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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2020 3:57:56 GMT -5
Did the "Smokey Bear" series by MTL really exist, or are they fantasy and collectors models like Micro-Mouse and state cars ? They look fine, but ... Thanks for any answer.
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Post by mgatdog on Nov 7, 2020 7:16:12 GMT -5
Yes they did. Fantasy series that MTL did produce if you wanted to look at it that way. They still do the Micro Mouse Xmas boxcar.each year in N and Z scale . Plus they are doing A Solar Series in N scale now of our solar system which is disappearing quickly.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2020 7:24:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the answer. I found some of them on the Bay, if they don't have a real prototype they don't interest me ... But it astonishes me that the railroad companies didn't participate in the forest fire prevention campaigns by painting some of their cars with that logo (?)
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Post by mgatdog on Nov 7, 2020 7:30:16 GMT -5
Every once in awhile you can find on eBay. Good luck on finding engine and caboose.
I know AZL seems to want to steer clear of fantasy paint schemes. But I over time think it would be good sellers for them . Cause MTL fantasy paint schemes in N & Z scale seem to sell out.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2020 10:57:43 GMT -5
I don't look for fantasy models, I would be happy (as I wrote in another thread) if I could find at AZL or MTL a prototypical NH caboose ! Perhaps now, since AZL made the NH-RS3 ?
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Post by markm on Nov 7, 2020 11:43:53 GMT -5
Alberich, I think you have the answer for the MTL cars. If you are looking for prototypical accuracy, I'd suggest you check the the reporting marks of any model that interests you against the AAR reporting marks list on Wikipedia. Everything that rides the rails here requires reporting marks, except for military rolling stock. In the case of MTL's Z scale Smokey, there is no reporting mark and for their N scale version they used SBX, which hasn't been assigned. I seem to recall Smokey on a boxcar in the late 50's but I can find no prototype reference. The only reference I can find is a Canadian Pacific(!) SD40-2 locomotive commemorating Smokey in 1994: www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MC-4115Since Smokey is a licensed image, I can understand that a railroad might be reluctant to put him on a railroad car. mgatdog: While I'm not opposed to the fantasy paint schemes, I see it as a matter that there are so many prototypes, such as the NH caboose, that still need to be modelled. I do question whether the fantasy series really sell out quickly. Is it perhaps the MTL policy of build to order? It seems that the 2009 states series still hasn't sold out, and I've yet to see any fantasy series (MTL or Märklin) sell out as fast as the SD70ACEs or the Maxi-I cars. Mark
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Post by ztrack on Nov 7, 2020 18:56:51 GMT -5
I know at one time, MTL had really hoped to grow the collector side of Z scale. The collector market is huge for them in N scale. This market just never really happened in Z. We (Ztrack) tried doing a couple of special runs with MTL and the interest was really low. I think the last real collector series MTL did in Z was the state series (the Christmas cars excluded). Again, the state series was sort of a dud. We get very little interest in these cars when we list them on Ztrack resale.
It would be interesting to see the collector market for US Z grow like it has for N scale. But for now, prototypical releases are what the market is demanding.
Rob
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Post by mgatdog on Nov 7, 2020 19:30:57 GMT -5
Ok Mark and Rob I agree on the prototypes. Wish the scale could make more but they are limited on funds to produce new stuff. Cost, overhead of new molds and so on. When it comes to fantasy Paint schemes In Z scale is usually a dream. Yes when It comes to the SD 70ACe a few West coast Heritage ones sold out. But there still plenty SD remain. Same as ES44 only couple of them sold out. The Pennsylvania and BNSF.As for Maxi l sets sold out was a few with with trailer Included . Because it was a better deal than just buying Maxi l. There seems to be plenty of jthem Available. Down the road are these left overs consider flops?
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Post by mgatdog on Nov 7, 2020 19:53:34 GMT -5
You want make a point about MTL state series being a flop.we could point out AZL setting on crap load of GP 7’s & 9’s if we wanted to have a pissing contest. Which I’m not going there . Any time you make a new freight car or loco you hope it’s a big seller. I just want to seeGP 38’s with Chessie system with WM emblems if that’s called fantasy which it is. Cause WM didn’t have GP38’s .I’m getting to old to do repaint .Produce the loco or freight plus decals and customer puts on the road name of there choice,B&O,C&O or WM . Then AZL wouldn’t have to set on the WM
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Post by mgatdog on Nov 7, 2020 20:25:38 GMT -5
Z scale is a tuff market . Hats off to AZL,for sticking with it . Cause to many Companies dip toes in and later fold which MTL seems to be heading that way. Hope I’m wrong.
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