Another Walthers Mythical Model
Bob Boudreau
catalog the upcoming release of an operational trackmobile? I eagerly
awaited the model but it never appeared. I contacting Walthers on
another matter quite some time layer, I inquired about the Trackmobile.
I was told that it was never produced.
I believe this is called "vaporware" in some circles.
Reminds me of the very old cartoon in one of the model magazines. The
scene was in a hobby manufacturers' office, one fellow was saying to the
other "We should start thinking about producing that 2-10-0 loco that
we've been advertising for the past two years". (or something like that
- you get the idea.
Bob Boudreau
BondoBill1
Very common, I was guilty back in the early 80's of "vaporware". I started to
produce a Brill Rail Car, powered by what was called back then as a SPUD. We
got to the actual tooling stage when I could not lock in a price for the spuds.
Initailly they were to cost me $11.00 - $17.00 per unit, but when we got down
to signing the paperwork the price went up to over $26.00. Back then we were
shooting for a retail price of $79, which was high but it was a one car
railroad.
Back in the 70's there was more vaporware than product. Some were testing the
waters, some were just hype, and one poor guy form California had a great idea
for streamlined passenger cars, but he lost it all in a legal issue (pre Fred
Becker).
One producer of vaporware that I remember was D&H models RS-3, and there were
others
Bill
Awjo
Trainman
Don
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Bob Boudreau <"reb"@ NOSPAM homemail.com> wrote in message
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Gndlfstram
If old W. K. could see what has happened to his company... He'd probably spin
in his grave so fast that he could generate enough electricity for ALL of
California!
Jack "The trolley nut" Priller
POM of The H.A.G.G.I.S.
It pays to get a second opinion before doing something stupid!
Trainman
One of the high points of my life was actually meeting Bill and being given
a tour of the old Water Street plant.
Don
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Gndlfstram <gndlf...@aol.coming> wrote in message
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Roger T & Heather B
"BondoBill1"
> One producer of vaporware that I remember was D&H models RS-3, and there
were
> others
I believe it was an RS-1. They had full page ads in MR.
Cheers
Roger T.
James D Thompson
>
> >"vaporware"
>
> Very common, I was guilty back in the early 80's of "vaporware".
> I started to produce a Brill Rail Car, powered by what was called back
> then as a SPUD. We got to the actual tooling stage when I could not
> lock in a price for the spuds.
Spud trucks? Tell me you weren't gonna do a Model 55...
David Thompson
--
Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowgirls, 'cuz watching
big burly men ranch cattle while wearin' Sunday dresses is just
plain weird.
Dennis E. Golden
worst way. Oh well, now I have my Atlas/Kato job, and I'm happy.
Den
Dennis E. Golden
could run steam and be a contemporary modeler.
By cracky! I think I'll dodder down the basement and work on my choo choos --
that is as soon as I can remember where the basement is. :>)
Den
TOM
>
> Hi Bob and Don. I remember that cartoon too. Those were the days when you
> could run steam and be a contemporary modeler.
>
> By cracky! I think I'll dodder down the basement and work on my choo choos --
> that is as soon as I can remember where the basement is. :>)
>
> Den
Just remember, when your grandkids, and most kids, for that matter, make
train sounds when they're playing, the majority of the time, it's
'choo-choo,' not diesel noise. They save that sound for trucks,
Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen Rabbits... :>))
<><><> TOM <><><>
-----------------
Rusty Keeney
<dgo...@warwick.net> wrote:
>Hi Bob and Don. I remember that cartoon too. Those were the days when you
>could run steam and be a contemporary modeler.
>
>By cracky! I think I'll dodder down the basement and work on my choo choos --
>that is as soon as I can remember where the basement is. :>)
>
>Den
>
It was the swimming pool before you drained it, you know,the big
thingy the living quarters protect from the weather....
Andy Harman
<dom.de...@prodigy.net> wrote:
>I remember that cartoon! Now I'm REALLY showing my age!
My all time favorite cartoon from a model magazine was of the woman in
the shower covering herself, while an HO passenger train passed by.
I've heard it was from MR in the 50's, but it's actually FUNNY and
MR's cartoons have been inoffensive, lukewarm, contrived, and NOT
funny as long as I can remember. Could have been the rare exception.
They used to have the shower cartoon tacked up on the wall at Johnny's
Toys Greenhills in the train dept. but it vanished about 15 years ago.
Anybody got it and want to make a scan? :-)
Andy
----------------------------------------------------
Please reply to aharman at hhcustom dot com
Visit the RPM Web Page at http://www.rpmrail.org
Or my personal site at http://www.hhcustom.com/nspmg
----------------------------------------------------
Kennedy
> Just remember, when your grandkids, and most kids, for that matter, make
> train sounds when they're playing, the majority of the time, it's
> 'choo-choo,' not diesel noise. They save that sound for trucks,
> Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen Rabbits... :>))
Speaking of which, that's the new UPS commercial they were showing during
the NASCAR race on Sunday. The UPS executive-type guy was playing with
that HO scale truck that was painted browm....
:D
Kennedy
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Frank A. Rosenbaum
The voice over was "Take the train to the plane." over and over. The graphic
was of the Electric MU cars. The tune was of a steam train chuffing. Rather
funny at the time.
--
Frank R.
Note New EMAIL address: faros...@mediaone.net
The train club I belong to is the Gratiot Valley. See us at:
http://chives.michvhf.com/~gvrr/index.htm
+-------------------------+
| DO NOT FEED |
| THE TROLLS |
+-----------+-+---------+
| |
| |
| |
| |
....\\|.|/....
If at first you don't succeed, throw it in the spare parts box.
Thanks to Lindy9113
Kennedy (no longer not on anything!) <howl...@YOUKNOWHAT.tir.com> wrote in
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Trainman
One of my favorites was from the 60's, There was on the left a full size
1:1 steam locomotive, a guy in an engineers's overalls. On the right, a
building with a sign "HO Model Railroad Club" and another guy in the same
outfit, arms crossed and a stern look on his face. The caption was:
"I don't care if it IS Scratchbuilt. It's not to NMRA Standards, and you
can't join."
Don
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Andy Harman <aha...@diespammerdie.net> wrote in message
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Bob Boudreau
benchwork was a large tub full of water with a duck swimming in it. The
caption read "I followed Model Railroaders' plans to the letter, it said
"duck under here".
I think this cartoon (I have it somewhere) was drawn by a doctor or dentist
from Montreal, and may have only appeared in a Canadian publication. Every
time I see or hear a reference to a duckunder in a layout, I smile and think
of this cartoon!
Bob Boudreau
Trainchasr
the upcoming release of an operational trackmobile? I eagerly awaited the model
but it never appeared. I contacting Walthers on another matter quite some time
layer, I inquired about the Trackmobile. I was told that it was never produced.
I believe this is called "vaporware" in some circles. >>
Bob,
Yes, I remember such a creature, a photo of which appeared in their catalog one
year, sometime in the late 1990s. It disappeared from their catalog the
following year.
While I was dismayed at the news—I was told it had something to do with some
kind of transaction involving Magnuson Models—I eventually did get my
Trackmobile, in the form of a model imported by Overland.
Now to figure out how to attach working Kadees…
Dieter Zakas
Greg Williams
depicting various areas in Montreal. It was produced for the 1962 NMRA
convention in Montreal. The dentist I think you are thinking of is Dr. Roy
Dohn who had a huge layout, the Victoria Northern.
Bob Boudreau <"reb"@ NOSPAM homemail.com> wrote in message
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David McConnell
the power truck dried up or got too expensive.
I too was waiting for those.
Dennis E. Golden
(and Great) Bill McClanahan, who when he wasn't model railroading was lead
editorial cartoonist for a major Dallas newspaper. The cartoons ran circa
1950 - 1954 I believe. (As Rusty Keeney is fond to point out, I'm an old fart
-- of course it takes one to know one).
The premise was of a multi-millionaire's model railroad. In my favorite, the
rich old coot is having a hush hush conversation with a U.S. senator in a
major passenger terminal. Several reporters and investors sneak up to
eavesdrop. "So you see what's wrong?" the millionaire says, pointing to the
locomotive of the train they just stepped off of. "On your model you have the
air pumps mounted on the side of the boiler, while they should be mounted on
the pilot."
In 1974 it was my pleasure and honor to meet Bill and operate on his Texas
and Rio Grande. It remains the most beautiful model railroad I have ever seen
in person, and its creator as nice a gentleman as I've ever met in the
hobby. I also saw some of his framed political cartoons. The ones of Lydon
Johnson and John Connolly were particularly vicious and funny.
I hope you'll forgive my reminiscences.
Den
Trainman
The Doctor was I believe Dr. Roy Donne (sp?) had a FABULOUS layout written
up in MR about 1961 or so (I THINK it was called the "Victoria Northern" but
I'm doing that from memory.)
The fact that I remember it at all tells you how impressed I was with the
layout. He had a friend who was a cartoonist for one of the Montreal
papers, and I recall a cartoon that actually appeared in the paper
(reprinted in MR) that was the good Doctor's actual house, with a sign
reading "Model Railroad Show" in the yard, and people hauling whole sections
of the layout out and loading it in their cars. (A sad commentary on the
behavior of the public when someone has an open house).
Don
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Bob Boudreau <"reb"@ NOSPAM homemail.com> wrote in message
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Dennis E. Golden
is a lot of truth in that cartoon about people hauling away pieces of layout.
The late Whit Towers had a brass geared loco (I think a shay) disappear during
an NMRA open house. I had the good fortune to visit him about a year or two
later. He said that the NMRA had replaced the engine for him, but in his words,
"you still felt kind of violated."
Bill Diaker, a very close friend had a totally scratch built S scale Ma & Pa
2-8-0 disappear during a national S scale convention. Luckily another friend was
able to recover it for him when it showed up at an auction about two years
later.
People who do things like that can take away the joy of sharing the hobby from
the rest of us. It's really a shame. You can't show anybody something you've
taken like that. I just don't understand what makes people do that sort of
thing.
Den
Awjo
about two years ago, and have in their product listing. I e mailed them to find
out if indeed it was ever produced. The response back was check with your local
dealer. We (athearn) do not know what is currently available. Athearn will not
give a simple yes or no answer, rather just have the customer chase their tail
around in circle. Athearn and Walthers the prime example of no customer service
service.
LARRY020
>about two years ago
They came out last May
Larry, from Pinole, CA
Trainman
you off on a "wild goose chase".
Athearn uses batch production, with each item being produced perhaps once
every several years. Once they ship them, they DON'T know who may have
what.
Don
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Awjo <aw...@aol.com> wrote in message
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Kent Taylor
was just starting in model railroading and they were the first locos that I bought.
Kent Taylor
Awjo wrote in message <20010425005323...@ng-ma1.aol.com>...
Mountain Goat
My favorite (it may have already been mentioned)shows a brass
importers office. On the wall are photos of models in production (2)
and proposed (many). A guy behind the desk reading letters (pre
e-mail) is saying to a guy in overalls in the doorway, "That 4-8-2 of
ours is sure popular with modelers, we should design it and get it
into production"
Still rings a bell (anyone remember how long FM train masters were
advertised by Athearn before they actually made them ?).
The 'duck under' cartoon was done by a guy named Doug who's last name
escapes me now (maybe Wright). His 'real job' cartoons appeared in
the 'Star Weekly', a colour supplement to many Canadian newspapers in
the 50s and 60s, not all of them affiliated with the Toronto Star who
published it (The Edmonton Journal for one). He was an editorial
cartoonist for a Montreal paper I think, and died quite young. His
work only occasionally appeared in MR.
Trainman
As far as the trainmasters, I don't think they were EVER "advertised" prior
to release, but there were rumors about them for several years before they
did come out. (I think Athearn's first ad for them mentioned something
about the "worst kept secret in Model RR history").
Don
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Mountain Goat <rmg...@powersurfr.com> wrote in message
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Scott G. Perry
wasn't so damned serious, and you could have fun!
I'll never forget seeing the guy's layout who had a town called Moron Switch. It
was actually called something else, but I don't want to offend anybody. It
consisted of a stretch of double track coming out of tunnels on either side, and
a station in the middle. Soon the train came by....straddling the two inside
rails of each set of tracks! I busted a gut...
oh well...back to rivett counting.
Scott Perry
Rick Jones
>
> I'll never forget seeing the guy's layout who had a town called Moron Switch. It
> was actually called something else, but I don't want to offend anybody. It
> consisted of a stretch of double track coming out of tunnels on either side, and
> a station in the middle. Soon the train came by....straddling the two inside
> rails of each set of tracks! I busted a gut...
Now that would be a really interesting thing to model on a layout.
--
Rick Jones
Remove the Extra Dot to e-mail me
"Take my Worf, plaese!"
-Brent Spiner, "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
Gndlfstram
>> rails of each set of tracks! I busted a gut...
>
> Now that would be a really interesting thing to model on a layout.
How about HO double track set so that O scale runs on those two 'inside' rails?
Jack "The trolley nut" Priller
POM of The H.A.G.G.I.S.
It pays to get a second opinion before doing something stupid!
Warren Brill
"Scott G. Perry" <scott...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3AEC8D70...@hotmail.com...
> I sure do miss cartoons in the MR and RMC. I remember when model
railroading
> wasn't so damned serious, and you could have fun!
Yeah, and there was the guy with the great self-satisfied grin on his face
holding a car in his hand, saying, "It's an HOw5-1/2 scale test car! Why do
you ask?" and everyone else had no idea what he was holding.
Warren Brill, Severance, Colorado "Where Geese Fly and Bulls Cry"
Mark Mathu
Telling people to check with their local dealer seems to be the correct reply;
Athearn does not sell locomotives factory direct.
The home page of their web site even comes right out and says
"Check with your local hobby shop regarding availability of current items."
A simple search of the www reveals several site that have D&H GP38-2s for
sale; it seems pretty obvious that is was indeed produced and is not
"vaporware" as you claim.
http://www.hbrsco.com/sales.html#Athearn
http://www.onerrave.com/site/archive/102999.html
Dennis E. Golden
Mark Mathu wrote:
Hey Mark haven't you read this guy's posts over the last few months? Why waste
tine tying to confuse him with facts?
Den