A Message From The Model Train Industry

Model Railroader
63

I dont see DC coming back on a wide scale though.

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Trains and Tariffs: An Update from ScaleTrains

(194) Trains and Tariffs: An Update from ScaleTrains - YouTube

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Welcome on board Roger_Buckley

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And some of the comments on there are horrific as well

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67

Itā€™s going to be interesting, because I see a sort of parallel between automobile production in the late 19teens through the Twenties. Every year DCC-equipped control gets a bit cheaper and more sophisticated, and even at 145% tariff, wholesale quantities of components, small LED cores for lights and markers, ā€˜homeā€™ production of custom boards, and SMD-rework and resistance-soldering rigs get cheaper. But the cost of making good variable-DC power packs ā€˜as cheaply as modern DCC circuitryā€™ still relies on some relatively expensive components, particularly if ā€˜DC compatibilityā€™ for locomotives sold primarily as DCC is expected.

What I wonder is whether the idea of ā€˜wireless DC modulationā€™ with DC power, or dead-rail battery with incidental fixed-DC track recharge, represents an alternative to variable DC control.

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68

I would go for ā€˜DC Wireless Dead Rail Batteryā€™ any day, since I am not too interested in full-blown DCC and have often wondered if Manufacturers might consider to produce this.
Paul

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69

If only because Kadee does so just outside Medford, Oregon. They do all their stuff out of the same plant, and it is not large by any means. I will note an interesting item, though: they do not offer plant tours. That was made plain by otherwise very friendly front counter staff when I stopped by their place a few years ago and bought a couple kits out of the display in their front office.

Read what you may into this restriction, but Iā€™m supposing that they have a number of proprietary production methods that enable them to compete with the highly detailed stuff that is assembled overseas for the same relative price range (for example, Scale Trains, whose freight cars are assembled in China). Having everything under the same roof doesnā€™t hurt, either.

Not an expert here; just adding what may be some pertinent grist to the discussion.

John

70

Critize the Blue Box materials all you want. I have several I have detailed quite well with parts from CalScale and other manufacturers. Yes, many I re-motored with Kato motors, installed LED directional lights and even installed several anti-flicker light circuits in them. Did similar things to Atlas/Roco diesels. What I paid was a fraction of the cost of a China import.

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71

Welcome back

72

Welcome back Barry547.

One other aspect of my Blue Box models that I like is that a good number of them have ā€˜Made in U.S.A.ā€™ printed on their Boxes.

In the UK, I picked-up one B/Box GP60 (NS) unused, boxed, all accessories in envelopes for Ā£20.00 or approx. $27.00
I will eventually detail it, similar to your methods.

Also, one advantage of B/Box Locos, is that I will not hesitate to modify the Liveries (i.e.) ā€˜Patch-outā€™ the original, intended Railroad name, number and substitute my own.
But not for one moment would I ever consider doing that to either my Genesis models. - they cost me too much to allow or justify it.

Paul

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73

No tours may also be insurance/safety reasons.

Paul

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The former Mythbusters shop is the same. They donā€™t offer tours and as far as i know only talk to customers, and has distanced itseof from the discovery show

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Welcome back on board, Barry547

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Iā€™m not sure if this has been posted but it is interesting:

Thereā€™s a similar TV story about Walthers as well.

Cheers, Ed

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Welcome back, @Barry547!

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https://www.hobbycoalition.org/?utm_source=Atlas+Insiders+E-News+Flash&utm_campaign=1d21a283e4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_05_05_04_56&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-1d21a283e4-80678129&mc_cid=1d21a283e4&mc_eid=607b073e9b

There is a lot wrong with the wording in this and how they are approaching the problem of tariffā€™s. John Adams wrote a brilliant essay during the revolutionary war on the importance of foreign trade and how the fledging U.S. would not survive without it.

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79

I still hate the fact that the tariffs is affecting model railroading, or people who have the $100 gift cards for the Trains.com Store that arenā€™t in the US, its just about money these days for the wealthy for me its family and railroading, tariffs are also affecting the car industry (if I try to get a Toyota Supra MK IV from Japan the cost is going to triple, just like Iā€™m trying to get out of US models and the pricing is outreagous)

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Iā€™m not criticizing blue box, blue box was one of the best available at the time. But model railroading has evolved to highly detailed fully assembled RTR models. And many people can no longer imagine what I see as a step backwards if production is brought back.

I have built my share of kits, from airplanes to ships and cars to trucks. And I have enjoyed the variety. But producing a fleet of boxcars or 50 Tichy old-time ore cars was just boring and annoying.

If you still prefer blue box models, go for it.
I prefer the highly detailed fully assembled RTR models

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81

You mean like me and a few other members on here? Maybe foreigners should be banned from U.S. forums and other U.S. businesses all together and then you can be just like North Korea.

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Iā€™m not trying to be like that Iā€™m just saying that tariffs just suck in general, not banning foreigners from US forums