And Walthers finally put the nail in the steam coffin

[CAZEPHYR]

I have three of the 2-8-4’s, NKP, PM, and C&O.

Proto Heritage steam is, or at least had been, a quality product. Too bad if they stop producing them.

It is also too bad that Life Like ever sold out to Walthers. That was the death knell of a great little company. I own more Proto steam and diesel than any other brand.

Rich

I agree that Life Like Proto models were great and the prices were excellent overall. Yes there were some models that the gears did crack, but that was easy to fix. I purchased two of the NKP Berkshires with sound from the last run. They are very nice and run well. I don’t expect any more to be imported in the near future and the price will be very expensive if they do import them again.

[Marc_Magnus]

H

[Paul3]

Um, folks, let’s try to keep up with the times.

Sanda Kan (started in part by Life-Like), who made most of the high-quality models we know and love since the early 1990’s, was sold out to Kader Industries (Bachmann) in January, 2009. The story is told in the link below on the Atlas website:

http://www.atlasrr.com/News/mrting.htm

The main reason why things are like they are these days is that Kader is now the only game in town. They are raising prices just because they can…they have no competition. Rapido, which owns it’s own Chinese factory (called Rapido Maytag) is small potatoes compared to Sanda Kan and Kader, and while they can do small runs, they can’t match up against Kader.

Also note that Bachmann is now cranking out new models like crazy these days, including the EM-1, GP7, RS-3, S-4 and 2-6-0 models while historically active manufacturers like Atlas and Athearn can barely get anything to market. Why is that? Might Kader be producing Bachmann items at the expense of everyone else? Might they be deliberately dragging their heels so as to hurt their competition? Might they be jacking the prices up on everything they do for everyone else while cranking out Bachmann items at a sigificant price break?

Paul A. Cutler III

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

Um, folks, let’s try to keep up with the times.

Sanda Kan (started in part by Life-Like), who made most of the high-quality models we know and love since the early 1990’s, was sold out to Kader Industries (Bachmann) in January, 2009. The story is told in the link below on the Atlas website:

http://www.atlasrr.com/News/mrting.htm

The main reason why things are like they are these days is that Kader is now the only game in town. They are raising prices just because they can…they have no competition. Rapido, which owns it’s own Chinese factory (called Rapido Maytag) is small potatoes compared to Sanda Kan and Kader, and while they can do small runs, they can’t match up against Kader.

Also note that Bachmann is now cranking out new models like crazy these days, including the EM-1, GP7, RS-3, S-4 and 2-6-0 models while historically active manufacturers like Atlas and Athearn can barely get anything to market. Why is that? Might Kader be producing Bachmann items at the expense of everyone else? Might they be deliberately dragging their heels so as to hurt their competition? Might they be jacking the prices up on everything they do for everyone else while cranking out Bachmann items at a sigificant price break?

Paul A. Cutler III

And that is just business. Control your own production and you don’t have that problem.

Sheldon

[Marc_Magnus]

Hi, Yes i see yesterday the same

[TA462]

It could be a supply and demand issue too. I see a lot of Proto Steam for sale everywhere so they may have flooded the market with them. Just in case though there are a few more I want to purchase so I’ll be picking them up sooner then later

Sheldon, weren’t they called LiFoam?

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

Sheldon, weren’t they called LiFoam?

Just one of several product marketing names they used.

[RMax1]

Since Walthers bought Lifelike Proto 1000 and 2000 prices have more than doubled. That would be maybe fine if quality has doubled also. I here people say you can always go to show or EBay but selection there is hit or miss and prices at some are still high. I have been buying Bachmann products lately. I still like Proto 2000 locos but I can get 2 maybe 3 Bachmanns with DCC on board for the price of 1.

Companies have made the move to China to save money and prices have doubled or tripled on some items. American job loses and higher prices are a bad combination. The saying is I don’t care how nice it is if I don’t have a job food and housing comes first and you can keep it. Henry Ford had things right build a product that your employees can afford and have them buy it.

I watch Cody Grivno say every month for only $64.95! I bought 4 Bachmann Spectrum Heavyweights at a show for $17.50 each. I look at the Walthers car at $64.95 and go yeah whatever.

RMax

[RMax1]

Since Walthers bought Lifelike Proto 1000 and 2000 prices have more than doubled. That would be maybe fine if quality has doubled also. I here people say you can always go to show or EBay but selection there is hit or miss and prices at some are still high. I have been buying Bachmann products lately. I still like Proto 2000 locos but I can get 2 maybe 3 Bachmanns with DCC on board for the price of 1.

Companies have made the move to China to save money and prices have doubled or tripled on some items. American job loses and higher prices are a bad combination. The saying is I don’t care how nice it is if I don’t have a job food and housing comes first and you can keep it. Henry Ford had things right build a product that your employees can afford and have them buy it.

I watch Cody Grivno say every month for only $64.95! I bought 4 Bachmann Spectrum Heavyweights at a show for $17.50 each. I look at the Walthers car at $64.95 and go yeah whatever.

RMax

[RMax1]

The echo is back lol!

[richhotrain]

This is hardly a surprise to the LION. The LION expounded upon this in a term paper in 1979. I still have that paper somewhere if you want to read it.

Is it written in the third person? [(-D][(-D][(-D]

Rich

[Motley]

BroadwayLion:

This is hardly a surprise to the LION. The LION expounded upon this in a term paper in 1979. I still have that paper somewhere if you want to read it.

Is it written in the third person?

Rich

The Lion has been talking in third person since 1979? That’s hilarious!! I bet the teacher was confused.

[TA462]

There are a lot of interesting reasons why people talk in the 3rd person. [:#]