The Seedy Side of Town Part II & New FSM Kit

[Anonymous]

I see in the December RMC (Sorry - its not in MR!) Fine Scale Miniatures have a full page ad for their latest kit "Houligan's Alley". Yet another run down diorama, for the "Seed Site of Town". Great looking with lots of detail.

Being priced at $280.00, it is way beyond my interest as it would cost me over $400.00 in my Canadian money. In checking on their website ( www.finescaleminiatures.com ) it says only 730 kits will be produced. It also says they are already sold out! So it looks like someone is interested in this side of town, but probably most buyers are kit collectors and the diorama will never get built. Expect to see some on eBay in a few years for $500.00 and up!

No wonder George Sellios of FSM can spend so much time on his fabulous layout - 730 kits at $280.00 = $204,400.00! [:D]

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info, the photos are worth a lot.

[railman]

The question is why exactly 730? Not taking anything away from FSM, I think the kits look great. But what makes a magic number? Pre-production commitments, perhaps?

[PennsyHoosier]

Why they heck are the advertising it, if it's already sold out. That's either: a) a waste of money; or, b) a ploy to generate more interest.

Either way, it's too expensive for me.

[CNJ831]

In reply to Pennsyhoosier's question, I expect that it is FSM's way of keeping its name and product image before the public. The last few kits FSM offered were sold out before the ads appeared as well. Of course, there's always the chance there might be a few kits remaining unsold by the time the ad appears and a one-time ad will serve to clean George out so he can start fresh. Notice, too, that his ads generally appear one time only in RMC but not usually in MR, who's ad rates are far more expensive, so a single ad is not a significantly expensive deal.

Incidentally, each new kit that is about to appear is noted on several websites that deal with the subject of FSM, often many months in advance of the release date and most guys who are interested pre-order (often sight-unseen!). Clearly, many of these folks are spectulators and I've heard that even George estimates that more than 50% of his kits are bought by people who never intend to build them. A check of eBay will often reveal a 100% increase and more over the original issue price so it's no wonder people do this!

The FSM kits are too rich for my blood too but for those I really like I scale off the magazine photos and eBay ad images and scratchbuild very close approximations for myself.

CNJ831

[Jetrock]

$280? Whew!! If I'm going to build Skid Row, I'm sure as heck not going to pay Park Avenue prices for the kits! See, this kind of thing is where those kits from the deep end of the clearance table of the LHS, the cheap table at the swap meet, or the bottom of the parts bin come in handy. I'm glad such kits exist, since pictures of them are valuable to provide ideas for me to utilize using the old kits I have on hand that cost $2-3 each instead of $200...

--Jetrock, who just finished building a Faller Victorian house kit purchased at a swap meet for $1 last week, and a "Grusom's Casket Co." kit purchased for $3 last year

[CNJ831]

Bob B. - I note that there already are three FSM Houligan's Alley kits up on eBay. One has a day left to go in its auction and is currently at $405 with ten bids, a second with a full week to go is at $350, and there is a third with a "Buy It Now" price of $450! I anticipate each will sell for or exceed the $450 mark. Considering that this kit was issued at $280 kit just a week or two ago, see what I mean about speculators!

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

Why pay that much for a Alley?! It's outrageous. With that kind of money, you could buy a huge model or some rolling stock. Anyways, I think I'll find a 'Houlligan's Alley' that is somewhat less expensive.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by modelrailroader71

Why pay that much for a Alley?! It's outrageous. With that kind of money, you could buy a huge model or some rolling stock. Anyways, I think I'll find a 'Houlligan's Alley' that is somewhat less expensive.

I had a few of the early ($39.95) FSM kits when I first got back into the hobby. I found them to be great for learning to build wood model buildings. Then they started to get more expensive and I lost interest.

Later I scratchbuilt a copy of the FSM "McKenzie Milling" structure and more recently I've completed a diorama based upon the "Baxter's Building Supplies" kit. If I had the interest, I could scratch one of the Houligan's diorama too. No need to pay $400.00 for the kit! [:D]

Bob Boudreau