Where did all the parts go?

[Jetrock]

Detail parts don't really move that much off of store shelves even in the best of times. There are so many possible parts for so many possible engines and cars that it would be cost-prohibitive for a general catalog like Walthers to show them all. The hobby shops where I go tend to have a wall of detail parts, and I buy them occasionally but admittedly I typically get the stuff in the discount bins first. A lot of detail parts have been sitting on shelves for a LONG time waiting for an owner...and, of course, if you're into detail parts you can get catalogs (from folks like NWSL and Precision Scale) via snail-mail or online. I ordered some Northeastern wooden roof stock (something I have NEVER seen at hobby shops or train shows) online and was very happy to see the wide selection available online.

[AntonioFP45]

Hello DKNelson,

You're correct. I had the 1980 Walther's HO catalog. Looks very different from today's!

It's an unfortuante fact that so many young people today are more interested in RTR items than scratchbuilding kits.

Top it off, many adult modelers today are so squeezed for time (marraige, kids, 2nd job, evening classes, ) that they're hesitant to tackle scratchbuilding projects.

[on30francisco]

I think there are a lot more parts available for scratchbuilding today than there was in the past. There are many smaller companies that are not listed in the Walthers catalog. They sell their parts directly to the consumer via online or mail order. I model On30 narrow gauge so us types of modelers are always on the lookout for new sources of parts. I was astonished at the variety of detail parts available today - mostly through online merchants - vs. ten or twenty years ago. I buy my basswood, glues, styrene, brass shapes, painting supplies, and other items at Pearls and Michael's which are two very well-stocked arts & crafts stores. They also have other useful items that can be used for scratchbuilding and their prices are much lower than the LHSs. I usually buy detail parts online because the LHSs either don't stock them or aren't interested in that aspect of the hobby. I feel if the LHSs don't want to stock the parts I use, that's their loss - there's always the internet.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Yeah, I was wondering as I get back into the swing of things--hasn't internet commerce helped small suppliers stay afloat these days? I would imagine that being able to order direct from the manufacturer with an internet storefront would be the way to go with model railroading these days. Even ten years ago the internet wasn't as robust as it is today--there was no such thing as "internet commerce".

I was going to make an SP GP60 from a GP50 Athern kit. I spent months collecting all the detail parts! And do you know what happened? I left my halogen lamp on over the kit pieces! Everything melted! [:o)] Man I was crushed. Had I had more self-esteem back then, I probably would have tried again, but finding the pieces was such a journey in itself that I *shrug* gave up. I hate it when that happens.

It would be nice to see an online shop that is easy to navigate, easy to order from, and had good customer service. For hobby electronics, i shopped MOUSER, and they had excellent service standards. Can the same be done with detail parts?

peace & regards,
johnny [:)]

[Anonymous]

Walthers raised the cost share for the sellers so they do not pay to advertise all their parts. Details West has an excellent web page and Train Stop in San Dimas orders the parts for me. It may take a day or so to arrive but I have been sitting on the details for my AC4400 for more than a month. There are other parts catalogs on line for detail shopping. I am not sure there are fewer scratch and detail customers, I hope there are many more MRs. Lindsay

[Anonymous]

Looking for parts??? Talk to the narrow guagers. These guys always seem to have a ton of parts.

I agree with Jack B, there are tons of parts out there, just not in the Walther's catalog. Companies such as BTS, Grandt line, Rio Grand Models, Sierra West, etc... are out there. I still find old SS ltd parts at my hobby store in the bins behind the counter. Another source is Caboose Hobbies in Colo.


Guy

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by flee307

QUOTE:

I dont think you can get HO scale brass brake cylinders and archbar truck kits at your local freindly Home Depot... Even the stock basswood can be hard to get.

FYI Home Depot is a "home improvement store". The last real hardware store closed in Springfield Iowa on December 18, 1983. They stocked the items needed to build the parts you mentioned in stock, but a Walmart Supercenter came to town and put them, the 4 local groceries, the 2 dime stores, the Ben Franklin, Bill's Clothing, Trent's Shoes, and Fred's Bait and Tackel out of business. Such is the price of convience and marketing. Isn't the modern world grand?FRED

Thats what they call "Progress"....

[Anonymous]

I’m not all that sure that Walthers is the best barometer for the art of scratch building and the detail parts that may be required. I agree with everything everyone has said on the subject of "RTR" vs "Kits" and it’s obvious enough the “ready-built” products are in vogue for whatever the reasons. However there ARE probably more scratch building supplies available than ever before. I just think some folks may be looking in the wrong place. The smaller companies are out there making some pretty neat stuff. A good example would be Micron Arts. There were no 1910 to 1920’s vehicles ready made for N scale, but this outfit has produced some great kits. They aren’t “scratch” but they are definitely NOT ready built. Clover House is another place with neat stuff, I could go on and on. Kits and detail parts are out there even if Walthers can't justify stocking them. And I’m not knocking Walthers they have to stay in business and trying to stock N scale bees made by some guy who probably ships twice a year can’t be the best thing for them to list in their catalog.
JackB

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:

I dont think you can get HO scale brass brake cylinders and archbar truck kits at your local freindly Home Depot... Even the stock basswood can be hard to get.

FYI Home Depot is a "home improvement store". The last real hardware store closed in Springfield Iowa on December 18, 1983. They stocked the items needed to build the parts you mentioned in stock, but a Walmart Supercenter came to town and put them, the 4 local groceries, the 2 dime stores, the Ben Franklin, Bill's Clothing, Trent's Shoes, and Fred's Bait and Tackel out of business. Such is the price of convience and marketing. Isn't the modern world grand?FRED

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

I don't think you need Walthers or any other train company to get going on scratchbuilding. Enough parts and supplies are sold by your friendly hardware store to get you going.

Train companies will sell what gives them profit and for now, that trend is towards ready-to-run out-of-the-box stuff.

I'd like to visit your hardware store!!!!

I dont think you can get HO scale brass brake cylinders and archbar truck kits at your local freindly Home Depot... Even the stock basswood can be hard to get.

I resorted to going to my local nieghborhood hobby shop and ordering and buying every catalog from each complany I thought I might ever need to use. Precision Scale, Ozark Miniatures, Northwest Shortlines, etc. Even my LHS cannot always order some items if they dont come from from Walthers so ordering direct from the source is often the best option, Walthers used to be THE source, but they hve really slipped. Now I never use them, I prefer to order direct from the manufacturer. Its more direct and I can often get discounts for what in clearence or on sale. You cant get that from Walthers.

[FJ and G]

I don't think you need Walthers or any other train company to get going on scratchbuilding. Enough parts and supplies are sold by your friendly hardware store to get you going.

Train companies will sell what gives them profit and for now, that trend is towards ready-to-run out-of-the-box stuff.

[Anonymous]

Guys, I think it's a matter of stocking what sells. I see it every day in the store I run. Hardly anyone wants to "do it yourself " anymore. Sure, they profess to it and watch the DYI channel and all, but when it comes down to spending the dough they buy items as finished as they can. The local kids don't build model cars or play with trains anymore. They steal music (mp3) and chat with each other online. The average train guy is in his 40's and generally has a high paying job. He wants RTR and buys stuff like BigBoys because he really has more money than time. Wow, I'm gonna catch it for that comment, but it's true even though I'm sure people are going to post "not me" and "I'm full of it", but let's go to their house and see how much scratch built stuff is on their layout. There are some who do scratch build, I like to pretend to do some myself. But let me ask one question of you. If you need premade parts to scratch build is it scratch building or is it kitbashing? I submitt it's kitbashing if I need premade parts to do it. FRED

[Anonymous]

You could try going to

http://www.cmpshops.com/

they do an excellent range of detailling bits and pieces


Jon

NB I have no link with this supplier other than as an impressed customer[:)]

[Anonymous]

I've noticed this shift towards ready-to-run recently, and I have to say in my opinion it's a bad thing if kits and detailing parts suffer as a result. I was first attracted to modelling US-Outline HO scale by the reasonable prices and easy-to-build nature of the kits. If kits begin to disappear - my local hobby store seemed to think that Athearn plan to run down production of their non-RTR products, whether this is true or not I don't know, but it's a worrying rumour that, if true, doesn't bode well for the future of the hobby.

Many younger enthusiasts can't afford the new highly-detailed models, and as they are the future of the hobby this is not a good trend. We need the cheaper prepainted kits to grab people's attention, they're very likely to buy more expensive products if they have successfully built their first simple kits.

Just my opinion!

[dknelson]

Where did all the parts and craftsman supplies go? Walthers
thinned-out many parts and craftsman supplies from its HO catalog some
years ago. That's not just my opinion; Walthers made no bones about placing more emphasis on ready to run. Now some parts lines are only partly listed, or aren't pictured, which I find very annoying; some old stand-by lines are no
longer listed at all. And whether it is cause and effect or not,
manufacturers and products no longer pictured and listed, even if still technically "in the catalog" have this way of disappearing, leaving us with fewer choices. A dealer who cannot "get it from Walthers" often won't, or can't, get it at all.

Formerly simple projects are now a considerable challenge: a basic
house car body of wood used to be an excellent first scratchbuilding
project, but the thin metal ribs for the roof that Walthers used to
sell by the strip are not made any more. Many of us not at the
ultra-craftsman level would still enjoy building from the parts from
the Red Ball and Wabash Valley and Menzies and Selley and Walthers
lines that formerly we had access to. Nor am I just longing for crude,
outdated tooling, here; the new generation of freight cars involve beautiful detail parts that in many instances are not easily obtained separately or are not designed to be used as separate parts.

Look at the parts section of an older Walthers catalog - say, the late 1970s or early 1980s. Is there truly so little demand for doing the projects these materials encouraged? Ideally, Walthers itself would re-commit itself with a separate catalog for this market, because Walthers has the clout to distribute their catalogs widely, and has the dealer network and the inventory control
systems needed to succeed at this. If not Walthers, then there's an
opportunity here for someone, because I am convinced there is a market
need waiting to be tapped. More correctly, re-tapped.
Dave Nelson