Well said, Adam.
It's great to have high expectations, but economic
reality is inescapable. I'm sure I'll probably be a
little disappointed, too. But economic reality is it simply
isn't possible to get all the rivets and lettering perfect
down to the particular unit on a volume product and charge a
rational price. We heard the same hue and cry over bell
placement when the RS10's and 18's appeared a few years
ago. They were eagerly awaited by all and were (my opinion)
great models, far superior in detail to previous brass
efforts at higher prices. Why can't we just move the bells?
We've been spoiled by the explosion of high quality, highly
detailed products now available to us. We need to recall that
30 years ago even a brass FP7 accurate to the specific loco
number wasn't very likely. In plastic one was probably
limited to kitbashing Athern F7's to get to an FP.
Today the job is a lot easier. When available, your
starting point can be an undec. model of a generic
prototype vastly superior to kitbashed Atherns for
openers. Then add the details and decals specific to your
desired prototype exactly as you want them and you have
a great model.
Those who enjoy RTR models are getting excellent models to
work with. But the MODELING in MODEL railroading begins
when we want to accurately represent specific equipment by
adding the details to achieve it, right? Would we prefer
instead not to have these IM engines at all...??
JCH
--- Matchless@xxxxxxx wrote:
From: ADAM MEEKS <Matchless@xxxxxxx>
To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: RE: [cpsig] HO Intermountain CPR FP7 and F7B
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 20:09:40 -0600
I am always amazed at the people who expect perfection from a plastic model.
Don't get me wrong; I am not out to flame anybody here. I just think that
perhaps we need to temper our expectations with the knowledge that these are
mass-produced models that cost $150.00. (without sound) While that admittedly
is not exactly a pittance, it is noticeably cheaper than some of the $200.00+
price tags of comparable recent offerings from Kato and Atlas that are no more
accurate. While I am also disappointed with some of the IM model's
shortcomings, I have to say that they are head and shoulders above anything
that has been offered before. The colours look good, the drive is quiet and
smooth, and the wire grabs, handrails, and etched metal grilles (even if they
are not correct for the unit I am modeling) look very nice. I personally think
that Intermountain deserves acknowledgment for producing a very nice model at a
price that beats everyone else's. For those who want absolute ac
curacy right out of the box, brass is the only option.
Adam Meeks
Calgary, AB
----- Original Message -----
From: "W.E. Miller" <traction@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2006 8:59 am
Subject: RE: [cpsig] HO Intermountain CPR FP7 and F7B
I'm going with option #1. I won't be buying any of
these much anticipated locomotives. Was looking
forward to having a CPR 1400/1900 and a 4000/4400 set,
as well as a CNR 6500/6600 set if/when they are
released. Long may they sit on the dealers/suppliers
shelves.
--- Keith Brownfield <kbtrain@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Mike,
Know the feeling when your expectations are higher
than the manufactures
"One size fits all" mentality. If you really think
you have it bad, try a
Great Northern F7 A+B unit in the orange and green,
no one has gotten them
right yet! As modelers we have several choices,
don't buy them, modify them
alike they are suppose to be, or just run them the
way they are and don't
worry about it.
W. E. Miller
