Why don't we have custom run models for Frisco.org?

I've seen other groups and historical societies commission special run models. Have we ever done this? Is there any interest?

Patrick

 

I don't think any large scale models would be on the horizon, but HO & N would work for my grandsons!!

 

Should we start off simple and do a run of custom boxcars? What cost are we looking at?

 

I just received an HO scale Tangent covered hopper in the mail today from the Amarillo Railroad Museum. They commissioned a custom run of Fort Worth & Denver Pullman Standard 4750 hoppers. I'm familiar with Tangent models so I knew what to expect and this car did not disappoint.

If Frisco.org wants to do something similar, especially if Tangent is involved, I'm in.

 

What price did you pay for it?

 

It was $41, which is actually $1.95 cheaper than the retail price of the straight BN car on Tangent's website. I paid $53.10 total including shipping and handling, but there would have been a break on shipping had I purchased more than one.

 

Finding a correct (enough) model is the key, as others have expressed. I appreciate the work friscofriend and others do to encourage Frisco production and accurate schemes. The group could help get Frisco added to the roads being produced if a product was coming out.
Another possibility is additional numbers. Bluford shops is doing two extra numbers of their HO caboose, second release of MP. Only 50 each of the two numbers, available only through MPHS. Bluford will do two other numbers for general sales. MPHS did not think they could sell enough N scale to get a special number done for us in that scale.
Not sure how much demand we would have to establish to get manufacturer to do another run with a new number if they weren't planning a release.

 

I couldn't agree more, Steve, as far as finding a correct model is concerned.

The Tangent hoppers are awesome, but pretty expensive. Not only that, I already have several Frisco covered hoppers from Intermountain. I'm interested in one of the plain green Frisco covered hoppers, but that seems more like a simple do-it-yourself project than something worthy of a custom run, particularly since it's so much of a nod to BN and only appropriate for the very end of the prototype.

Life Like/Proto 2000 made an appropriate gondola and I suspect Walthers continues to offer it to this day. I'm not sure if it's offered in Frisco paint.

There are loads of boxcars on the Frisco roster, but again, finding a correct model is not that easy. I'd like to see something that's a little older so as many people as possible would be interested in the model. A 50' plug door boxcar might fit the bill, for example.

 

The gray paper product 50' plug door would be a good candidate.

The problem for me would be the cost of the special run.

 

Years ago Challenger N Scale in Tulsa, OK did an N scale 4 car set of Frisco boxcars, each one painted differently but accurately (I believe). They sold out and became much sought after on sites like Ebay. Pick the right car or set of cars at the right price point, market them properly, and they will sell.

 

Charlie, did Trainboard/SpecialRuns ever make the HO scale version of the Missouri-Illinois boxcar? I put my name in the hat for one, but so far haven't heard anything back.

 

Some of you may have noticed that I posted a question on the Tangent tank car thread that I started earlier today about Red Caboose Fuel Cars. Simply put, I am curious as to whether there would still be sufficient interest in these to suggest to Red Caboose producing another run or some group wanting to produce a special run of these. If that were the case it might open the possibility of producing one or more with different color domes.