What is the most mass.produced rolling stock that is close to a Frisco prototype? I believe a boxcar or caboose would fit the bill. If we could get enough support the money could be used to expand the Frisco Archive. Also if we could commit $50 for one road number or $80 for two numbers and no further charges when they come in it would greatly be profitable in sells. I propose we to start a fund to see if we get the support needed to start such a special run. I'm in $80 for two road numbers in N scale. Please post your support for this project!!! Joe
Wouldn't it be simpler to commission custom decal sets? Or have we reached the point where painting and decaling is a lost art? GS
I would really like to see someone talk Rapido into a custom passenger set of the racehorse engines and cars. Rapido does great looking models, Moloco also does some great looking cars. I have been asking him to do more Frisco cars. We might think about aproaching them about a custom run. When a person thinks of everything involved in kit building, painting and decaling, these custom RTR cars are nothing compaired to the building costs. A really nice kit is upwards of 30 bucks, not to mention all the detail part ordering and shipping costs. Its great if someone wants to build their own cars, but their is no doubt it comes at a much higher cost.
First we need to reach a consensus on whether or not to pursue this project. If so we can have further discussion on what kind of car to do and who to approach. Please post what kind of support you are willing to commit to. I'm in for $80 for two N scale models! Joe
I could possibly be in for a mass run of a Frisco decal set. Plus, those can be printed in various scales so the market would be larger. Trouble is, like a piece of rolling stock, doubt you'll never get "consensus" as to just WHAT decal set to produce. My vote would be the black and yellow stripe hood diesel set ala' the defunct Oddballs set. We had one guy here try to get a small decal operation off the ground. However, against advice suggesting producing the most COMMON needed decal sets, he instead chose uber-niche decal sets that he was interested in (and maybe 2-3 other modelers here). I don't know if he ever delivered a set. Eventually his "operation" folded, and now he's out of the hobby and gone.
I could see us doing decal sets if we can define the right firm to produce them. The b/y hood stripes are a good suggestion. Steam Doric striping would be another. Doing models involves quite a bit more $$$ and risk ...... and details. Several of the RR historical groups do a decent job it seems selling decals. Ken
I'm down for decals and/or a special run car in N or HO. Anything Frisco is good. Although I mainly model a very early era I have trains for various eras and scales. I'm in for $50 or so to get something rolling. Manny was very dedicated to his era and I have several sets of his decals including some very era Frisco, KC, FS & M and St Louis and Gulf stuff. Beautiful decals.
Hi Jim: No doubt Manny was an excellent and prolific modeler, and it's great he did complete some decal sets and they were excellent quality. My point was supposed to be that if we're not careful, we each can miss the big picture by wanting our specific "pet" projects to be produced. IF we (as a collective) are seriously going to consider decals (or a car/etc), then for the sake of the whole, we need to determine what would have it's largest appeal so that we won't be left holding the bag, so to speak. Whether or not that turns out to be a decal set (or sets), or a piece of rolling stock, or whatever... it needs to be something that (hopefully) can appeal to the widest spread of era interests, as well as scale. This is why my first thought would be decals: The artwork can be used to span several modeling scales and likewise involves the least risk/venture capital. Just throwing out some ideas, here.
I have the B&W artwork from the Oddball red passenger car set. If someone has the right printer and red ink, these can be run right now. GS
After reading posts about making decal sheets instead of a piece of rolling stock I agree. It would greatly reduce risks but we should still discuss a rolling stock car in parallel with the decal sheets. The car release should be a year off and the sheets asap with one sheet every three or four months. Also would like to see any proceeds go to the Frisco Archive. Of course that's just my proposal. What other proposals do you recommend? Joe
Joe, If the money was out there we could easily do a runner pack in N Scale, or a car in HO if people would buy it. All we need is the commitments to purchase and it would be a go. Charlie
Their is exceptions, generally I dont like single cars (Exception Box Car) because I like the looks of two or three, like cars togather in a train. Flats, Tanks, Refers, Bulk Head Opra Cars, Hopper. Generally you would see a small block of those cars in every mixed freight train. 3 to 10 maybe. A Idea would be a completed car, unpainted and un-numbered. Then each month a new Decal sheet could be issued, different numbers, maybe a varation of the herald, a decal scrach, dent decal, maybe graffeti. We would need help from members, where a style of the same railroads cars has had in-significant changes that a good modeler would see.. Think of that, a string of cars, all the same, with small changes to each one. Complete with instructions explaining the changes and why. The car would be put togather, just needing paint and decals Just an idea, no need to Dog Pile me!
I'll commit to a block run of 3 cars in HO and/or decal sheets. Don't care which ones for the 1st run, just to get one going. I'd appreciate a tag or note of some kind if something is chosen, just so I don't miss getting in on it.
This idea was first brought up in January of last year to June of that year and then November of this year. That's a total of six months. There are five in support of a car and six for decals. Also five have committed to a project. Is that enough to start on a car or decals? These are approximate numbers based on comments. Joe
I don't know about decals as I don't do any of that but we would need a minimum of 100 to get serious about a special run.
What would be the total of people needed to start a decal project? I'm sure it doesn't take as many as a special run. By doing decals it will help open the door for a special run in the future as well as more decals. Like I said before doing decals every three months starting now and a special run every year would be a goal that we could achieve. Anything Frisco is better then where we are right now! Joe
It's been four days since this threads last posting. I hope the subject hasn't been dropped because we need a lot of support. The thread was dormant for five months before being brought up again and we desperately need to keep it going. Please contact other members and tell them to check out the project proposals!!! Joe