Mike made the point much more emphatically that I tried to make gently earlier. The E&WNC 4-6-0 will be a wonderful model which will be very well suited to the wants of many modelers, and I am pleased to see it. However, if you are (like self) an RGS modeler, this is NOT going to be an easy starting point to obtain a model of the ex Florence & Cripple Creek 4-6-0s. Not quite as much of a stretch as trying to build a model of the CP "Jupiter" from Athearn F-7 parts that was a common joke at model railroad conventions, but not a simple conversion. The driver diameters are different, driver spacing is different, valve gear is different, and so on.
I don't think it will be a good starting point for the Schenectady 4-6-0s built for the F&CC. I don't see this as a problem. This is a model which will be very attractive to many people - the prototype is seen by many visitors to a well known theme park, and it may be a starting point to modeling some similar Baldwin ten wheelers. Mike Miller may be able to tell us how close this one will be to the NCO locomotives (excepting the whaleback tenders), so possibly a budget 'close to' SP 18 may be possible. That will make some SP narrow gauge fans happy.
As I said, perhaps when the real RGS 20 is back together and operable, more interest in a correct model of that group of locomotives will lead to one being produced. That is a way in the future, but who knows? If not by Bachmann, perhaps someone else. For now, I think there's plenty of opportunity out there. Bachmann has provided a lot of nice locos and cars which have really helped give a boost to narrow gauge modeling. No, they haven't done my favorite locomotive in On30. But they have done some which I'm very happy to have. And I'm one of the weird people who re-gauges mine to On3. The C&S 2-6-0s look great with another manufacturer's C&S freight cars, including a very nice C&S caboose. The Climax was easy to re-gauge, and it looks fine with another manufacturer's Pacific Car & Foundry log cars. The rail truck was an easy conversion. Too bad RGS 1 had such a short service life!
Happy modeling and modifying
Charlie Mutschler
-30-
I don't think it will be a good starting point for the Schenectady 4-6-0s built for the F&CC. I don't see this as a problem. This is a model which will be very attractive to many people - the prototype is seen by many visitors to a well known theme park, and it may be a starting point to modeling some similar Baldwin ten wheelers. Mike Miller may be able to tell us how close this one will be to the NCO locomotives (excepting the whaleback tenders), so possibly a budget 'close to' SP 18 may be possible. That will make some SP narrow gauge fans happy.
As I said, perhaps when the real RGS 20 is back together and operable, more interest in a correct model of that group of locomotives will lead to one being produced. That is a way in the future, but who knows? If not by Bachmann, perhaps someone else. For now, I think there's plenty of opportunity out there. Bachmann has provided a lot of nice locos and cars which have really helped give a boost to narrow gauge modeling. No, they haven't done my favorite locomotive in On30. But they have done some which I'm very happy to have. And I'm one of the weird people who re-gauges mine to On3. The C&S 2-6-0s look great with another manufacturer's C&S freight cars, including a very nice C&S caboose. The Climax was easy to re-gauge, and it looks fine with another manufacturer's Pacific Car & Foundry log cars. The rail truck was an easy conversion. Too bad RGS 1 had such a short service life!
Happy modeling and modifying
Charlie Mutschler
-30-