Hi Forum Members,
I was looking through eBay today and happened to come across a Conrail U25C. It looked very nice and was a new product. The only problem I had with it is that I don't know who the manufacture is. Is anybody familiar with "Korea Brass"? Let me know.
Thanks,
Matt
BrassModelerIs anybody familiar with "Korea Brass"?
Not directly.
https://www.trains.com/mrr/news-reviews/reviews/staff-reviews/korea-brass-ho-scale-u25c/
From what I recall Korea Brass was a "job shop" manufacturing for other importers and they decided to try to launch and distribute their own product. That was back in 2014-15. I don't believe they have released anything else since but I'm going on foggy memory.
I bought a pair of the Rivarossi U25Cs and I'm pretty well satisfied with them. Toward the end of their run they were available at well discounted prices.
Good Luck, Ed
Agreed with Ed above.
If it's a U-25c you want, try to find one of the "late model" Rivarossi units (these were made after Hornby took over, I think). They're beautifully made and excellent runners -- see the MR product review. For a dcc decoder I'd suggest an ESU 53614.
The Rivarossi engines run FAR better than the real GE's ever did...!
Brasstrains Dot Com lists Korea Brass as a builder. They currently have 11 models listed with importers like Precision Scale, New Jersey Custom Brass, Crown Custom Imports, and Hallmark.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I have 5 of the Rivarossi U-boats, and have a very high opinion of them.
I believe the Korea Brass locomotives are in the ballpark with these. NOT garbage, at all.
But since the Rivarossi were dumped at "fire sale prices", Korea Brass just wasn't/wouldn't sell.
If you can get a good price, I think you'll be happy with the Korea Brass.
It's tough to break into a foreign market when you don't have the "locals" to guide you. And I think that KB did not have those people.
Ed
Kevin, for a little clarification - the name you mentioned, New Jersey Custom Brass is incorrect. The name was NJ Custom Brass which evoled to NJ International. The 'NJ' referred to the two partners, Nick and Jack. Nick retired to the Boca Raton, FL area and Jack, along with his wife and son, still run NJ International. They're out of the brass train business, but still produce signals and signal systems to operate their signals. I know Jack for close to 50 years and we talk weekly (he's also one of our customers).
Neal
I have a NYC 0-10-0 switcher, 2-6-6-2 Mallet, and a boxcab - all produced by NJ Custom Brass. I believe they were all produced in the late 70s and I've been VERY happy with the quality - both model-wise and mechanically. Beautiful models!
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
nealknowsNew Jersey Custom Brass is incorrect. The name was NJ Custom Brass which evoled to NJ International. The 'NJ' referred to the two partners, Nick and Jack.
Thanks Neal. I have been calling that incorrectly for decades!
I also recently found out I was mispronouncing Akane.
BrassModelerThanks. Will definitely get some U25s from Rivarossi.
You won't, unfortunately, get some U25s FROM Rivarossi. Or from Hornby.
Manufacture of the models has ceased. Also unfortunately. Might start up again, someday. Ya never know.
However, you can probably find them at an auction site.
Be VERY informed that Rivarossi has made two VERY different versions of these. One might be called Rivarossi-AHM. The other Rivarossi-Hornby. The former is WAY older than the latter. The drive sucks. It's not a GREAT model, though when it came out, it was far better looking than any other HO diesel.
You almost surely will want the Hornby version. So "beware".
And, by the way, the AHM U25C is a phase II, while the Hornby is a phase III. Someone somewhere out there must have, by now, plopped the phase II AHM body on top of the Hornby drive.
Three syllables, isn't it?
AHM? Yes, it is.