Modeling Committee
NW Modeling List
nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sun Feb 15 12:47:39 EST 2009
Thanks Harold and Russ for responding!
I believe that keeping the dues paying members informed on a regular basis is beneficial to promoting our society. Information as we all know is knowledge, and by these updates it helps us all to look out for products and support the manufacturers by placing our orders. The membership I believe has a "right to know" what the society is doing to help promote our cause and not be accused of "whacking the committee" or "getting on their case". I understand that some manufacturers do not want to disclose upcoming projects, but others like the public to know what is being produced so the orders can be placed and promote more sales. Also the society does not have every bit of information at its disposal that members have knowledge of and materials that is in their possession. Not all projects that are N&W are the cause of the modeling committee either, as there are those of us that work with importers and manufacturers and are directed to the archives or a model committee representative by the membership. Example is the upcoming OMI GP9 project was in the works for a long time and had nothing to do with our society or its committees. I would like to see the modeling committee respond to the membership when questions are asked and without someone getting upset when a member asks for an update (once a year!). Russ and Harold, I want to again thank you for the response to the forum and look forward to any updates that you can give us! ! !
Happy Modeling Stephen Rineair
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To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Subject: RE: Modeling Committee
Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:27:32 -0500
From: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Stephen;
I work with several different model manufacturers on a regular basis, always trying to posisiotn N&W modeling opportunities in their mind. While brass manufacturers, such as OMI, whom I do work with as well, is more open to discuss upcoming projects such as GP9's, other manufacturers are not. Because Brian is probably only going to run 20-25 units, he's more willing to have those open conversations where it is allowed for you or I to post a thread here on this forum to hype-up the opportunity. There are other small manufacturers who are willing to perform custom runs for us and they encourage us to sell ahead of the schedule, in order for the project to succeed. Custom runs on existing models from someone such as Bowser fall into this category.
Folks such as Atlas, Athearn, Walthers and BLMA are not as willing to allow me to discuss upcoming modeling projects openly of forums such as this. This is because of the time and financial investment in the design and production of molds, research on car production history and available roadnames and the creation of artwork.
When I push for N&W on appropriate opportunities, it's easier financially on the Society in most cases because of custom run requirements. Most companies have a requirement to purchase somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 pcs., depending on who and what it is. Also the cash requirements are often excessive where at least 50% is due up front or at the time of art approval. Beyond that the terms are great either for payment. I've also been told that, from some folks, that our (NWHS) production would go into their next run, two years out. I don't see much value in having $5,000-$10,000 of Society money sitting in someone else's bank for a year to two years before you or I get a model and the Society gets a return of their investment.
If those guys are willing to run it with no cost to the Society, good for all of us. IF we can tag into run, such as an un-numbered run of F's, even better for us, but it will mean that there are opportunities that cannot be discussed until the time is appropriate.
I hope this helps clarify some concerns.
Regards,
Russ Goodwin
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To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Subject: Re: Modeling Committee
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:14:47 -0500
From: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Jim and Bill:
I do not understand your comments about the modeling committee "taking another wack".
Please explain to us why we are not to ask what the committee is working on. No harm in that is there?
Also Bill why can not the society members answer or take suggestions on the forum. I thought this is one the purposes
is to communicate with each other. Yes I know they are volunteers, but a couple minutes shouldn't put anyone out. My past post does not contain any negative comments about the committee, and IF anyone has gotten that impression I apologize.
Happy modeling
Stephen Rineair
---- Original Message -----
From: NW Modeling List
To: NW Modeling List
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: Modeling Committee
Thanks, Bill. I hope this clears the air. Based on past posts, I doubt it will be remembered long. Jim Nichols
----- Original Message -----
From: NW Modeling List
To: nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 9:22 AM
Subject: Modeling Committee
Spring must be coming; it's time to take another whack at the Modeling Committee. Give the guys a break! Where does one think the DP heavyweight project came from? Harold Davenport and others have been working with, and on DP for years on several N&W/VGN projects. That the projects don't reach the market, or reach the market with flaws doesn't diminish the hard, persistent work that has gone into providing the data. As I said a couple of years ago, there are limits to what can be accomplished with commercial firms that have their own interests and concerns. We can provide data, but they do what they do, when they want to do it.
Re the Yoder gons: we published his beautiful CAD drawings for those cars in the Arrow and solicited interest in an HO version; we got zero interest...zero, not one indication of interest. Rich had said he would consider it if he had enough interest; we didn't respond so he moved on. And as a sidelight, the data for the O scale versions was provided by members of the Society and from our Archives. The result is the most accurate G3/G4 ever produced. (Of course, now F&C produces a much improved HO resin kit version of the cars in a one-piece body at a fraction of the cost of an HO brass version. Steve and Sharon responded to persistent requests from NWHS members to update their resin kit. One suspects they used data from the Yoder car to do that.)
Re VGN hoppers: the Commissary offers a set of Bowser H3 hoppers in the as-built lettering, the data for which was provided by Harold Davenport and is spot on, and Bowser markets the same hopper in the later lettering. Projects undertaken by Bob Bowers for the Commissary have to be as commecially viable, or more so, than for commercial firms. The money he has at his disposal is limited and precious. He has been at his job for many years and he has as good a feel for what members will actually buy, as opposed to what they say they want, as anyone in the Society. He does a great job with what he has available.
At the recent show in Springfield, Broadway was asked what happened to the CF caboose to go with the locos; "not enough interest" was the response. They were asked to reconsider.
Russ Goodwin has great contacts within the major manufacturers and has worked hard to interest them in N&W/NS projects. But again, the manufacturers have their own agendas. The late Jim Gillum worked tirelessly on model projects; Jim Brewer produced beautiful resin kits of two N&W cars. And no one has worked harder on the subject of accuracy than Jim Nichols. I am sure there are others who have worked behind the scenes to get stuff done. My point is that the NWHS modeling community has accomplished quite a bit; that it has not satisfied every desire, or responded to every fleeting idea should not diminish the efforts of a number of dedicated members.
Now, how about an HU hopper!! Been trying for years, in plastic, resin and brass, alas....
Bill McClure
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