Looking for LAL engines in HO

Try Empire Northern Models in Webster, NY.
When I was there about a month ago he had an LA&L C-424, I think it was #424.

http://www.empirenorthernmodels.com/index.htm

His website does not list very much of what he actually has on hand.
Hope this helps in the search.

Mike

All these units are being released in N Scale if anyone is looking for them in a smaller scale. The RS 1 was released earlier in the year??. But the Century units are due out any time now!

Returning to the topic of finding these locos after release-- it's getting more difficult. It's my understanding that Atlas and others are producing very close to the pre-order numbers with few extras. In addition, despite the affection for the LA&L on this forum it's not as well known as other roadnames and I would speculate that means fewer pre-orders.

I don't like it either, but "you snooze you lose" is becoming a more appropriate saying in model railroading. My soft metric is how much new vs. old material is available at train shows. There's not nearly as much that was on pre-order only as there is the same old same old from years gone by.

There are those who don't pre order (myself among them, generally) but I think that it's getting harder to take that chance. Patience can be rewarded with units well below MSRP in the aftermarket, to be sure, but I believe it'll take a lot more patience than it used to.

Any word on if you can call atlas and have them make a one off? That would be nice.

I just went to ATLAS RR 'S website and found a ho scale L.A. & L RR ALCO C420 . try this link

http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomot ... 318_TQ.jpg

or this one
http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/hoc420b.htm#

Tom

There must be an echo in here...

Otto Vondrak wrote:Ooooh, LAL 420 looks pretty....

Thank you Sir. I belive I overlooked that while browsing the website. Otto did mention it, but i see the "Estimated delivery" date is next month, nd from what another user said, atlas is, or was "making exact pre-order amounts, or very close to the pre-order amount." Which translates to if you DON'T pre-order, chances are slim that you are getting one.

Once again, thank you to everyone for their continued support

kf7strng wrote:Any word on if you can call atlas and have them make a one off? That would be nice.

Wait a second... didn't you say:

kf7strng wrote: And I'd like to stay reletively CHEAP (Is $60-$70/unit asking too much?)

And you want to inquire with Atlas about making a custom one-off for you? I think you're pulling our leg, sir!

-otto-

Yeah, either that, or fooling myself!

best thing to do would be to just get a nickle plate road loco and reletter and number it won't that work?? The paint jobs are almost close to a match.

In addition to the info on the hobby shop in Webster NY having one, Mainine Hobby Suply is currently listing LAL # 424 on their website. $99.99. (717) 794-2860 (easier than a website!!)

sjl


DISCLAIMER: i work there....

Thank yuo for the info!

The LAL is not that close to the Nickel Plate. Not as close as you think, and it is not a derivative of the Nickel Plate.

Dave Becker

scharnhorst wrote:best thing to do would be to just get a nickle plate road loco and reletter and number it won't that work?? The paint jobs are almost close to a match.

The only thing that was painted with Nickel Plate wide nose stripes was the Ontario Central RS-36 before it was rebuilt and repainted by LAL.

-otto-

kf7strng wrote:Thank you Sir. I belive I overlooked that while browsing the website. Otto did mention it, but i see the "Estimated delivery" date is next month, nd from what another user said, atlas is, or was "making exact pre-order amounts, or very close to the pre-order amount." Which translates to if you DON'T pre-order, chances are slim that you are getting one.

That was me on the pre-order quantity comment. Estimated delivery date, as you probably know, is not the time to pre-order; the window closes on that several months prior.

It won't be impossible to get a unit that's not pre-ordered, but I think it will be more difficult. I would imagine that your best bet is a hobby shop that pre-orders a few on the speculation that they'll sell when seen. The LA&L is simply not going to have the wide appeal of a Class 1 line, though, and I think that means a lot fewer of these were made.

MB Klein, one of the larger mail order and retail model railroading stores, recently took a position of not accepting pre-orders. Apparently they're just going to bring in what they think will sell. It will be interesting to see how that works out. Meanwhile they might be a source for those of us who don't pre-order.