Rich,I agree and notice a lot of the stuff listed in my 2002 catalog is no longer produced and some companies is no longer around.
Maybe I should buy a new catalog and compare the 2002 issue to today's issue?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I quit buying the Walthers catalog when they stopped being THE source of model railroading supplies (when Horizon bought Athearn, and stopped selling to Walthers). Easier to find what I want on the internet, anyway.
I don't buy it every year, but I find it handy to have one around to remind me of what is available. Keeping the old ones is helpful because it can be a handy reference when you find a deal on an older item at a Train Show or on Ebay. I'm of the generation that grew up with books. If you don't know what those were, look it up. I feel comfortable with the tactile feel of a book in my lap. That's something this keyboard & screen never gives me.
Tom
It doesnt have the selection it used too. But still good for refference
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Also, the "Magic of Model Railroading" photo section is great inspiration as are the other photos of modeler's work using products from the catalog shown throughout.
I've bought Walther's book for a couple of years now and also picked up some older ones at local auctions. I enjoy looking through the book much more than staring at a screen. I'm probably one that uses the book and/or internet backwards from most. I look for an item and then go to LHS to buy it. Have gotten better deals than I could on the net. Oh I do buy some things on line but try to keep the LHS first. I know some people haven't a choice, but even though my LHS is thirty miles away I help them out and feel lucky to have a good one that close.
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society
Buying them is a great way of seeing how various structures fit together. Walthers often provides a lot of interesting details and history about different structures and cars. I can easily find that information online faster, so I would probably purchase the catalogues every five years.
Regardless of the frequency of purchase, pls recycle them when not used or give away!
gmpullman JimInMichigan I rarely buy from Walthers because I search the net for the best deal. Sometimes Walthers IS the best deal. I don't believe I have ever paid retail at Walthers except for a few times when I could not find the item I needed anywhere else. However, I always look at the "Walther's Flyer" http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/flyer and the Bargain Depot/Last Call http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/bargain_home Sometimes the savings is substantial. You can request to have a print copy of the Flyer mailed to you (about every six weeks or so) and it will usually have news about new and future Walthers products. I like to page through the Flyer. It's like getting the Big Book highlights... and it's free! Ed
JimInMichigan I rarely buy from Walthers because I search the net for the best deal.
Sometimes Walthers IS the best deal.
I don't believe I have ever paid retail at Walthers except for a few times when I could not find the item I needed anywhere else.
However, I always look at the "Walther's Flyer" http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/flyer
and the Bargain Depot/Last Call
http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/bargain_home
Sometimes the savings is substantial. You can request to have a print copy of the Flyer mailed to you (about every six weeks or so) and it will usually have news about new and future Walthers products.
I like to page through the Flyer. It's like getting the Big Book highlights... and it's free!
Ed
Man, Santa has NO imagination. He makes a layout, and just models himself doing his own job?
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
Though I do most of my Walthers searching through their website, the paper catalog does still have one good use for me: looking for something that I don't know what it is yet. If I'm looking for a structure to represent a certain industry that there isn't a kit already made for, or for something to use as the basis for a kitbash, I like to page through to see what kits could possibly stand in for what I need. If I'm modeling a bicycle factory, the perfect kit might be out there, but I'll never find it searching online if the manufacturer calls it a tool and die shop.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Steven Otte If I'm modeling a bicycle factory, the perfect kit might be out there, but I'll never find it searching online if the manufacturer calls it a tool and die shop.
If I'm modeling a bicycle factory, the perfect kit might be out there, but I'll never find it searching online if the manufacturer calls it a tool and die shop.
Alton Junction
Jim,
I would definitely buy the reference book! While I only order from Walthers a couple of times a year the book can definitely be helpful. I agree with Steven Otte, that using the book is much easier than an on line search when you're looking for "something" but not sure exactly what. While I do some scratchbuilding, mostly I kitbash stuff and the guide is great for that. Usually the dimensions of the kit are shown including a footprint schematic (which isn't online in a lot of cases). Sometimes to me the footprint is as important as dimensions.
Tim
Steven OtteIf I'm modeling a bicycle factory, the perfect kit might be out there, but I'll never find it searching online if the manufacturer calls it a tool and die shop.
Steve,Here's the ticket.. A building kit like Walthers Machine Shop can be used for many industries including a small nonrail served tool & die shop,a welding shop,a lawn mower repair shop,a bicycle shop etc..
To my mind that's where Walthers on line catalog shines the brightest since I will know if that Machine Shop kit is in stock or not long before I get my hopes built up like I use to with a paper catalog.
If I had a saw buck for every time I was told by my favorite LHS years ago "Sorry Larry,such and such kit is unavailble" after ordering through that shop and waiting a week but,there it was in Walthers catalog. Ugh!
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/931-916