Large Scale Central

Walthers: More adventures in marketing Large Scale

General Discussion
#41

The biggest shame is the lack of availability for those of us with large roads who are modelling American unit trains.

Between NOS and the selection of used & warranty repair kits from eBay that were available, I’ve amassed a fleet of approximately 30 of the centerflow hoppers. I still would like to get a couple of the new B&O ones though. The shame is that the LGB 3-bay is almost the same price as the USA 4-bay. And we all know which one is far superior in quality. The only advantage the only advantage the LGB version has over the USA version is that of durability of the (few) details it has.

I really wish either USA or Aristo would have managed to get the molds for those cars, they would have sold like hotcakes.

#42

You know Jason, there’s nothing preventing either Aristo or USAT to expand their selection … other than the limited market and the high price of tooling. :wink: :slight_smile:
They could even do simplified versions - the customer adds his own details - in plain “undecorated” manner. But I would almost bet that their market research indicates “people want a finished, detailed product”.

Yep, you can get all kinds of different manner of product in other scales (kits, half finished etc.) , just not in LS, must be because with all the work we have in the garden we wouldn’t get around to it, eh! :stuck_out_tongue: :wink: :open_mouth:

#43

Agreed. However, I can also understand their desire not duplicate the efforts of another company. USA has the tooling, they are doing 4 & 2 bay hoppers, but they avoid the 3-bay, why? Only reason that makes ANY sense to me is because LGB already did those.

In any case, those warrant repair kits that have been selling on ebay for the last year or so are teh best! I assembled a complete PRR centerflow hopper from one, supplied my own trucks & wheels, and for 45 dollars had a) the fun of assembling a kit b) a complete, ready to run car in about two hours.

The hardest part was going through my spare screws trying to find enough of each size to assemble the thing.

#44

Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
You know Jason, there’s nothing preventing either Aristo or USAT to expand their selection … other than the limited market and the high price of tooling. :wink: :slight_smile: They could even do simplified versions - the customer adds his own details - in plain “undecorated” manner. But I would almost bet that their market research indicates “people want a finished, detailed product”. Yep, you can get all kinds of different manner of product in other scales (kits, half finished etc.) , just not in LS, must be because with all the work we have in the garden we wouldn’t get around to it, eh! :stuck_out_tongue: :wink: :open_mouth:

A Round Tuit? A Round Tuit? I’ve been looking for a Round Tuit for years! This is the Round Tuit that was minted by king Arthur.

(http://www.quantumenterprises.co.uk/roundtuitimages/arthurian_med_180.gif)

Muttering to myself as I schlep off to kill the pretty flowers that the county has determined are noxious weeds.

(http://plants.usda.gov/gallery/large/anof_001_lvp.jpg)

Anchusa officinalis