Hi,
Since I do not own any brass vehicle, I am curious to know what is so special about them. Are they detailed beyond plastic? Is it the feeling of value and exclusiveness associated with the weight? Craftsmanship? or is it something else?
Regards
Walid
Sometimes heftier, but that applies to price as well.
Sometimes/often more detail, but the gap has narrowed markedly since 2009 or so.
More road/engine specific details that make for a more prototypical model. IOW, fewer USRA 'foobies' with road names that never existed.
Often get engines not produced in plastic or pot metals at all.
The feeling that you have 'invested' in an up-scale item, a prized gem that you would be proud to display.
Nearly all my brass locomotives are USRA designs that have good running better detailed plastic versions available.
.
The brass locomotives are easier to maintain and service. This is important to me. The designs are also rugged and simple.
I own more brass freight cars than brass locomotives. Brass freight cars give me the opportunity to own some really interesting styles of freight cars.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Hello—
selectorOften get engines not produced in plastic or pot metals at all.
This would probably be my top priority when choosing a brass model. There were large electric "motors" that once operated in my home city of Cleveland, Ohio. These locomotives have been made by at least three different builders in brass. This is probably a type of locomotive that would never be considered for the mass-market so it was something I was willing to pay a premium for in brass.
IMG_6789_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
It is not only locomotives. There are many examples of rolling stock and even structures that fall into this category, too.
I have always wanted an accurate representation of the private car "Ferdinand Magellan" that was specifically modified by Pullman for the exclusive use of the President of the U.S.. Accurate models have never been mass produced so the only option is to scratch build or turn to a brass model:
IMG_8223_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
selectorSometimes/often more detail, but the gap has narrowed markedly since 2009 or so.
I have purchased some 1960s era models and given them the upgrade treatment, new motor, replaced crude details with more recent lost-wax castings. For example:
IMG_8544_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
This NYC H-10 was imported by LMB models in the early 1960s. With a little fine-tuning it looks and runs as good as anything produced by the large-volume manufacturers. If it were ever produced in plastic or "hybrid" I would certainly consider adding one or more to my roster but until that unlikely prospect comes to fruition, I'll be enjoying this fifty-year old "classic" on my layout.
This is what works for me. YMMV.
Thank You, Ed
Though my current model railroad budget basically allows for only very reasonably priced motive power (kids approaching college, etc.), in the past I have owned and played with some magnificent HO brass models.
The most recently produced brass steam engines, from Sam Model Tech (formerly Samhongsa) and Boo Rim Precision, both in South Korea offer many features that do not exist in plastic or even many of the brass hybrid offerings. They offer amazing levels of detail: cab gauges that have the face and dial painted, some opening hatches (with painted piping showing beneath), very well detailed cab interiors, illuminated numberboards, sometimes illuminated classification lights, etc. The drive trains offer individually sprung drivers, which track much better over most real world HO trackwork. They run extremely well, exceptionally well.
They are of limited production, now often serial numbered runs (though as Howard Zane will tell you sometimes there are extra engines and/or there are non-serial-numbered extras from the same product run that are out there). The paint jobs can be exceptional, and all of this means the latest models, be they steam or diesel, are not inexpensive.
Though I'm currently buying old Stewart/Kato plastic diesels inexpensively, because they are a great value, generally speaking I think you get what you pay for in this hobby. The elite brass models, that are legitimately rare, at least hold their values better than many others.
I've owned several brass hybrid steamers. They have fairly rigid drive mechanisms and the big 4-8-4's derail very easily when compared to the tracking properties of the full-on brass models which have individually sprung and equalized drivers. There is a world of difference in the performance of a $600 hybrid and the full brass versions which can be $1200 or more.
For some people, perhaps even most people, the difference in performance does not justify the price difference. I get that.
The whole brass hobby is different. There are people who enjoy owning something handmade and legitimately rare, just because they enjoy collecting.
Also, some of the most valuable engines were imported by W&R, made by Samhongsa in Seoul, South Korea, and have doubled or tripled in value since their arrival in the U.S. because they are exceptionally fine models, are well built, and run. They used stainless steel valve gear and stainless steel driver tires. You can run them without the drivers showing any evidence of wear, and they are actually built to run and run. Specific examples include the Rio Grande 2-8-8-2's and Western Pacific 2-8-8-2's. These are highly coveted and do not go for cheap.
Another entirely different segment of the brass hobby includes the folks who buy the older vintage brass, tinker with it to get it to run flawlessly (engines made prior to the early 1980's may require some tinkering to run well), and they buy them because maybe that engine or nothing even remotely close to it was ever offered in plastic.
There are many roads even now for which only one or zero steam engines has ever been available in anything OTHER THAN brass, excepting perhaps a handful of USRA steam "exceptions". So if you want to legitimately model that particular road, you need the brass steamers.
Those roads include but are not limited to: Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line, Texas & Pacific, Western Pacific, Rio Grande (standard gauge), Missouri Pacific, Boston and Maine, New Haven, Lehigh Valley, CNJ, Reading, B&LE, B&O, WM, D&H, and others.
Plenty of reasonably priced (plastic or diecast) models have been offered for PRR, NYC, SP, ATSF, UP, and a few others--but steam fans who don't want to complete extensive modifications often find themselves drawn to brass models or else USRA versions (that many roads owned and customized over time), or those known secondhand engines that went from the very biggest roads to many others.
So the answers to many questions will be "it depends".
Respectfully submitted--
John Mock
As already mentioned, brass's attractiveness - in general - is better detailing (that depends on the manufacturer and model) and the opportunity to obtain a unique prototype. I have 5 brass locomotives (4 steam, 1 diesel) and 2 brass cabooses modeled after specific units used on the NYC. Except for the cabooses and a 4-6-4 Hudson, the majority of the brass locomotives I own will never be produced in anything other than brass because they have only limited appeal - even to NYC modelers:
Like Ed though - if some manufacturer produces a NYC H-10a/10b or an L-2 Mohawk in plastic or brass-hybrid, I would be all over it. I'm not going to hold my breath though.
Price for brass does NOT always equate to superior running models though. While some older and inexpensive brass can run quite well, a higher-quality brass locomotive might turn out to be a poor runner - just like in plastic. Every model is different - even from the same manufacturer.
Most of the newer brass being produced nowadays will - more than not - run very well and may even come pre-wired for/pre-installed with DCC and sound. I still suspect that the majority of brass acquisitions are by collectors, who only keep them in boxes and will never see the light of day on any layout. That isn't me. If I purchase ANY locomotive, it's for the purpose of operating it on my layout.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I think it will depend what you prefer to model. If you prefer diesels, I don't think brass is a serious option. I like steam logging locos and brass offers the best range of models in terms of looks and longevity. I must admit that I also like the "feel" of a metal or brass engine, pipework and all. It just looks and feels like a real miniature steam locomotive... Totally absurd and subjective, I know.
Simon
Simon,
Not absurd, at all. I'm sure the added weight of the brass doesn't hurt in regards to tractive force when pulling heavy logs up a steep grade.
I've seen and repaired, re-built, re-detailed and painted or re-painted many very appealing brass locomotives, but unless the price is also appealing, they're not mine.
The ones I do have were bargain priced, and most needed some work.
This one, originally an unpainted model of a B&M B-15 Mogul, was $99.00, but didn't run. I remotored it and later re-geared it, too, but because I don't model the B&M, I painted and lettered it for one of my freelanced roads. I changed the air pump for a cross-compound type, added cab window awnings to hide the arched window-tops, and a few other details...
...later, I changed the original old-style brass cab for a more modern one (from a Bachmann Consolidation), modified the tender by building up the cistern and coal bunker using styrene, and changed the "Economy-style" cylinder set-up to better represent a full piston-valve locomotive. I also added a bunch of weight to both loco and tender. It's a smooth runner and, despite its diminutive size, a decent puller, too....
It might still be worth $99.00, or maybe more, or maybe much less...I don't care!
I bought this one next...don't recall the exact price, but probably around $250.00-or-so, as it didn't have its original box. For me, that was pushing my financial limits, but it's one of my favourite prototypes and the price was appealing because a similar model was also for sale, at the same shop, for around twice the price. For collectors, perhaps the box would be worth as much as the model, but I can make a serviceable box if I wanted to simply store it.
I stripped the original paint and repainted it, with very little modifications - a few re-soldered details on the loco and a built-up coal bunker extension like its prototype (done in styrene on the model)....
I'd guess it to still be worth its original $250.00 cost, but again, not of great concern.I later got a second one, already painted, at an even better price (with its original box) at an estate sale. The price was good because the seller (family of a deceased acquaintance, whom I knew through chats at my LHS) was not only interested in getting a very large collection of brass sold, but also wanted it to go to people who would appreciate and enjoy the models. Its prototype belonged to the same class as the one in the photo above, but was quite different in appearance. I'm re-detailing the loco (fairly extensively) but the tender is also very different from the prototype I want it to represent...so much so that I'll paint and save the body as-is, and scratchbuild a new body to fit onto the original tender's chassis. For that, I'll use mostly styrene. It will result in a model numbered to match a specific prototype and will better represent it than would the original brass tender. Will it still be worth what I payed for it? Who cares!
I attended that estate sale with a friend who bought several brass locomotives, and as I was going to be painting/re-painting or repairing his purchases, he also bought a brass CNR Mogul for me. I'm going to modify it to match a locomotive which I remember seeing as a child - on that occasion, it was laying on its side in the middle of a street after the tender had picked the points of an in-street turnout.The loco has already been modified, but the tender of this one will also require a new body to fit onto the original chassis. Value? Memories of that day are priceless.
A friend had bought this brass loco at a train show. I don't know what he payed for it, but I got it running for him buy swapping out the magnets in the open-frame motor and replacing them with rare earth magnets. I also added all-wheel pick-up to it, repaired a few details, and gave it a quick re-paint.
A couple of months later, he decided that it didn't pull enough for his operational needs, so he purchased a pair of United B&O 0-8-0s. I got those to be painted, and decided to also add all-wheel pick-up to both. He was extremely pleased with both the work that I had done and with the locos' performance, and asked me, "Do you want that CNR switcher?""Well", I replied, "that depends on how much you want for it." He shot back, "I asked it you wanted it! Do you want it or not?" A bit taken aback, I began to answer, but he cut me off. "If you want it, it's yours!"Well, sometimes I don't know when to shut-up, but this appeared to be a good time to do so. When I got the locomotive, I replaced the single-phase air pump with a cross-compound one, changed the number to represent a loco which had been assigned locally, and gave it a new paint job. I also added quite a bit of weight to both loco and tender, with the result that it could easily handle 19 or 20 cars on level track. I did offer it back to him, but he was happy with the whole transaction, and declined...
What's it worth? What's a friendship worth?
The same friend, just yesterday, offered me another brass loco in exchange for a paint job for a just-purchased brass model. I'll certainly do the paint job, but I'm not sure that I need another locomotive.
Wayne
Love the photos and the stories, Wayne. And I've also benefitted from generous MRRing friends over the years. Yes, you can be a lone wolf modeler but still have friends in the hobby.
I disagree with the comment about brass diesels not being "a serious option". There are some plastic diesels that have chronic assembly issues--to the point where I can search through 30 or more plastic models and not find a single one acceptable--such that I would buy the brass version every single time. Also, some of today's Division Point and other brass diesels are just simply amazing models of their prototypes--and scarce or rarely seen roadnames have been done that will never be readily available in plastic.
There have been many recent brass diesels that I saw photos of online (like the Division Point EJ&E RS-1) and wished I could buy...they are just beyond me at the present time...maybe someday again.
Also the entire 1940-41 East Wind passenger consist in lemon yellow, brunswick green and silver pinstripes is awesome in brass!
In the meantime I'm looking for certain factory painted brass cabooses that exceed what is available in plastic. Maybe I could get the occasional caboose.
Regarding the comments above about price not always equaling quality, that can indeed be true, but I have not seen a steam engine from Boo Rim that did not run great right out of the box. I just have not--every single one has been amazing. Perhaps my sample size was limited?
John
I remember when getting your first brass ... whatever, locomotive, rolling stock ... was considered a rite of passage into being a "serious" modeler. So my first brass purchases, all relative bargains, were intended to be my rite of passage. They were all a dog's breakfast of stuff with only one locomotive being even vaguely related to what I was otherwise modeling. Four steam locomotives and a couple of freight cars, now joined by two (painted) cabooses which actually are closely related to what I am modeling and may be my most accurate models in terms of detail, and paint and lettering.
The allure to me is what craftsmanship the brass steam locomotives represent. These are not factory items, each represents the actual careful work of one or more individuals, quite possibly people in Korea (or earlier, Japan) who have no actual interest in or knowledge about what they are building. Beautiful workmanship has its own virtues.
Having said that, lost wax casting brass detail parts (such as CalScale's AB brake set) have their own beauty and heft, even though the detail per se may be no better and perhaps not even quite as good as the plastic casting counterpart set. Brass is a very attractive metal.
Dave Nelson
Speaking of...
This neat, little Pennsy B8a arrived in todays mail. This is a NJ Custom Brass model of a unique PRR saddle tanker that was used as the shop switcher in Altoona. It was a homely-looking thing and I wanted to give it a good home.
PRR_B8a_2788 by Edmund, on Flickr
Pretty slim chance that BLI, Walthers or Rapido will put one of these on their "to-do" list anytime soon. It runs like a coffee grinder so it looks like a NWSL gear-train is in its future.
Well, I can understand the passion of collection and authentic represntation of excotic vehicles not considered by mass producer can make brass models attractive, but as far as detailing is concerned - correct me if I am wrong - I cannot think they are unbeatable with this vast amount of detail parts offered by after market companies.
Again, I have not held on in my hands to make an opinion, it is just my impression.
WalidPS. I am talking with cab units diesel in mind
Even with the availability of all the aftermarket parts nowadays, you still aren't going to find EVERY detail for a plastic diesel or steam locomotive because each locomotive is very unique. Diesels would be easier than steamers though to detail.
A well-detailed brass model will be painted and detailed for a specific railroad, model, phase, and/or era and you'll pay for it. You may have to create you own detailing to get that for a desired model in plastic.
I am surprised Howard Zane has not chimed in yet, but he would likely say that a properly painted brass model reaches a look of realism not attainable on plastic. The paint flows more on real metal than it does on plastic and the subtle details can show more effectively.
That is not to say some painters cannot do a good job on plastic--they do--but the end result can be different.
When you talk about value, I have found most things lose it over time, exceptions being the art world and real estate. Now remember this is from a bottom feeder but the reason is compitinon and improvements. Yes I have a few brass, used to have more but sold them off as the plastic I have ran better and looked better (not that I coundn't have worked on the brass to that end, just not my thing). Am I looking for brass, sure, two items. A fire train and a shop switcher, both readily available but just don't want to pay the price, both of which have held up fairly well.
khier Since I do not own any brass vehicle, I am curious to know what is so special about them. Are they detailed beyond plastic? Is it the feeling of value and exclusiveness associated with the weight? Craftsmanship? or is it something else? Regards Walid
For a number of reasons including unaffordability and incorrect detailing, I have never purchased any brass diesels (I do not model steam era). I have looked at a number of brass D&RGW diesels but have noted many have incorrect details when compared to the real thing and the prices have been out of my budget.
Thankfully I have been fortunate in that most of the major D&RGW 2nd generation diesels have been offered in HO plastic and many are now made with "signature" details that identify as Rio Grande.
Speaking of detailing, some of todays more recent plastic diesels rival many brass engines in detail. The idea that people buy brass to get more detail than plastic is an out-of-date idea anymore.
Value os a personal judgement call. I'm not sure about exclusiveness - which implies people with lots of money can have something poorer people can't afford as a status symbol. That does seem to be a reality but is it a reason to buy brass? A status symbol? That seems petty if so.
I do own a few brass passenger cars and six brass cabooses. The reason I bought them had nothing to due with value, exclusiveness etc. It had everything to do with being able to include models that are important features of D&RGW trains in the late 1970's when every train had a caboose and the Rio Grande Zephyr included a Pullman Standard combine. Both are only available in brass.
I am hopeful that a company will offer a International Extended Vision caboose in plastic which is accurate for D&RGW and other roads (which may be possible using modular tooling). That would negate the necessity of buying brass to have that type of caboose, which I currently don't have, only the shop built offset cupoloa 3-window cabooses.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
PRR8259Though my current model railroad budget basically allows for only very reasonably priced motive power (kids approaching college, etc.), in the past I have owned and played with some magnificent HO brass models. John Mock
I can relate to the cost vs. ability to afford. When you have financial obligations/burdens, it can impact whether or not you can afford brass or not. If one hasn't been able to set up a big fund for college ahead of time, it can be a huge drain - and when that obligation is finished, it's like getting a super-sized raise in pay or monthly income. In my case I was separated in 2000 and had a large legal financial drain in the form of child support, private school costs, and finally college. New York is a bad place to get married and divorced so I discovered. My daughter finished university a year ago and I could probably buy a new brass engine every other month with the funds freed up when the college expense was lifted. Don't get me wrong, it was money well spent and my daughter now has a Biomedical Engineering degree and a solid career as a defense contractor. But with that extra cash am I buying brass? No, with a bigger home and a modely bigger mortage, now I'm now spending it on kitchen upgrades, remediating parts of the house with moisture rot (front door, master bathroom), cost of finishing an unfinished basement, step-son expenses to get him with a job credential, car and independance.
Conclusion is brass does seem to have an exclusivity about it in the sense that it is a thing for those who have the means because they don't have some typical financial burdens and/or have a high income vs. COL. If you have a great paying job and are single, then likely brass is much more accessible. Or a two income house-hold and house paid for, kids out of college etc. Cost and disposible income are key factors to playing in the brass world, especially engines.
That said, there is brass that can be found for more modest costs if one hunts for it, especially when you consider many of the lastest high end plastic engines are selling in the 300-500 plus dollar range.
PRR8259 I am surprised Howard Zane has not chimed in yet, but he would likely say that a properly painted brass model reaches a look of realism not attainable on plastic. The paint flows more on real metal than it does on plastic and the subtle details can show more effectively. That is not to say some painters cannot do a good job on plastic--they do--but the end result can be different. John
John,
Here is my chime in..... I go back to the early days of brass having purchased my first loco while still on Army pay in 1962. During those times, brass was quickly becoming main stream as the alternatives were not too great and certainly not as plentiful as today. Most brass during that period were of steam prototypes and many modelers had grown up with steam locomotives.(My seeds were having two uncles who ran steam and often riding with them during the late 40's.)
Many folks model what they can see and know about. Each year, we grow further from steam , but there are still folks who do period modeling. These are the folks who operate brass steam models today.
Today brass is purchased by just too groups....the operator and the collector. Just a decade ago, there were more classes like the operator/collector, and on the top of the hill was the investor. Prior to 1997 (the peak of brass activity), if a person really knew and studied brass trends, he could purshase (correctly) and realize better returns then with the stock market. Not so today!! During the 90's as a brass dealer, I could use my line of credit to buy a $100,000 collection and have it payed off prior to the first payment coming due. Today, this is financial suicide and then some. There are exceptions like Dan Glasure of Brasstrains.com who purchased my brass business in 2005. Dan was in his early 30's then and after a few meetings, I told him he'd soon be the largest dealer on the planet in 10 years due to his enthusiasm, love of product, and willingness to learn and share coupled with an incredible old world style of ethics. I was wrong...he did it in 7 years.
To me brass models are hand made works of fine art, but the major problem with today's brass market, it is only marketed within the model railroad community. If the collector world knew of brass models....who knows what would happen?
My ten bucks worth...........
HZ
No, the rich tend to buy what they want, not what someone else hypes, in most cases.
Brass Expo has been sold to Forrest Nace and will now be held in Lancaster, PA at the Host Farms resort...I think the weekend prior to Thanksgiving in 2019. Nace is a long time brass collector and now recently retired started [URL removed by moderator] which is filling in the void after Allen Keller retired. His videos are about model railroads, but with state of the art equipment.
I know Nace and his philosophy is about brass for everyone, and he is the opposite of elitism, which unfortunately is the stigma brass models are tagged with today.
I'm sure more will be posted later along with many ads. This is just an early note.
Howard Zane...Nace is a long time brass collector and now recently retired started Nacesvideography.com which is filling in the void after Allen Keller retired. His videos are about model railroads, but with state of the art equipment....
I've seen a couple of his very nicely-done videos (including one of your layout, Howard), and also an interview with him on Brass Trains' "Monday Morning Express".
Howard Zane....elitism, which unfortunately is the stigma brass models are tagged with today....
It seems to me that the elitism tag is hung on just about anything which some people see but can't afford, and they're most likely the ones viewing it in that manner....a bit of the "sour grapes" syndrome, perhaps.There's lots of brass that I can't afford, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the craftsmanship involved in creating it, and I don't envy or resent those who own it.
Well said Wayne--
I don't get caught up in what somebody's brass is worth--only the models themselves as true works of art and engineering--it actually takes a lot of miniature engineering to make a fine model, and those of us who work in engineering for a living can really see and appreciate the effort that goes into the models.
When I have shown my coworkers brass models, they were completely blown away--shocked--at the level of detail and workmanship in an HO brass model--and that people would take modeling to such a high level.
What I think Howard is saying, has said before on other topics, was that if the collector community outside of the pure model railroad community had even half a clue, then the models would be better appreciated and better "valued" for what they truly are. They are supremely rare relative to other things out there that are collected. The workmanship displayed in the models themselves is amazing.
My sister sells Avon products, and they have made "collectible" porcelein trains. The brass models we have are light years better than the Avon, Franklin Mint, etc. more mainstream "collectibles".
Once upon a time, mass produced models were all generic. Everybody had a Mantua 2-8-2; the only problem is, that engine represents no actual prototype. With very rare exceptions, models were all like that. Varney's "Little Joe" was a rare exception, as was the Athearn Pacific, which ran poorly. But most models were either semi-replicas or total freelance. 50 years ago, scratchbuilding or brass models were pretty much your only choice for truly accurate models.That just isn't true any more. The Proto 2000 Milwaukee GP30 is a noticeably better model than my Challenger Models brass Milwaukee GP30. I sold off my Overland Southern Ry. F unit with rooftop air tanks because the air piping was obviously wrong when compared to prototype photos.I don't care about "handcrafted works of art." I want a model that is accurate and runs well, and I don't care if it's made out of plastic, brass, gold, or boogers.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer Railway Once upon a time, mass produced models were all generic. Everybody had a Mantua 2-8-2; the only problem is, that engine represents no actual prototype. With very rare exceptions, models were all like that. Varney's "Little Joe" was a rare exception, as was the Athearn Pacific, which ran poorly. But most models were either semi-replicas or total freelance. 50 years ago, scratchbuilding or brass models were pretty much your only choice for truly accurate models.That just isn't true any more. The Proto 2000 Milwaukee GP30 is a noticeably better model than my Challenger Models brass Milwaukee GP30. I sold off my Overland Southern Ry. F unit with rooftop air tanks because the air piping was obviously wrong when compared to prototype photos.I don't care about "handcrafted works of art." I want a model that is accurate and runs well, and I don't care if it's made out of plastic, brass, gold, or boogers. I would't touch this comment with a ten foot Pole or two five foot Bulgarians. There are folks who admire and understand brass and then there are folks who do not....both are fine as there is so much in the hobby for all and it is about having fun. HZ
I would't touch this comment with a ten foot Pole or two five foot Bulgarians. There are folks who admire and understand brass and then there are folks who do not....both are fine as there is so much in the hobby for all and it is about having fun.
PRR8259The brass models we have are light years better than the Avon, Franklin Mint, etc. more mainstream "collectibles".
The fact that brass models were never marketed as "collectibles" makes them more lilkely to become truly collectible... in another 50-100 years.
An old rule is that anything that states it is a "collectible" is not.
Brass trains have all the boxes ticked... limited production, high quality, difficult to counterfeit, and well documented history.
I am sure at one point they will become highly desired among the true collectors of the world, but they still have a way to go.
SeeYou190 PRR8259 The brass models we have are light years better than the Avon, Franklin Mint, etc. more mainstream "collectibles". . The fact that brass models were never marketed as "collectibles" makes them more lilkely to become truly collectible... in another 50-100 years. . An old rule is that anything that states it is a "collectible" is not. . Brass trains have all the boxes ticked... limited production, high quality, difficult to counterfeit, and well documented history. . I am sure at one point they will become highly desired among the true collectors of the world, but they still have a way to go. . -Kevin .
PRR8259 The brass models we have are light years better than the Avon, Franklin Mint, etc. more mainstream "collectibles".
The "feel" of a brass model in ones hands cannot be described by words IMHO, it must be experienced by the new owner of the model. Almost all of my small roster of HO motive power is brass. Mostly traction now with models from Suydam, a Hallmark Sperry car, couple of Tenshodo diesels and my crown jewel, an Overland C&O G9 2-8-0 modified to represent ex BC&G engine used by a local tourist operation when I was a young boy. My first cab ride was in that locomotive. I have enjoyed running and repairing many brass models since I was a late teen. Both for myself and others that were unable to fine tune their models. I watch for good deals on older models, the new stuff is in a price range that should I spend that much $$, it better be in G scale and run on live steam!(which I do own a couple). Back in the day, I got to know several local brass dealers very well and was trusted, even as a young man, to remove and properly handle models when shopping thier tables at shows. I miss those days, now I mainly find models mixed in with plastic and other items as I see more and more estates being liquidated at shows. I also buy thru brasstrains.com and highly recommend Dan's company for those looking to purchase brass. Several of my Suydam cars have come from him. Cheers Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
rrebellWrong, antiques and fine art are one of a kinds, you only need two people to really want an item
I do not understand your response. Can you clarify what you mean?
I did not say that brass locomotives were antique or unique. I said they are likely to become collectible items... in the future.
It is my belief that the people who collect rare historical items will likely "discover" them in 50-100 years.