I always thought that G scale was a large market. I'm starting to think it's not. Sure there's a lot of garden RRs across the country. I just don't think they sell nearly as good as the smaller scales. I bet a lot of guys just run smaller trains and don't buy a heck of a lot of product each year.
I should mention that the idea came from Ray in a way. I had him upgrade a USA SD40-2 for me a few years back. I had a spare smoke unit from a Atlas O gauge with Lionel smoke unit. I asked him to install it and I believe he had to swap out the elements inside. He mentioned on his site of having a leaking Aristo unit that he repaired with glue inside the tank.
When I finally got a new dash 9, I was working on the stock smoke unit. I thought of all the trouble I was going thru to get it to perform like I wanted and getting it to stop dripping inside. I grabbed a spare O gauge MTH unit and saw it would fit inside. No element swap, no glue inside the reservoir, great smoker out of the box. My laziness and lack of electronic knowledge worked out for me!
Yeap Ray, the first one is cleaner looking inside and smokes enough for a diesel. I probably should pull it and save the G scale smoke units for steamers. I usually have been running with the smoke off or turned on at minimum setting anyways.
I've run into a couple of G scale smoke units for sale and didn't have any steamers to put them in! I wish I would have got a Accucraft K4 Pennsy or UP BB when they were available. Maybe I can snag something at the next York show.
I still have to talk with you to get some of your rolling stock.
Jim, Aristo was out of stock on straight ties for a long time. After searching around for a while, I ended up ordering Train-Li's concrete colored ties. I have not used them yet. I like the look of them and they feel like they might be better than the stock Aristo ones I was searching for. I want to order some of their switches next.
I also ordered some ties from Switchcrafters and like their products. I'm hoping to be able to get more from them as well.
On a side note, I have been putting off of the Aristo sale until now. I just couldn't hold out on getting a SD45 any longer. I ordered some extras for projects and noticed there's not much left.
I finally got a set of MTH passenger cars used in Amtrak. I think their a good sized car and I'll be looking at these new ones too. I already ordered another set from MTH and I usually go for freight first. Are the lights LEDs?
Why dabble around? They had to have sold a decent amount of totals in G scale. If it was just the Triplex that convinced them the market was down, they should take another look. Plenty of other stuff is selling out there.
G scale is so spread out in what people want and run, I imaging it's tuff to guess what to make next and what will sell in big numbers. All I know is there is plenty of stuff in modern freight that is missing from G scale. Guys had to scratch build cars and engines to get something new. MTH's lineup to me, favors the older eras. The dash 8 line was a solo release that never got any follow up.
I was truly hoping for more releases in this catalog from MTH. I had heard that a new diesel was coming. I prefer modern stuff. I had hoped for more to buy. I really hope they would consider releasing premier level details in G gauge. Their cars need to step up in detailing. I like their hoppers and the TOFCs. The tank cars get painted for an older model and newer ones. I like them overall and even ordered some. They look just like Railking O gauge tank cars. Just a little refinement would make a world of difference.
They don't have much in modern rolling stock. So if they do release a newer diesel, I'm hoping for a modern bigger box car or something with better modern detailing to go with it.
One of the great things about DCS is you can plunk whatever down on the track and run them in consist. As soon as you add at least one pusher or helper engine towards the rear of the train, all the coupler problems fade away. I built a train in the basement that went all the way around the 150' mainline and nearly touched itself. I had more cars but ran out of track. Everything ran smoothly. I want to repeat this outside if ever the concrete guy shows up to pour!! I'll have some grades to add to the testing. I envision a helper district where engines can be added to get up the hill.
I've been trying to think of anything I could say to add, I've got nothing. It's just that well written.
The basher's are saying "too small" and "near O gauge". They're scrambling for safety in numbers. I'll never get how they can have so many gauges on the track, but 1/32 is not allowed?
I wish I would have seen this sooner. I ordered a bunch of track and switches already. I liked Peco track quality in HO scale and would have liked to try it here. It seems like a good price.
Well I looked over the several used #6 Aristo switches and they all appear to be made the same. The flange guard rails don't seem to do much to guide the wheels thru. It seems like I'm missing something because I have a Switchcrafters switch laying here and the rails web has not been grinded off. The guard rail is just 1mm narrower and yet it keeps the wheels on track. The whole switch seems to make things smoother. I have to force the wheels to use the guard rail on that one anyways. I'll have to check all the measurements to see if there's more going on. Something in the frog design?? I got the Aristo drop in frog plates and will see what they do to help.
I would think the guard rail ends should be bent a hair more as you also show Ray.
I swear I saw a post (by Grant?) on here somewhere showing the use of fine ballast under the track work. I had some crusher run out back as that's all I could get my hands on. I was so impressed by the picture that I've been screening ballast getting rid of the large stuff. My girl thinks I'm nuts. I have to do it right!
Yeah, I figured it might be. I like the idea of your mod Ray. I just figured this material is tuff to work with. Maybe I could buy the guard rails from Aristo out of brass or aluminum already drilled and cut??
I'm thinking I'm going to need a new grinding wheel otherwise!!!
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UP E-8's kitbashed from Great Trains F units
in Kitbashing & Model Making
Posted
Let me know if there's one left?
At least, I think I can find a MTH one to match. Not sure where to get a Great Trains anymore.