Large Scale Central

Aristrocraft survival

General Discussion
#121

To the subject at hand, Aristo’s survival…

I have made a move to 1:20.3, dumped a lot of LGB to help fund it. Aristo’s direct to consumer model along with their frequent communications to the general public work for me. Not a huge supporter of Aristo as they offered little I wanted until now. I have found their customer service when ordering direct to be outstanding…Even stellar. The addition of the Revo sound receivers is a welcome addition for me (Bummed I just picked up two “old” non-sound receivers). I will be buying a significant quantity of their soon to be released ore cars.

Are they in trouble? What company isn’t? Most are struggling. I have more hope for them now after reading their words in the “Insider” than I do from wild speculation from “outsiders”. They could very well fail, but their new marketing strategy has won me over, I can’t believe I am the only one.

#122

Lewis said a bunch of times that he was convinced that smaller locos were the way to go. He claimed the larger locos like the mallett didn’t sell well because they were too big for most people. And alternative theory is they didn’t sell well because they were prone to wheel slip and mis-wiring. That’s why they made the consolidation. Of course, the consolidation has the same wheel slip issues and some new ones all its own. I have no idea if he’s right about that the relative demand for smaller locos. It’s right for our layout–I’ve downsized mikados to consols and Pacifics to atlantics, and the RS-3 is the boggest diesel we run. But there seems to be plenty of demand for bigger stuff. The little 0-4-0 is a nice loco, and it’s supposed to be “upgraded” to the prime mover gearbox sometime in the near future. Or at least it was. I spent a lot of time “superdetailing” one of those, trying to make it a little less toylike. I added powered trucks to the tender

(http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/westover/A5/a5d.jpg)

(http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/magic/westover/A5/a5c.jpg)

the tender looks ridiculous, I think, but the thing pulls stumps now, way more than the prototype. Someday I’ll rework the tender. But it’s a good inexpensive small steamer even out of the box

#123
Mark V said:
The addition of the Revo sound receivers is a welcome addition for me (Bummed I just picked up two "old" non-sound receivers).
I had intended to buy more Revo receivers at the York show this past year, but I was assured at the show that the sound receivers were in-transit and should be for sale by May, so I held off. Then it was July. Now the regular receivers are out of stock everywhere, and I have a bunch of locomotives on hold. I'd really like the sound receivers to show up!
#124

Amen Bob!

#125
Doug Arnold said:
I like seeing the large locomotives and my layout has large radius curves but I only run small engines and short trains because that's what my layout is.

I would rather see some small steam engines. I might even buy one!


I’ve got a few hopeless junkers lying around here someplace I could sell you. :stuck_out_tongue:

#126

How hopeless are they John? Sounds like a winter project!

Email me at [email protected] when you get a chance.

#127

Funny, the Consolidation is no smaller, from the perspective of minimum radius, wheelbase, etc. than the Mikado. Lewis likewise said to me personally exactly what Mike (lownote) has recounted.

The 0-4-0 with the new gearboxes will be quite an improvement, since the drive train was one weak point. The other weak point, a short “wheelbase” for power pickup can be alleviated by changing out the existing 2 wheel pickup in the tender and replacing 8 wheel pickup using ball bearing wheels. Doing that mod will really realize the potential of this venerable Aristo offering.

To that point, I’m surprised that Aristo has not made an 0-6-0 switcher, enough wheels for reasonable pickup, enough room for reasonable weight for pulling power.

Also, why not a 2-6-0 loco?

With the modular design of their gearboxes, this seems relatively simple engineering. Yes I know the real costs are in the molds for the boiler, cab, tender.

Regards, Greg

#128

Greg, I just hope they get the check gauge right on that 0-4-0 this time…

#129

Someone commented about direct sales from USAT and Bachmann. USAT is part of the Charles Ro supply company and has always been a direct sales type company.

I saw the revised 0-4-0 from Aristo a few months back in Irvington. Had their prime mover gear box and they moved the controls to the tender like on the rest of their steam line.

#130
Mark Oles said:
Someone commented about direct sales from USAT and Bachmann. USAT is part of the Charles Ro supply company and has always been a direct sales type company.

I saw the revised 0-4-0 from Aristo a few months back in Irvington. Had their prime mover gear box and they moved the controls to the tender like on the rest of their steam line.


AAAAAA Im back from vacation , as usual Mark is wrong About USA trains as they are a dealer oriented company that does do shows on its own as well,
These type people really know nothing about large scale and have repeatedly supported a company that BS’s its customers And as far as the 040 is concerned, Thats as likely as the REVO more BS from the Insider???, Aristo from what was post here can bearly meet payrole let alone the ideal of bringing new product to market. from what I was told there are 6 employees left at aristo including the two joksters of the company,very sad day.It would be great if Scott was more concerned about his company then going to play Golf at the convention when he asked his formers dealers to come they said Kiss off From what I heard.
What I want to know is were are my replacement wheels for my Connie and my SS wheels you promised well over a year ago. more cover ups more deceit
from the worst train company on the planet from my dealings with them.
Nick

#131

Don’t mince words Nick, tell us how you really feel. :wink: :wink: :lol: :wink: :wink:

#132

Nick,
times are obviously hard for Scott and the few remaining staff. Scott is simply trying to remain optimistic in trying times. It seems to me like Aristo was heading straight for an iceberg and the long serving captain, not wanting a disaster on his hands, relieved himself of command and went to his cabin to rest (retire). The first mate, a young boy and heir apparent, was pushed into the captain’s position moments before the collision with the iceberg. No matter what action he took the ship was doomed. As the ship hit the berg, the boy was still heard to comment what a beautiful starry night it was and such a beautiful night for a cruise. Was he oblivious to the looming disaster or simply trying to keep morale high in the bridge?

   Scott will be blamed for the demise,  but in reality the market simply was not conducive to survival.  Direct marketting is only good while stock exists onhand.  When the wharehouse in empty what does he sell then?  I imaging,  the Chinese, being burned with the LGB fiasco many years ago,  will want payment upfront on future orders.  I would not be anticipating much variety in future production.  

   It looks like the well known full retail eBay 'Buy it Now' sellers will be having the last laugh.  Finally,  they will begin to sell items that they have had listed for years and unable to shift as they kept their prices higher than the box shifters.  Some of their locomotives are so old and yet still 'new' stock description.  I remember buying one locomotive as 'new',  only to find that it was years old and not the latest release.   Buyer beware!!!!!
#133

Nick,

You are so quick to respond to me, why is that? Whatever. I wasn’t talking at you, silly goose.

USA Trains is part of Charles RO Supply Company and has ALWAYS sold direct. Get an old issue of Garden railways from the late 80s when they first copied the LGB boxcars and reefers to see for your self.

#134

Yes Charles Ro does sell USA Trains direct and always has done, just like AristoCraft.
The difference is that, to the best of my knowledge, Charles Ro sells them direct at full MSRP and does not openly discount like AristoCraft is now doing.

#135

The style of that 0-4-0’s tender is good, but to tall compared to the cab, engineer wouldnt be able to see rearward on either side of the coal pile. Shortened or changed to a USRA style or a clear vision like NYC used would make that little switcher nice. I wish Scott the best of luck, only he truely knows what is happening, unless he is in total denial that his company is circling the drain. They may just be caught up in the mess in China, heck even Atlas cant get track made. Huge track shortage in HO and N scale right now. Lots of companies lost thier places to get trains made in China and are still scrambling for someone to mold for them. Problem is the tooling is owned by the Chinese goverment on many instances, so they cant just ship the tools stateside and get train production back here where it belongs. If Scott is reading this thread, I hope he and his company does not go the way of the dino and end up insolvent like LGB did. Nobody wants that, even folks that might not care for his products or him personaly. Mike and Michele T

#136
TonyWalsham said:
Yes Charles Ro does sell USA Trains direct and always has done, just like AristoCraft. The difference is that, to the best of my knowledge, Charles Ro sells them direct at full MSRP and does not openly discount like AristoCraft is now doing.
Nope.....Charlies direct prices a just a little more than the retailers and his shipping costs are more than fair as far as I'm concerned. While I'm posting on this thread may I also say that in my opinion a lot of this seems to be pure speculation and gossip.
#137
David Russell said:
While I'm posting on this thread may I also say that in my opinion a lot of this seems to be pure speculation and gossip.
I'd say that is an accurate assessment ;) Ralph
#138

David.
Actually you are agreeing with me. Let me put what I am saying another way.
OK maybe not at full MSRP, but Charlie sells direct ABOVE the price a dealer is selling for. Dealer can make a profit.
AristoCraft sells direct BELOW the price a dealer is selling for. Dealer cannot make a profit.

#139
Ralph Berg said:
David Russell said:
While I'm posting on this thread may I also say that in my opinion a lot of this seems to be pure speculation and gossip.
I'd say that is an accurate assessment ;) Ralph
That's what usually happens when manufacturers make peculiar moves that have customers wondering "What's up?" and "What's next?".
#140

Mikes, O’Malley and Toney: Seems to me that if M. O’Malley’s gone over to 1:20, and as M. Toney agrees the tender is too large, then a simple solution would be to make a larger cab for the loco… Just a thought FWIW… Now a question to M. O’Malley. You said they’re maybe going over to the prime mover gearbox on these 0-4-0’s. I got the impression you think that’s good news. I’m not sure what the prime mover is at all (?) but anyways, does that mean the wheel gauge wilkl be correctonifiedimizedificated at last?