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 Contrary to some thinking out there- the molds do NOT last forever! They wear and sometimes crack and break. Most new tools are not made of steel like the old Athearn or Details West molds. .......and yes, It is very expensive to have a new mold done, let alone CORRECTLY. You cannot just find a standard machinist and give him a blueprint and say "Here, go make this". You need people who understand how this part or that part needs to be done so that the mold fills (and cools) correctly, where to put the gates and what type of matierial will run in it. People who tool for the model railroad industry are especially hard to come by and they charge accordingly- in the U.S., China, or anywhere else. Also, most of the good manufacturers do not use "regrind" plastic. That has its own set of pitfalls that do not work out well.Speaking from experience,   Keith Turley/ Details West
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