Model Power closing?

[overall]

Got an e mail today saying that Model Power is closing down. They were primarily an HO vender but they did make O gauge items also, buildings, figures and the like. I have a set of O gauge street lamps of theirs on my layout. I hate it when an O gauge vendor goes out of business. Each one brings it's own products to the table and helps give us veriety for our layouts. I know I will miss them

[BigAl 956]

Train companies coming and going has been the way of things as long as there have been trains and companies that make them. On the MP web site they are blaming the banks and a lack of financing. A shame as I used to purchase their HO products a long time ago.

It appears to me that we are entering an era like the 1960s where the hobby is shrinking. I suspect Lionel and some of the other big boys will survive but for the small family run companies it's not a good time to be in business I'm afraid. The same also goes for hobby shops. The internet is killing the ma-pa hobby shop and very few are left.

[rack776]

That stinks, I had liked the MP O gauge fences & figures nice looking stuff for a good price.

I cant even consider my local hobby shop anymore...last time I went was at Christmas they wanted $55.00 for a frigging stryofoam o gauge tunnel, $5.00 worth of foam & paint and $50.00 for the Lionel name,I can buy a foam picnic cooler for $5 at the grocery store, $55 for a tunnel?!?!   I rather hit the flea markets & auctions or train shows, the last real hobby shop is gone around here all we have left is a Hobby Town USA in a local mall.   I miss the old days :(

-Jason

[thesiding]

What is to become of the store in Long Island NY?

Also the site still seems to have mail order will that continue?

As to the future of the hobby   did a sale last weekend met a kid named                    ahem

Lionel   though his choice was HO its still nice to see a kid in todays world at double diget ace into trains

[RRaddict]

Well I guess we are blessed out here in So Cal having Arnies Trains in Westminster.  He has awesome prices that blow the socks off internet prices. His prices on O gauge cannot be beat and he always has great deals so if you live in the local area he is worth checking out. They just aquired Milepost 38 and are expanding their store so hopefully this will not effect their great prices. I just thought I would let people know that there are still good local train shops around.

Kevin