for several different types of cars and lettering styles.
Just another one of many suggestions to be generated by members but I would suggest doing all the needed data and have it laid out in the proper location.
Personally I'd like to see a boxcar and a covered hopper (centre-flo please ,the sides are nice and smooth)The decals could be for at least 2 of each type of car with multiple road numbers (the year we started -this year)I would think picking a colour for the car/s should be the starting point and then the lettering colour.The lettering should be in a steam or transition style and also in a modern font for those that model the current scene such as myself.This should cover most if not all of the NA members if not all members.
For the decaling impaired those of us thast have it down could volinteer to help them by doing the decaling for them.
Ok,this is my quarters worth (US). What's yours???
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Let see how far this flys-----
While not all of our modeling interest are the same and we could agree to disagree about a car type forever. What if we had a yearly car type with the n-scale logo and year on it. Example: boxcar for 2006, covered hopper of 2007, water car of 2008, ect.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Count me in!
Mrs3751 and I collect cars from clubs, musems etc., we visit. (I just bought one from the San Diego Model Railraod Museum yesterday) Soon we might be able to include a car from one we actually belong to!
I have a couple of sugestions to make regarding our car choice.
1) A poll for car type
2) A poll for era
Once the results of these polls are in and tabulated, our resident artists here, I know we have a few amongst us, Andrew and 69Z28 have both given great ideas so far (of the two I think I prefer Andrew's design), design the car and we have a 3rd. and last poll to decide the design. A complete excersise in democracy.
Model railroading covers such a large variety of eras and car types that I don't think we could ever decide on a car we all could say would be at home on our home layouts but my attidude is I'll buy one anyway just 'cause it's our "Club Car" and "It's our railroad, we run what we want." let's let everyone be a part of the decision of the exact car.
We run late steam era here (roughly WWII generation) whatever car we pick will need some good flat surace area so our artists can play.
Bob
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Bob, subsequent polls will come (to flush out the details) if there's enough interest...
One thing to remember with car era choice... an old car can (for what ever reason you use) exist in a modern era, but it is pure fiction for a modern car to exist in an old era...
--
Bryan
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I've not seen this much interest in a topic in a while. I'm glad it's progressing. I'm gonna add my other Dollar-three-eighty suggestions,
a) This will be an nScale car and we the members will not come to a common agreement on a car type. Therefore I suggest that Todd and Bryan make the call. We all trust their judgement and after all it's got their name on it.
b) Polls can be used to give the Admins directions and maybe not so much what to select but what not to select.
c) I thank you for the honorable mention but I am not a designer.
I only used MS-Paint to whip up a car with the sites colors on it. Just to see how they would look and I think the sites colors look good. So I am not a professional and would not even consider getting involved in any real design work.
Thanks
Ron
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Hi,
I really like the idea and would be very happy to add this car to my fleet. I think that it is a good idea to keep in mind that older cars exist on modern era vs. the opposite.
I like the covered hopper, don't care for Hi-Cube, or any boxes over 50'. Maybe we could have a Railway Express car with the nScale.net logo on it.
--Ed
nScale.net car?
Hi All,
My vote is for a covered hopper, Intermountain, Bowser, Athearn or Atlas. A majority of Special Run Cars are boxcars, a hopper would be something different.
Another option would be to run two different car numbers. If the manufacturer requires a minimun of 300 cars, than 150 pairs would easier to sell. Say the year nScale.net started and the year the cars came out (2006 or 2007). This cuts down on the number of individual cars and generally prompts buyers to buy both cars. It works! I have been involved with a few successful projects.
I would be in the market for one single number car or a pair of multi-number cars. I am willing to pay up to $25.00 per car. That is generally the going price, all profits SHOULD goto this website for upgrades, equipment etc.
Just a few cents..........
Tom Fredenberg
Apex, NC
Cost of a special car run
Have any of y'all gone to manufacturers' websites to inquire about special runs? Micro-Trains, Bowser, and deLuxe Innovations have this information on their sites. No matter who you select, it is going to require over $1,000 US to get the ball rolling. Who is going to come up with the "up front" money?
I have several unique cars that were done by exchanging decals with other modelers, including exchanging MSWord graphic files and printing the decals on each others' printers. No money involved at all! Now, one cannot print light colors this way, but we were working on aluminum tank cars and yellow and orange reefers. White end reporting marks can be made on white decal paper by printing a boxcar red background to match the car end.
So, those of you with decent quality inkjet printers (I print readable N scale dimensional data on my Canon BJC-2000) can print directly on decal paper, while others can buy decals at cost from those willing to print extras. You just need to make it a light colored car.
BTW, if it didn't grace the real rails, I don't buy it. If I have any "fantasy cars" I don't know it. :lol:
This is the first set I did on my printer:
--
Put the MODELING back in model railroading.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
The car to get is one produced by MICRO-TRAINS LINE period!
Covered hopper, boxcar, coal hopper, flat car etc. Choose one. You will not be able to please everybody.
Keep the price as low as possible, and still be able to cever the costs. Yes it costs a bunch of $ up front, but the idea is to sell the cars, not have them sitting around for the next 5 years. We had a SPECIAL-RUN cars done for our convention here in the S. Indiana/Louisville Kentucky area in 1992 and we like to never sold all of them. This idea of a SPECIAL-RUN car needs to be well thought out.
I used to be a MTL/KADEE SPECIAL-RUN collector. I most likely have over 250+ MTL/KADEE SP-RUN cars, but I stopped collecting EVERY MTL/K SP-RUN put out. SPECIAL-RUN cars used to be for something out of the ordinary, not just for ANY reason. Seems like for awhile someone would put out a MTL/K SP-RUN car when their baby filled it's diaper! The MTL/K SP-RUN car market is NOT what it used to be.
Don't get me wrong, I still collect MTL SP-RUNs, but I'm now limiting my collecting to certain types. NMRA HERITAGE & LIVING LEGEND cars for one area. But I ALWAYS buy multiple cars of each car issued.
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Hi,
I think the the logo (lettering only) used on this site would look really good on the side of a brown, dark green, black 40' or 50' (DD) box car. KISS- just use the logo as it appears - nice colors - I'm not sure if we need the "www.nscale.net"
Just picture this. nScale.net logo on one side of the door(s), prototypical reporting marks, numbers, etc. as needed. I bet MTL would do a good job (for a price...) but hey - if it looks (and runs) good - I'll buy it.
I agree about no "fantasy cars".
--Ed
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Has this idea cooled down? Or have we run out of interested members?
No one has posted anything since 11:55 AM, on August 7,2006 Or during prime hours on August 7,2006
At $25 (if that turns out to be the price) a car that's less than $800 for a total of only 29 people. In my opinion, I believe, at least 50 people are needed, that may not be enough, 100 would be better.
Ron
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I,ve been on many forums where this idea has come up. Sounds great but it never got off the ground. I for one would buy one myself. Many may read this thread and not comment on it but that does not mean , they are not interested. Most would probably end up getting one. Like me for instance. :D
RayRe:nScale.net car - should we?
bikerraypa wrote:
I like the idea of a decal. It could come in various designs (graffiti or conventional lettering) and added to either older or the more modern cars.
A member may even be prepared to paint an apply to basic models for those of us less skilled.
Cost and postage should be less.how about a graffiti decal?
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
lovetrain wrote:
How about a picture size appropriate for the image it contains? :shock:
Try using "crop" :wink: then update the pic...
how about this
lovetrain wrote:
At this point, going by the poll, there is a minimum of 45 cars that would be accounted for...
This is not enough to go ahead with the project, but the thread hasn't been up a week yet...
Give it time... this is not an overnight thing...ok Bryan are we gonna do the nscale.net car or not just wondering
--
Bryan
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Bryan wrote:
You can count me in for 2 (or more), especially if we can get Griff "the grime master" involved. I initially selected the "at least 1" option in the poll, but know I would buy 2 or more if we are talking about 40' or 50' box cars, or similarly sized hoppers. I like all of the designs that have been posted so far, with the one Siderod posted on the 1st page being my favorite so far. Keep the ideas coming guys...lovetrain wrote:How about a picture size appropriate for the image it contains? :shock: Try using "crop" :wink: then update the pic...how about thislovetrain wrote:At this point, going by the poll, there is a minimum of 45 cars that would be accounted for... This is not enough to go ahead with the project, but the thread hasn't been up a week yet... Give it time... this is not an overnight thing...ok Bryan are we gonna do the nscale.net car or not just wondering
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Another thing to keep in mind is that even if there are not enough of us currently to purchase cars, new members may want them as they sign up. It would mean some up front money to buy whatever the minimum number of cars is, but if people buy them in the future, that money should be made up eventually. If new members don't buy them, they could always be taken to train shows and sold off that way. Of course, that brings up the question of who fronts the money, and who holds the stock of unsold cars.
Anyway, I voted for at least one in the poll.
-Elroy
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Nice to see this still has some interest behind it.
One thing i notice that i forgot to point out earlier...lovetrain's pic just reminded me. We need to be careful. Pad printing charges by the colour. So whatever we do needs to be simple and only a couple colours, otherwise things are going to start getting REALLY expensive. Lovetrain's car would need, literally, thousands of colours. Mine, on the other hand (Ron's too) would only need two or three. Something to keep in mind.
AR
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Quote:
I agree. I think we only need the LETTERING from the logo. (4 colors) And... IMHO think that it could be reduced a little bit vs. taking up the entire side of a car. Just 2 cents worth.
--EdOne thing i notice that i forgot to point out earlier...lovetrain's pic just reminded me. We need to be careful. Pad printing charges by the colour. So whatever we do needs to be simple and only a couple colours, otherwise things are going to start getting REALLY expensive. Lovetrain's car would need, literally, thousands of colours. Mine, on the other hand (Ron's too) would only need two or three. Something to keep in mind
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
lovetrain wrote:
Well, since a car hasn't quite got off the ground yet... and we still need to find the upfront funds for that... I hope you have an equally "GOOD IDEA" as to the funding of a custom run of locos? :shock: :?IDEA IDEA AND IT'S A GOOD IDEA... ok how about a nscale.net locomotive??? :P :D :o :) :dance i'm coming up with a idea now
--
Bryan
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
ok well first we need to agree on a desing and what type of car and or locomotive we are going to do and once we agree on something i will call bachman, kato, round house, atlas and life like to get a price :P i will check back in 3 weeks to see what the turnout comes to
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
Hi,
I don't think I'd be in the market for a loco. Unfortunately, I have other pressing needs like track cleaning car, about $100.00 worth of MTL's, wheelsets, blah, blah, blah. (Oh the poor boy) :rolf
I like the box car style that bikerraypa has in his photo :P , but still prefer the darker colors over brighter ones (Pennsy fan).
(Is this driving you guys and gals nuts yet? :wacko )
--Ed
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
turbine682 wrote:
So far, water off a ducks back...
The bouncing around of ideas is good... we get a feel for where to start, when it comes to the selection process (which wont start until we have a fair confidence that we can cover the project, without being in a hole)...(Is this driving you guys and gals nuts yet? :wacko ) --Ed
--
Bryan
Re:nScale.net car - should we?
I wouldn't buy a locomotive. I would rather buy $100 worth of forum cars (which would be like 3 or 4) then a single $100 locomotive. Besides, the initial costs for a locomotive are going to be 500% higher (if not more) then producing a freight car. It wouldn't work. Selling a fantasy freight car takes enough work...forget locomotives.
Lovetrain,
No offense, but i don't think you should be contacting companies. Your 15. And trust me, i mean no offense by this, but i feel that you are probably too young to be taken seriously by a manufacturer, especially with regards to the large sums of money we're talking about here. Best leave that to the moderators and administrators on the forums.
Later
AR
Joined: 2006-02-28