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I agree that the apparent reduction in the number of kits out there is not a good thing. Athearn, Walthers et al seem to be heading for RTR only. This isn't good news to my mind. I (and I suspect many others) was drawn to modelling US-outline HO scale because of the easily-assembled prepainted kits that cost far less than equivelent British or other European models. Now the kits seem to be slowly disappearing from manufacturers ranges, often to be replaced by RTR models made from the kits. For example, Athearn seem to have ceased production of their 5-unit double stack cars. According to their website they're planning to bring out RTR versions which will be priced at about $70-$80 - this will probably translate to about £75 in the UK. Compared to the £30 price tag for the kit version. I realise that this price increase is due to increased production costs (gotta pay for extra workers to build 'em), but I'd rather buy the kit and spend the money saved on containers to load it with! <br /> <br />My main arguement, therefore, is that while RTR is a good thing for those who can afford it, kits should not be phased out as they provide a cost-effective way for new modellers to get started. A well-designed kit (as most of the HO-scale ones I have built are) is very enjoyable to build and gives a sense of achievement - You feel more accomplished when you tell your friends "I built that, came as a pile of parts" than when you simply take new locos/cars out of the box and put them on the track.
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