Model Kits: Am I an oddball?

[CJBeard]

okay, its
november.

When I go to trains shows I see many dealers with cars and engines for sale. nearly all are plastic wrapped so you can not inspect the box. I can count on one finger the amount of undecorated kits I have found.

We, as a group, must not forget our history. we didn't used to have much of a choice when it came to roadnames. We can all stripped and redid. It was fun, it was educational, and it let us personalize our equipment.

How many of you out there still bother to weather you equipment? We are getting so lazy. Is it any wonder we can not get kids into this hobby? What do we offer them?

I would like to carry this on further with anyone who cares to respond.

Chris B


























when

[on30francisco]

I enjoy scratchbuilding 0 freight cars and structures but I am glad there are RTR locos available. I model in On30 and I think Bachmann's Spectrum line of RTR On30 locos run great, look good and are very affordable. (compared to most O scale and narrow gauge motive power) I believe because of this more people are trying out this hobby; both in O scale narrow gauge and other scales. As my skills improve I would like to kitbash On30 locomotives from the vast selection of great running HO locos that are available

[on30francisco]

I enjoy scratchbuilding 0 freight cars and structures but I am glad there are RTR locos available. I model in On30 and I think Bachmann's Spectrum line of RTR On30 locos run great, look good and are very affordable. (compared to most O scale and narrow gauge motive power) I believe because of this more people are trying out this hobby; both in O scale narrow gauge and other scales. As my skills improve I would like to kitbash On30 locomotives from the vast selection of great running HO locos that are available

[Anonymous]

An Athearn or Walthers Kit? Think yourself lucky. theyre ready painted and lettered , with couplers and wheels included. 'Bl**dy luxury'. I've just been into US outline for a couple of years and find these 'kits', especially the Athearn, just unmade ready-to-run models.
For My other layout (North Eastern Railway, England) the only models are kits, either in white metal or brass for the most part. You have to solder or glue them together, paint and letter them, and whats more the wheels and couplings don't come with the kit.
hurrah for the American scene in whatever form.

[Anonymous]

An Athearn or Walthers Kit? Think yourself lucky. theyre ready painted and lettered , with couplers and wheels included. 'Bl**dy luxury'. I've just been into US outline for a couple of years and find these 'kits', especially the Athearn, just unmade ready-to-run models.
For My other layout (North Eastern Railway, England) the only models are kits, either in white metal or brass for the most part. You have to solder or glue them together, paint and letter them, and whats more the wheels and couplings don't come with the kit.
hurrah for the American scene in whatever form.

[CG9602]

I should think not. Some of the models that I'm working on right now are available only in kit form. Plus for me, I enjoy putting something together, so the assembly of the kit can be a mandatory part of the experience. It takes a certain level of skill to be able to assemble and run a HO scale Beyer Garratt, and have the other modelers say "Wow! Where did you come across that? A 4-8-2+2-8-4?"
I think that the assembly also gives the modeler pride of ownership. Assembling a kit enables the modeler to say "I did this."

[CG9602]

I should think not. Some of the models that I'm working on right now are available only in kit form. Plus for me, I enjoy putting something together, so the assembly of the kit can be a mandatory part of the experience. It takes a certain level of skill to be able to assemble and run a HO scale Beyer Garratt, and have the other modelers say "Wow! Where did you come across that? A 4-8-2+2-8-4?"
I think that the assembly also gives the modeler pride of ownership. Assembling a kit enables the modeler to say "I did this."

[cacole]

I own close to 300 pieces of rolling stock that were built from kits over the years, and they are better than Athearn's new r-t-r items. I made the mistake of purchasing an Athearn flat car with a trailer on it decorated for Coca-Cola. Like everything else today, it was made in China. It has terribly crappy plastic wheels on it that don't roll well at all. I thought I could simply change the wheel sets using Kadees -- but guess what? The Athearn axles are not needle-pointed like they used to be! Their Chinese manufacturer is using a blunt axle that can't be changed out. Your only recourse is to change the entire truck if you really intend to run this car in a train and still be able to pull more than just it alone. I have switched to Accurail for nearly all of my rolling stock purchases now if Athearn is not available in kit form.

[cacole]

I own close to 300 pieces of rolling stock that were built from kits over the years, and they are better than Athearn's new r-t-r items. I made the mistake of purchasing an Athearn flat car with a trailer on it decorated for Coca-Cola. Like everything else today, it was made in China. It has terribly crappy plastic wheels on it that don't roll well at all. I thought I could simply change the wheel sets using Kadees -- but guess what? The Athearn axles are not needle-pointed like they used to be! Their Chinese manufacturer is using a blunt axle that can't be changed out. Your only recourse is to change the entire truck if you really intend to run this car in a train and still be able to pull more than just it alone. I have switched to Accurail for nearly all of my rolling stock purchases now if Athearn is not available in kit form.

[Anonymous]

Posts: 12
Joined: 24 Mar 2002
Location: US As I wander the aisles of the many area hobby shops, I have noticed the diminishing availability of HO RR car kits, particularly Athern, in favor of "Ready-to-Run" models. Upon questioning the hobby shop people, they tell me that Athearn is discontinuing most of their kits because model railroaders don't want to be bothered with having to assemble kits.

I liked the Athearn kits because they were an inexpensive base for becoming a kit bashed more detailed & realistic-looking model. By the time all the extra component [grabs, wheels, decals,etc] are added, the cost has grown to be extensive. Now, it looks like one will have to buy RTR at twice the kit price, and disassemble it to bash it into a realistic-looking model.

AM I THE ODD-BALL HERE? I thought that was what model RR was all about.
It certainly has been fodder for reams of articles and books. It seems that this is the way things in all walks of life are going. Do People prefer to pay others to do the things that they could often do better themselves, but no longer want to be bothered with it?

Is this hobby, like many others becoming milieu of the well-to do? I'd like to see the thoughts of others on this subject.

Rich

i am aka trucker168 i agree with this i prefer to make the car my self instead of rtr cars i used to like rtr till my roomate got me hooked on kits it is fun to build it then paint it or what ever u wi***o it to make it look more real or how u wish it to look
with the rtr or pre built cars and buildings it takes half of the fun out of the hobby
see i cant put down a layout at moment cus i live in a 1 bedroom appt with a roommate so cramped for space but i use my time to build cars and buildings but it is getting tougher to find kits that are what you want with the limited supply out there now

[Anonymous]

Posts: 12
Joined: 24 Mar 2002
Location: US As I wander the aisles of the many area hobby shops, I have noticed the diminishing availability of HO RR car kits, particularly Athern, in favor of "Ready-to-Run" models. Upon questioning the hobby shop people, they tell me that Athearn is discontinuing most of their kits because model railroaders don't want to be bothered with having to assemble kits.

I liked the Athearn kits because they were an inexpensive base for becoming a kit bashed more detailed & realistic-looking model. By the time all the extra component [grabs, wheels, decals,etc] are added, the cost has grown to be extensive. Now, it looks like one will have to buy RTR at twice the kit price, and disassemble it to bash it into a realistic-looking model.

AM I THE ODD-BALL HERE? I thought that was what model RR was all about.
It certainly has been fodder for reams of articles and books. It seems that this is the way things in all walks of life are going. Do People prefer to pay others to do the things that they could often do better themselves, but no longer want to be bothered with it?

Is this hobby, like many others becoming milieu of the well-to do? I'd like to see the thoughts of others on this subject.

Rich

i am aka trucker168 i agree with this i prefer to make the car my self instead of rtr cars i used to like rtr till my roomate got me hooked on kits it is fun to build it then paint it or what ever u wi***o it to make it look more real or how u wish it to look
with the rtr or pre built cars and buildings it takes half of the fun out of the hobby
see i cant put down a layout at moment cus i live in a 1 bedroom appt with a roommate so cramped for space but i use my time to build cars and buildings but it is getting tougher to find kits that are what you want with the limited supply out there now

[Martin4]

I forgot one big point: RTR is almost 3 times the price !

Martin
Québec City

[Martin4]

I forgot one big point: RTR is almost 3 times the price !

Martin
Québec City

[Martin4]

I'm not against the principle of RTR; they have much better detail than those kits with molded-on ladders and grab irons, but in many cases those newly issued items are not matched with any kit and leave us with only one choice: kitbash or RTR.

Martin
Québec City

[Martin4]

I'm not against the principle of RTR; they have much better detail than those kits with molded-on ladders and grab irons, but in many cases those newly issued items are not matched with any kit and leave us with only one choice: kitbash or RTR.

Martin
Québec City

[Anonymous]

This goes back to the makers giving us what we buy rather than what we say we will buy. Polls showed we wanted a cheap fuel effecient car. Detroit built Pintos and Vegas, but we bought Lincolns and Caddys. Same with RTR v kits. We say we want kits but companies sell and we buy RTR. I don't think they will quit selling and making kits, but the increase in RTR is due to that's what selling. Companies would be shooting themselves in the foot if they didn't respond to this trend and supply the market with rtr.

[Anonymous]

This goes back to the makers giving us what we buy rather than what we say we will buy. Polls showed we wanted a cheap fuel effecient car. Detroit built Pintos and Vegas, but we bought Lincolns and Caddys. Same with RTR v kits. We say we want kits but companies sell and we buy RTR. I don't think they will quit selling and making kits, but the increase in RTR is due to that's what selling. Companies would be shooting themselves in the foot if they didn't respond to this trend and supply the market with rtr.

[tomwatkins]

You are definitely not an oddball, but I think we model builders are in the minority right now. The manuacturers are responding to what they see, probably correctly, as what the market wants. Whether it is a lack of time, or a desire to spend the model railroading time working on the layout or whatever, many people are prefectly willing to spend the money for RTR.

Intermountain's and Red Caboose's web sites bear this out. They are releasing very few kits these days and their kits are among the best that were available.

Fortunately, they can still be found in a lot of shops and swap meets. Branchline is producing some excellent kits. Accurail's kits are simpler but very nicely done. Their 40' double sheathed boxcar is one of my favorites. It's a great starting point to add additional and finer detail to.

The cast resin kits from manufacturers like Westerfield, Smoky Mountain Model Works and Wright Trak Models are another good way to go. Preparing the pieces takes some time, but after that they go together about like any other kit.

The situation could be a lot better, but it could be a whole lot worse too.

[tomwatkins]

You are definitely not an oddball, but I think we model builders are in the minority right now. The manuacturers are responding to what they see, probably correctly, as what the market wants. Whether it is a lack of time, or a desire to spend the model railroading time working on the layout or whatever, many people are prefectly willing to spend the money for RTR.

Intermountain's and Red Caboose's web sites bear this out. They are releasing very few kits these days and their kits are among the best that were available.

Fortunately, they can still be found in a lot of shops and swap meets. Branchline is producing some excellent kits. Accurail's kits are simpler but very nicely done. Their 40' double sheathed boxcar is one of my favorites. It's a great starting point to add additional and finer detail to.

The cast resin kits from manufacturers like Westerfield, Smoky Mountain Model Works and Wright Trak Models are another good way to go. Preparing the pieces takes some time, but after that they go together about like any other kit.

The situation could be a lot better, but it could be a whole lot worse too.

[dknelson]

To be fair to Athearn their latest RTR stuff is nicer looking than just an assembled version of their kits. (where the fact that the frames and coupler pockets and brake wheels were not painted to match the cars is a minor annoyance but is addressed in the RTR line). Better paint and lettering for one.
If it is kits you want I would suggest trying the Accurail line, which are nicely designed. The P2K kits are more challenging and demand more care. The work is not "difficult" per se there is just a lot of it.
Dave Nelson

[dknelson]

To be fair to Athearn their latest RTR stuff is nicer looking than just an assembled version of their kits. (where the fact that the frames and coupler pockets and brake wheels were not painted to match the cars is a minor annoyance but is addressed in the RTR line). Better paint and lettering for one.
If it is kits you want I would suggest trying the Accurail line, which are nicely designed. The P2K kits are more challenging and demand more care. The work is not "difficult" per se there is just a lot of it.
Dave Nelson

[Yampa2003]

I suppose I must be half an oddball in that I prefer my loco's and freight cars to be RTR but I enjoy kit-building structures. Its easier to stamp your own style on a structure whether its by simply repainting or altering it to fit the available space.
Brian

[Yampa2003]

I suppose I must be half an oddball in that I prefer my loco's and freight cars to be RTR but I enjoy kit-building structures. Its easier to stamp your own style on a structure whether its by simply repainting or altering it to fit the available space.
Brian

[Anonymous]

I've been away from the hobby for 15 years. Upon my return, I was dismayed by the drift away from kits of all types, and the pricing of what is out there, both ready to run and kits. A decent steam loco was barely affordable in kit for when I left the hobby. Today, the very nice looking ready to run locos are just as unaffordable, the kits have trippled in price, and my budget still crys when I go shopping. I am trying to resurect some old steam kits by Mantua and Model Die Casting, kits I PATIALLY assembled many years ago. It took 5 months, 4 emails, and a written letter to get a parts diagram from MDC. The new owners of the Mantual line gave me an 800 number to call. After 7 calls, I finally got an answer, only to find out the man I needed to talk to was not in.

It seems that the industry wants to sell only RTR merchansise, ignor requests for help with older lines, and operate without contact from us who they expect to buy the nice looking but pricey models. I'm glad I developed SOME scratchbuilding skills. Basswood, rocks and dirt are still affordable. And lichen still grows in the woods.

[Anonymous]

I've been away from the hobby for 15 years. Upon my return, I was dismayed by the drift away from kits of all types, and the pricing of what is out there, both ready to run and kits. A decent steam loco was barely affordable in kit for when I left the hobby. Today, the very nice looking ready to run locos are just as unaffordable, the kits have trippled in price, and my budget still crys when I go shopping. I am trying to resurect some old steam kits by Mantua and Model Die Casting, kits I PATIALLY assembled many years ago. It took 5 months, 4 emails, and a written letter to get a parts diagram from MDC. The new owners of the Mantual line gave me an 800 number to call. After 7 calls, I finally got an answer, only to find out the man I needed to talk to was not in.

It seems that the industry wants to sell only RTR merchansise, ignor requests for help with older lines, and operate without contact from us who they expect to buy the nice looking but pricey models. I'm glad I developed SOME scratchbuilding skills. Basswood, rocks and dirt are still affordable. And lichen still grows in the woods.

[IRONROOSTER]

I think this has been an untapped market and what we are seeing is an initial lot of buying by people that might otherwise not be in the hobby. Once this bulge passes I think we will see more balance between the two. But rtr is here to stay. It does allow you to get into the layout phase faster. I know in my case when I switched to S a few years back RTR allowed me to concentrate on getting the layout started and running trains more quickly than I could have otherwise. But I am still collecting kits and building them. In S scale the hi rail market dominates, but the kits are there. Scratchbuilding supplies are harder to come by, but there is always mail order.
Enjoy
Paul

[IRONROOSTER]

I think this has been an untapped market and what we are seeing is an initial lot of buying by people that might otherwise not be in the hobby. Once this bulge passes I think we will see more balance between the two. But rtr is here to stay. It does allow you to get into the layout phase faster. I know in my case when I switched to S a few years back RTR allowed me to concentrate on getting the layout started and running trains more quickly than I could have otherwise. But I am still collecting kits and building them. In S scale the hi rail market dominates, but the kits are there. Scratchbuilding supplies are harder to come by, but there is always mail order.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I also enjoy the kits.I still search for the kits to build myself.I was looking at the 6 pack of Athearn quad hoppers last night.A little pricey I think.80.00 for the same kits assembled.They do look nice though.As far as time constraints go,I am an HVAC technician so I know the meaning of no time.I still prefer the satisfaction of building it myself.It gives me a sense of accomplishment.Dan

[Anonymous]

I also enjoy the kits.I still search for the kits to build myself.I was looking at the 6 pack of Athearn quad hoppers last night.A little pricey I think.80.00 for the same kits assembled.They do look nice though.As far as time constraints go,I am an HVAC technician so I know the meaning of no time.I still prefer the satisfaction of building it myself.It gives me a sense of accomplishment.Dan

[Anonymous]

I am also dismayed with the abundance of R-T-R models. In most cases I would much rather have to pay less for a kit and assemble it myself than pull a finished car out of a box. When I assemble a kit, I often make minor improvements (grab irons, weathered trucks, etc) that I would tend to skip on R-T-R car.

However, there are a few examples of R-T-R cars that I just love:
Walthers tank cars (Is it me, or do the older kits tend to come apart when handled too much?) All I do to these is add a little weight, metal wheels, kadee couplers, and add the included grab irons.
Athearns RTR 28' trailers (Id rather spend my time painting locos and rolling stock than those Rail Power trailer kits)

I love Life Like's Time-Saver Kits, I can recieve the satisfaction of assembling a highly-detailed car without worrying about losing the tiny detail parts. I also enjoy assembling Kato locomotives. I find it fun adding all the detail parts on their locomotives, and again, I get the satisfaction of finishing a project that looks and runs great.

I'm sad to see the end of Rail Power Products undecorated shells. I was only able to make one custom loco from their shells, and it turned out great. By myself, I was able to create a well-detailed model of a uinique prototype that is now a 'fallen flag' I am truly proud of that engine, and would do another in a hearbeat if I could get my hands on another RailPower shell.

I encourage everyone to go and build a kit. It doesnt matter if it doesnt turn out perfect, or the details may be simplifed. When you assemble a kit, you invest a part of yourself in that model, and the satisfation is beyond compare.

Josh ZIegler
Yakima, WA