RTR Loco

[EDGOZ2WAR]

I don't mean to be rude but the original question was, which loco would people like to see as RTR. A friend and myself are in talks with a major player and I just need to know which would be the most popular choice. I have my own prefrence but would it sell? Come on folks we may be able to make a start..........

[gallopingalice]

Hi Ed,
Go for it I'll buy one.
I'm still building coach kits, painting Minitrains and 3D locos.
A real RTR loco will be most refreshing.
richard

[Whitworth]

As a 'Newbie' I'm not fully up to speed with narrow gauge loco types etc, however some of the smaller 0-4-0 are perhaps easier to build for the beginner, the larger Fairlie and Garrat style perhaps more of a limited market to be realistic.
I would be looking for something mid range along the lines of 2-6-0 or 0-6-2  (or 2-4-0/0-4-2) which would be equally at home pulling freight or passenger stock. It would make a good start for 'general running'.
It might not be a bad idea for the manufacturer to have a chat with the 'body kit' community with a view to designing their chassis dimensions to fit inside existing kits. That way someone looking for a 'generic' loco can buy off the shelf whereas the 'kit bashers' (sorry couldn't think of a better phrase) would have a good basis for something more prototypical. Either way its a sale. 
Hope you are successful whatever the end product may be.
TTFN
Martin

[Graeme Dunbar]

I don't mean to be rude but the original question was, which loco would people like to see as RTR. A friend and myself are in talks with a major player and I just need to know which would be the most popular choice. I have my own prefrence but would it sell? Come on folks we may be able to make a start..........

But we will all probably want something different!  :D

Sorry, I'm not sure it to ask just which prototype is really the best question. It leaves out what sort things like what degree of compromise in terms of accuracy is acceptable, its price, DCC compatibility and a host of other things. As all of us here are already 009 modellers our answers may be highly skewed....

Ahem, just a passing thought, but if you are seriously thinking of producing such a model, you wouldn't, hum, consider say selling the chassis by itself would you by any chance???

... for example.

[Whitworth]

Actually that's not a bad idea Graeme. Perhaps even a modular chassis which used the same drive and pony wheels where a selection of wheel arrangements could be produced reasonably cheaply. Interesting valve gear too please.

[rhobat bryn]

Many thanks, Brian for sharing your knowledge of the history of this subject and helping to inform the debate.  I think your point about Liliput's intended production of a W&Ll loco was most instructive.  The lesson seems to be that while US and continental models sell in this country, the market doesn't work the other way round.  Therefore the same economies of scale aren't available.

Not knowing what the figures are makes it very difficult to make any comment that helps to move things on.  Therefore could I presume upon your knowledge and experience to pass comment on a couple of points.

I made the point in a previous post that, if

[pilotfriend]

Give or take, to produce a COACH,

[EDGOZ2WAR]

May I thank you all for your posts. I have decided that an 0-4-0 Hunslet may have to be the loco of choice which will give us a variety of body styles. I like the idea of having the chassis available as a separate item. I look forward to keeping you all upto date.

[invercloy]

I don't mean to be rude but the original question was, which loco would people like to see as RTR. A friend and myself are in talks with a major player and I just need to know which would be the most popular choice. I have my own prefrence but would it sell? Come on folks we may be able to make a start..........

Ed, i tried to start a petition a while ago, look here for further details: http://invercloylocoworks.webs.com/rtrnarrowgauge.htm  Ignore the rest of the site though, it has been superseded by another project, details of which will become available soon.

Can I point out that someone else is working on a quarry Hunslet kit at the moment which is of a very high quality and looks to run superbly.  Also Parkside already make a Hunslet kit with RTR chassis, albeit a bit bigger.  I think to have maximum impact it would have to be something different to the quarry hunslet, nice and quaint as it is.

If I were to suggest a prototype loco for consideration it would be Russell on the WHHR, or a Darjeeling B class.

[rhobat bryn]

I have decided that an 0-4-0 Hunslet may have to be the loco of choice which will give us a variety of body styles.

Here's hoping your plans come to fruition and prove a success.

[rhobat bryn]

Ed, i tried to start a petition a while ago, look here for further details: http://invercloylocoworks.webs.com/rtrnarrowgauge.htm

I visited your website and was more than happy to sign the petition.  I notice that it started some 3 years ago.  If it's not too intrusive a question, may I ask what became of the project?

[invercloy]

If it's not too intrusive a question, may I ask what became of the project?

Simple answer... nothing.

I've been waiting for more people to sign up, i've mentioned it several times online, maybe a short letter to the News is in order.

It's just to prove to a manufacturer that there's some support for a product, perhaps it's best on the main Society website instead?

[tedp]

Forget about a 009 RTR model that will be affordable. This entire thread has been quite clear no manufacturer will take up any petition. I think the answer will be a 3D printing project, which produces a complete loco body to fit on a suitable chassis. All it takes is cleaning up and a bit of paint, which I think isn't too much to ask even of an inexperienced modeller. This lowers the entry level to the hobby considerably. I think it would pay to ask someone like Chris Ward for models of specific prototypes instead of freelance models. I am a freelance modeller myself, but I think there is a market for near-scale models produced with this technique.

[B.Meldon]

3d printing is not the only option.
Shortly before the Bachmann 0-4-0 went out of production a serious plan was developed for a single piece resin cast 009 body based on a Brazil class. When the chassis became unavailable the project was dropped. There was also a simple outside frame conversion kit in preparation for the same chassis that would have included new wheel centres with extended cranks and dummy outside frames, again in resin. (There was even some discussions about producing a

[pilotfriend]

I agree Brian

3d printing is just not there yet and high quality resin casts can be excellent.