Zmodell 99495 – Conrail GG-1 electric locomotive
Mar 5, 2021 17:35:35 GMT -5
Kez, zscalehobo, and 4 more like this
Post by scanrail on Mar 5, 2021 17:35:35 GMT -5
Hi friends,
Thank you very much for nice words! Actually, I develop my own models too. I just did not post reports about all of them here (as most of them are European models). But I announce all my models on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Zmodelltrains. There are derivatives from already existing molds (like GG-1), as well as my own unique models developed from scratch, for example IORE LKAB - world's biggest 2-unit electric locomotive:
Very popular German boxcar from 40's:
Regarding EF-4 "Little Joe" - it is possible to develop this model. But the only "issue" is development costs. To develop a housing only (with appropriate quality and high level of details), I have to spend not less than a month in CAD working hard every day. Next, no suitable chassis exists for this loco (4-8-8-4). Thus, it should also be developed from scratch - another month or two of hard work. And I would have to suspend all my current developments and orders during this period too (because actually I am a "one man show").
And I still have to earn something for living during this development In other words, I have to turn my hobby into the business - that's what I would like to avoid with all my heart...
Even if I find at least 10 people here who would be ready to pay, say $1000 for this model and to make some investments in advance, I doubt it will be enough to cover all development costs - at least to get the level of quality and details that everyone expects from professional model.
Next, I have to deploy the whole production sequence and control each step (3D printing, resin casting (as "classic" extrusion molding technology is way too expensive for private small-series manufacturing), painting, printing, etching, lathing and so on). This process is also time-consuming and expensive - as I have to pay for everything that I have to outsource by placing orders at external companies.
I expect around a year of hard work as a minimal period to get satisfying results. If I would have a team of at least 2-3 talented specialists who already have a good experience in developing train models, and what is important - who are as much crazy about Z scale as me , then everything would go probably faster... But unfortunately, as I already mentioned above, I am a "one man show".
So maybe it makes sense for everyone interested in "Little Joe" to ask AZL to make this model? I would join the club with pleasure! Who knows - they announced Swiss Ae 8/14 - maybe numerous requests will somehow ignite an interest to this model too... (actually, I am skeptical about this )
Greetings,
Alex
Thank you very much for nice words! Actually, I develop my own models too. I just did not post reports about all of them here (as most of them are European models). But I announce all my models on my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Zmodelltrains. There are derivatives from already existing molds (like GG-1), as well as my own unique models developed from scratch, for example IORE LKAB - world's biggest 2-unit electric locomotive:
Very popular German boxcar from 40's:
Regarding EF-4 "Little Joe" - it is possible to develop this model. But the only "issue" is development costs. To develop a housing only (with appropriate quality and high level of details), I have to spend not less than a month in CAD working hard every day. Next, no suitable chassis exists for this loco (4-8-8-4). Thus, it should also be developed from scratch - another month or two of hard work. And I would have to suspend all my current developments and orders during this period too (because actually I am a "one man show").
And I still have to earn something for living during this development In other words, I have to turn my hobby into the business - that's what I would like to avoid with all my heart...
Even if I find at least 10 people here who would be ready to pay, say $1000 for this model and to make some investments in advance, I doubt it will be enough to cover all development costs - at least to get the level of quality and details that everyone expects from professional model.
Next, I have to deploy the whole production sequence and control each step (3D printing, resin casting (as "classic" extrusion molding technology is way too expensive for private small-series manufacturing), painting, printing, etching, lathing and so on). This process is also time-consuming and expensive - as I have to pay for everything that I have to outsource by placing orders at external companies.
I expect around a year of hard work as a minimal period to get satisfying results. If I would have a team of at least 2-3 talented specialists who already have a good experience in developing train models, and what is important - who are as much crazy about Z scale as me , then everything would go probably faster... But unfortunately, as I already mentioned above, I am a "one man show".
So maybe it makes sense for everyone interested in "Little Joe" to ask AZL to make this model? I would join the club with pleasure! Who knows - they announced Swiss Ae 8/14 - maybe numerous requests will somehow ignite an interest to this model too... (actually, I am skeptical about this )
Greetings,
Alex