The difficulty with the WW1 locos would be scale. Many of them worked in Europe after the war, with over a dozen in the UK alone. Problem is European O scale is 1:43 while US O scale is 1:48.

re the price of the 18' cars, you did all see that there are two of them per box.

The pics of the new mallet appear to be finished production models, as opposed to prototype pictures or mock ups, suggesting they are close to delivery. The freight cars look to be at an earlier stage of production. The new mallet, to my eyes, is much prettier than the 2-6-6-2 which was awfully 'skinny'but nothing like either of them ran on the RRs that I like and for that reason, I still hanker after an 1870s/1880s Baldwin 4-4-0 and 2-6-0 like they have/had in large scale.

I imagine 'all metal gears' is going to sound sweet to many.

What do we make of the new Li'l Big Hauler line? For me it makes a clear distinction between large scale MODELS and large scale TOYS and gives something for those who want a train around the Christmas tree without forcing compromises on those who want something more life-like.

Without seeming churlish, I think the large scalers are going to very pleased and surprised to have got, basically, what they wanted, while the On30 scalers are scratching their heads a little thinking, hmm, it's nice but not quite what I had in mind. The 18' cars are obviously going to appeal to many but are not that disimilar from what are offered by a number of kit manufacturers.

That said, I can see the new loco fitting in nicely with the 2-8-0, os frame 4-4-0 and the mallet.

This may be a dumb question, but given the number of kits for short and dinky freight cars, why would someone want to shorten a Bachmann car? I can't imagine the skill needed is much different.

True in every way, except for the pantographs. HO would be too small and O a tad large. And I really wouldn't want to have to make my own There are a number of diesel box cab kits to do exactly as you suggest but the crazy knitting (catenary)on that Chilean line is part of it's charm.

Assuming 2-10-2s and 2-10-4s are unlikely to materialise I'd like to nominate another equally unlikely machine for consideration. Admittedly, it's not 30" gauge, or even 36", but 42"! but it is American built and very much still with us.
1929, General Electric box-cab of the Ferrocarril de Tocopilla

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38114434@N02/5649537859
http://www.railpictures.net/photo/306703/

nice.

and it will take those curves with ease!

a 2-10-4 in On30....

trouble is, you just know what everyone's first question's gonna be

what radius will it go round  

Many thanks. The pictures are an education in themselves.

I'm clicking on the little gear but it's not bringing up a pdf. help. I'm in the Uk, is this an issue?

Quote from: fredlove2laugh on November 17, 2011, 09:02:48 PM
I'm not sure of the future of On30. The one thing the other scales (HO, O, N, G...) have that
On30 doesnt is a consistant prototype. There is no B&O or PRR type prototypes that were organized, big-name railroads that had 30 inch gauge rails. There are not a lot of models to make because there is such a limited selection that you can make. Most of the On30 trains I see are made of modifyed or patch locomotives with O scale parts.

As for what I would like to see in On30... I'm not sure. "Wild" locomotives (like a 4-8-4) would be nice to see down the line. A little imagination with a prototypical influence would make On30 train from you guys (Bachmann) a lot more appealing. To be honest, I love the current selection of stock (not locomotives) because of their simplicity and wider (by comparison) selection.

For the locomotives, a On30 4-8-4 would be nice or a 2-8-4, 4-8-2, what ever. Something with imagination. Even a GE wide-cab GP60 in On30 would be cool.

I hope you take this seriously. Us On30 fans get models primarily from two (2) places, 1. scratch built models we make, or 2. You. I would love to see more locomotives.

Fred

a 4-8-4 in On30 is not wholly far-fetched. The 3' gauge Londonderry & Lough Swilly Rly in Ireland had 2 4-8-4 tanks and 2 very handsome 4-8-0 tender versions.
But I suspect most of us would prefer locos based on prototypes, even if we then customise them a bit.

As the topic has widened into a general discussion of scale and gauge in largescale I'd like to ask whether people now accept that for NG modelling the future is with 1:20.3 on 45mm gauge and that we are unlikely to see significant new US products (ie, a locomotive) for 1:22.5 or 1:24 scales, and, even if they accept it is so, how do they feel about it.

Though I don't model anymore, if I did, my inclination would be to follow the protoype as much as possible since, for me, the model is simply the only way I have to recreate the real thing. This, as Kevin intimates, means rather more than just a 'correct to prototype' scale gauge ratio and, were I to choose large scale, would likely mean me creating something very small (if exquisitely formed) wholly indoors in 1:20.3, rather than working in the damp and decidedly 1 to 1 outdoors.

Having said that, I would like to clear up the rather curious misconception that 'taking it seriously', as I (would) do, precludes or compromises the fun element. For me, doing something as well as I can do it and learning as much as I can to increase my skill and ability only increases my pleasure whereas doing something 'any-old-how', has in the end always proved unsatisfying.

It is in the end all about fun, but never suppose that someone with a scale rule is having any less fun than you are.

Surely a little common sense might apply. If, say, you live in Southern California and you only like to operate your south-facing garden rr on nice sunny days then maybe leaving the cooling system on your mostly black K27 just as it is is not a bad idea. otherwise, surely this is a judgement call as, presumably, mucking about with the cooling fan will invalidate the warranty.

Yes, most likely, there will be something new, unless they plan to slowly pull out of large scall altogether, which seems unlikely.

'When', is anyone's guess, though I believe anouncements of 'new' products are not far off.

As for 'what', I can with some certainty say the prototype will be of an American made loco, of 2' to 3' gauge and most likely steam powered rather than diesel/gasoline. Beyond that broad remit, I am clueless.

Oh, and some people will know for sure, but they work for Bachmann and must stay schtum.

If I had to guess, I'd say the success of the K27 has proved that bigger engines of well known prototypes sell and we might get a 3' gauge inside frame 2-8-0, like a C18