Why its important to place a PreOrder on a model that holds your interest.

As has been said quite a few times in this hobby, PreOrders are essential...

No kidding that the CRM S-2 Berkshire Project is really one that should've been brass... But, that would put a wonderful model outside of reach for many. So, trying pretty hard and giving our utmost, it was found to be achievable in diecast/plastic format. What does this mean? It means that for the first time ever an accurate true to prototype Nickel Plate Road S-2 Berkshire will be available in 1:87 Scale, and for what is considered agreeable pricing. Notice that the former reads 'S-2' Berkshire, and not 'Van Sweringen' Berkshire. Well that's because contrary to popular belief, these Advisory Mechanical Committee Berks are not the same. Cousins yes, and some would say sisters, but definitely not the same. The C&O actually experienced this first hand after acquiring the PM models. The point of all this is explaining why if you want a real museum tier NKP S-2 in HO, PreOrdering off this site is probably the best and most likely way that one will ever be produced. Now these are some bold statements and we all know tooling exists to make Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4's but there has never been tooling designed to replicate the S-2 series exactly, or at least if it was designed then major holes were in the data. Now the CRM S-2 tooling is indeed being designed to be incorporated into the other VS/AMC 2-8-4's, at least the parts that are interchangeable with anything else from the S-2. Believe it or not a good portion of the tooling is not interchangeable with anything outside of the S-2, not even Nickel Plate's own S-3 Class! (Believe us, we really tried on that one). The Pere Marquette N Class (1225 is of fame) is actually the closest to the S-2, and we're working on the unique details which set the 2 classes apart. The C&O K-4 has some variants that are very close however the K-4 is indeed probably the most different, but we have the parameters of the chassis and boiler down so these unique locomotives can also be expected eventually after the S-2. As much interest as exists for each AMC 2-8-4 the cost of tooling would put such a feat out of reach for simultaneous production and the pricing to modelers would be exorbitant if all released at once. 

Now of course lets say this S-2 Project is successful and well received. That would be great and soon after another AMC 2-8-4, one of the very close cousins mentioned above, will be made next. This requires a new boiler detail/cab/driver/cylinder and tender tooling just to name familiar components. But it certainly is feasible and will happen if enough interest is expressed. 

Its quite arguable that the Nickel Plate Road S-2 is the most famous and fanfared of the AMC 2-8-4 designs. Now of course that does not mean the S-2 is better, it just means this class is famous and not least due to the preservation era. Aside from being a very special class to the founder of CRM, any endeavor to produce the AMC 2-8-4 series with absolute focus to each prototype and no hodgepodge/splicing/fudging etc. would probably start with the S-2 series. 

It is hoped you are enjoying this article and it helps you see why a PreOrder for a unique prototype is absolutely essential when dealing with such factors as tooling cost and market interest. Without those PreOrders quite a few unique prototypes -meaning not paint scheme interchangeable and primarily just released under one roadname- just simply could not be successfully brought to market feasibly. 

So in conclusion, if you are seeing a unique model you would like to purchase announced by a company and they are accepting PreOrders, there's a good chance without that expression of interest then the project just could not be brought forth. It is immensely helpful to the designers of a model when they know that they indeed can pursue the tendering of tooling and that the project will be able to be released to the public successfully. 

Cardinal River Models LLC very much appreciates your visit to the website and reading of this article.