Roger,
Lanny, as I'm sure you've seen, has done a great job upgrading the OOB Connie to a specific IC loco (#908). He's working on a #907 for me right now and his in-progress photos are great. As for his 2-8-2, I expect the same sort of craftsmanship from him.
The problem, as Lanny has mentioned, is that the firebox on the extended Connie doesn't look right. I suppose (key word here being "suppose") that the stock firebox sides could be cut away and replaced with ones salvaged from another project. Whatever Lanny ends up turing out will be right better than most other options out there on the market now (including brass both for price and operation).
As this link has already pointed out though, just how difficult would it be for Bachmann to build a new 2-8-2 from the excellent 2-8-0 foundation they have already produced? One wouldn't think it could cost as much as erecting a brand new locomotive from the railhead up. It probably goes without saying that the popularity of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement coupled with a specimen different from all of those USRAs flooding the market (and the added bonus that the Harriman's were PLENTIFUL, historically speaking) should be a success.
With all of the road specific and prototypically-rare steam locos out there being marketed (I assume) because there is money to be made on so doing, how is it that none of the manufacturers' marketing departments understand they have a potential boon just waiting to be faithfully and reliably represented?
By now I know I'm preaching to the choir, however, it would be nice to hear the Bach Man weigh in on this months-long recurring topic with a little insight into how the corporate guys see this.
Brad
Modeling the IC in 1950
Lanny, as I'm sure you've seen, has done a great job upgrading the OOB Connie to a specific IC loco (#908). He's working on a #907 for me right now and his in-progress photos are great. As for his 2-8-2, I expect the same sort of craftsmanship from him.
The problem, as Lanny has mentioned, is that the firebox on the extended Connie doesn't look right. I suppose (key word here being "suppose") that the stock firebox sides could be cut away and replaced with ones salvaged from another project. Whatever Lanny ends up turing out will be right better than most other options out there on the market now (including brass both for price and operation).
As this link has already pointed out though, just how difficult would it be for Bachmann to build a new 2-8-2 from the excellent 2-8-0 foundation they have already produced? One wouldn't think it could cost as much as erecting a brand new locomotive from the railhead up. It probably goes without saying that the popularity of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement coupled with a specimen different from all of those USRAs flooding the market (and the added bonus that the Harriman's were PLENTIFUL, historically speaking) should be a success.
With all of the road specific and prototypically-rare steam locos out there being marketed (I assume) because there is money to be made on so doing, how is it that none of the manufacturers' marketing departments understand they have a potential boon just waiting to be faithfully and reliably represented?
By now I know I'm preaching to the choir, however, it would be nice to hear the Bach Man weigh in on this months-long recurring topic with a little insight into how the corporate guys see this.
Brad
Modeling the IC in 1950
