Swiveling rear engines/the Arrow

[NW Modeling List]

Eric, from a very reliable source, a few years ago DP informed us that it
appeared that they couldn't count on selling 30 PA's at the anticipated
$1,700 price, so the project was dropped.  Also dropped a year or two later
was the planned set of VGN 3 passenger cars; if memory serves the list
price for the 3 brass cars was in the $800-$1000 ball park.  And, let me
put on my high price hat for a moment: it would be very risky for the
Society to guarantee any sales of a brass locomotive.  For several
reasons.



Frank Bongiovanni

On Wed, Feb 4, 2015 at 10:10 AM, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
> wrote:

>  Frank:
>
>
>
> Before “brassbashing” a VGN PA, please note that BPL Brassworks (
> http://www.railmodel.com/) still lists a Division Point project to import
> two versions (square and sports cab); DP-5001 and -5002.  I can’t find this
> project “announcement” anywhere else, including on the Division Point site (
> http://www.divisionpoint.com/site/) , so I wrote a note to Jack Vansworth
> asking if this project was still under consideration.  I’ll post his reply,
> if/when I get one.
>
>
>
> If the project is still under consideration, I’d expect a model price in
> the $1800 - $2000 range, although the PA’s weren’t festooned with
> appliances like DP’s recent H-10 Mikado models, which landed in the US at a
> list price of $2015 (black paint schemes) to $2195 (P&LE green paint
> schemes.)
>
>
>
> The good news is that we wouldn’t have much to quibble about over the hue
> of paint on the PA models.
>
>
>
> Jack has shown that he’s willing to work with some of the historical
> societies, and has done pretty darn well by the N&W (other than the
> Trainmaster lettering snafu.)  I’d like to have an accurate model of both
> PA versions, but would probably (well, definitely) have to restrain myself
> to a sports cab version to “represent”, given the likely price.  Two
> Branchline coaches and a kit-bashed combine would fill out a “Virginia
> Creeper” quite nicely—a modeling and painting challenge within my scope of
> time and skill.
>
>
>
> I doubt the PAs would get produced without advanced reservations for at
> least 80, and maybe 100, (combined) of the two versions.  But I wonder
> whether N&WHS could get “dealer pricing” from DP, if we guaranteed orders
> for 50 or so models?  That could lead to a $400+ per model benefit to
> Members plus some cash in the N&WHS coffers.  But the Member reservations
> would have to have teeth in them to insure that the Society doesn’t get
> hurt.
>
>
>
> Straw poll, any one?
>
>
>
> -Eric Bott
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NW-Modeling-List [mailto:nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org] *On
> Behalf Of *NW Modeling List
> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 03, 2015 2:57 PM
> *To:* NW Modeling List
> *Subject:* Swiveling rear engines/the Arrow
>
>
>
> Matt, in one of my clinics I spend some time discussing threshold's of
> tolerance: i.e. what bothers you.  And this will vary from individual to
> individual.  As I said, the rear engine swiveling bothers me, but it hasn't
> bothered me enough to keep me from some locomotive purchases.  Factors
> include things like 6 coupled or 8 coupled, and how much I have to pay for
> one that doesn't swivel.  Watching the cylinders on the rear engine swing
> out is mildly irritating.  Hasn't kept me from the Bachman C&O H5 and the
> Proto 2-8-8-2, but I do prefer the Powerhouse 2-8-8-2.  I noticed that the
> Precision VGN AG is now available for a bit over $3,000.  So VGN guys now
> have to think about the Rivarossi at around $4-500, the Key at around
> $800-$1,000, and the Overland creeping up on $2000 (although the
> availability of the Precision may cause that to drop).  One other point: a
> good number of Gem/Akane VGN AG's were sold, although they were just C&O
> Alleghenies with a different box.  Anybody who can come up with the correct
> AG dome (I'm still expecting someone to do it in 3D printing)may be able to
> sell a few.
>
>
>
> But the spread of what bothers some people is interesting.  Personally,
> the MTH Virginian triplex gives me a headache.  You and I know people who
> get hystercal at what they perceive as the wrong shade of (pick one):
> Tuscan Red, Pevler Blue, Enchantment Blue, Brunswick Green....you get the
> idea.
>
>
>
> On a related note (thanks for the reminder, Harold)we welcome articles
> where someone has taken a stock model and "fixed" or detailed it to make it
> closer to a true N&W or Virginian prototype.  [Sidebar: if anyone has
> successfullly kitbashed, brassbashed, or scratchbuilt a Virginian 4-6-2,
> please tell us about it].
>
>
>
> And one other point in a memo that's already too long (shocker, I know).
> Generally, and this involves scores of locomotives, an articulated N&W
> 2-8-8-2, even with a fixed rear engine, is usually not a minimum radius
> problem.  Partly because it is articulated (which was Anatole Mallet's
> point)and partly because the drivers are comparatively small.  A PRR Q-2 or
> Santa Fe 2-10-4 is more likely to be a problem, but will take 30" usually.
> A UP 4-12-2 usually needs 34" or more.
>
>
>
> Now with all that said, any of you who have successfully rigidized the
> rear engine of a Rivarossi, BLI, Bachman, or Proto articulated, an article
> is invited.
>
>
>
> Frank Bongiovanni
>
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