SD70ACe

Despite the graininess, the colors on the locomotives are fabulous. Wish I was there even more now. O well.

Irv

..

For anyone looking for " Imagine That "   

I was curious about the " French-Canadian " part as they are in  McGregor, Ontario.  Mark and Laura Williams.  I don' t see the " French-Canadian " but no big deal.  

http://www.imaginethatlaserart.com/

Marc Fournier, Quebec

Canadian then

I probably assumed (a bad idea, yes) that they were French-Canadian based on when I was visiting them yesterday,  the lady who appeared to be in charge was looking for  a price list for someone - and admitted they didn't have any at the moment that were in English.

I was actually more amused - in a, "best to find this out the day before the show starts than the morning of," way. Happily the internet and portable computers have made what might have been a disaster instead a mild inconvenience.

The work, from all appearances, is fantastic.

Nice stuff!

Good Job Jeff. The Imagine That products look most interesting.

I noted the new MTH product line up over on the MR site and wondered if they are going to release locos that have already been produced by other companies. I saw they will offer a Challenger, a UP 9000 series 4-12-2, and NYC Hudsons (although these are streamlined). 

What I would give for two proto-based 2-8-0s.... I believe there is only one available in HO. This is a loco wheel arrangement that can be used on 90% of the steam era layouts, yet it is ignored. We get to choose from two different Big Boys, three Challengers, two 4-12-2s (which look great on 24-inch curves I'll bet..), huge 4-8-4s, 2-10-4s, and loads of late steam. 

I'm thankful for the Spectrum efforts with the 4-6-0 and 4-4-0 models and different tenders. The missing 2-8-0 models are a HUGE hole to fill. We could easily use four to six different locos of this wheel arrangement. Maybe Jeff will surprise us as the NTS ambles along. 

Rant off.

Eric

2-8-0

MFR's take note:  I absolutely agree with Eric:  A good 2-8-0 would be a worthy contribution to a product line. Consolidations were used everywhere, over a 100 year span, for freight and even passenger ops.  They're good pullers, generally small drivered, so are perfect for slow speed operation on layouts.  With sound systems sync'ed to the drivers, you get plenty of "foamer" sounds at all speeds.

+ +

"  - and admitted they didn't have any at the moment that were in English. "

That is surprising as the web site does not have a lick of French on it.

They have some interresting background  building flats  thow.

Marc Fournier, Quebec

Did they happen to have a set

MTH

When I was at their booth (early Thursday evening) shooting the photos, there was nobody around to ask.

I didn't make it back there on Friday.

Thanks for the pictures of

Thanks for the pictures of Imagine That!, Jeff.  I would second your observation on the Imagine That! booth.  I was quite impressed with their offerings myself as they already have a variety of products on the market and have been in existence for less than a year.  The level of detail that the buildings possessed was impressive and I was toying with buying a flat as a have a spot on my layout that would be just PERFECT for them, but to be honest the prices are still a little steep for the likes of me at present (I spent too much on Friday regardless!).  The modular pieces are also designed to go together quite easily, and non-90 degree angles can be made much easier than the DPM/Walthers modular structures can.  You just need to make your own cornices, but that's far simpler than getting their plastic counterparts to sit at the proper angle

The only other concern I had was on painting them; the structures themselves are made from MDF and not bass or stripwood and as such (according to the owners) they will readily accept paint as easily as styrene/resin.  Also, they definitely have more "heft" then the average kit and don't need the bracing that something similar in plastic would need.  One of the attendants at the booth was very heavy handed (on purpose) with the models, and their strength was quite impressive.  I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for them in the future.

Thanks for sharing your photos!

~Rich

The rest of the photos

I just posted the rest of the photos I took at Hartford - at least the ones that made it home with me.

http://www.shultzinfosystems.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=31678

I'm captioning them as I go - I've got the Clinics folder captioned (as needed) and the National Train Show Setup folder captioned. Now to work on the LD-SIG layout tour. I think I have over 300 shots in that folder....

Spectrum 4-6-0

Eric, are you happy with the Ten Wheeler? Am considering purchasing one.

Roy