This has to be one of the the coolest new products on the market for 2007.
I just wish it was available in N scale also. 
Yep, pretty cool.
Cool alright, just not sure it’s $750 worth of cool … [:O]
No, I had not seen it. I do not feel better for having seen it now. Possibly a totally new standard for overpricing in the making here.
First showed up here about a month ago.
$750 to watch paint dry?
I parked up next to a full size container terminal last Friday (for work). It was so exciting! [zzz][zzz][zzz][zzz][zzz]
The crane moved along picked up a box, moved, put the box down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down, moved, picked up a box, moved, put it down…
Yeah… I definitely want to spend the equivalent of about ten good locos (five with sound) on that…
Come on Dave, admit it. If you were the man operating that crane you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven, right? [(-D]
-George
An attempt by Walthers to see just how far they can push pricing before hobbyists, especially those guys who are simply collectors of HO train stuff, scream, “No more!”
CNJ831
That is why we have tiny little automobiles to drive that cost less than $10,000 for folks who either like them or is all they can afford for a new car, while at the other end of the spectrum, we have ultra expensive super sports cars that cost well over $100,000. And somewhere in that mix of price is where the majority of buyers are. Isodel railroading or any hobby for that matter really any different? If money were no object, would you spring for the $750? Personally, I am not in the Super Sport class of buyers, my best wishes to those that are.
I am a big fan of automation, unfortunately the crane is a bit too new for my era. It seems the items made by the European manufacturers tend to cost more, could be tarrifs we impose on them, not sure. I don’t think $750 is totally unreasonable given what is offered. I believe there is a drive-in movie offered by another company that is expensive as well.
And while the comment is correct that one could by several sound equipped locos for $750, I don’t have the capability to run all the locos I have now. Some one could easily make the crane the centerpiece of a switch layout with just 1 or 2 locos and have one heck of an operation.
Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all and may you find your favorite roadname under the tree, in the mail box, or at a Boxer (or is it Boxing) Day sale.
Rick
I doubt that they are planning to produce more than a few hundred of these but I think it adds alot to an intermodal station.
Hmmm, and it’s a KIT requiring assembly and programing. That should further limit the market to those with a brain, unfortunately I forsee the questions on the Forum on how do I assemble my new toy from those with more money than brains!
I am being way too sarcastic. It looks like a great item but bound to be very challenging even to the above average modeler/operator. Who is going to be the first with his/her own functioning intermodal terminal?
Will
This has come up before in the realm of plastic model kits, and as far as I know the US does not charge any duties or tariffs on toys/models. The stuff’s just more expensive. Frankly I don’t understand why Walthers imports the European stuff. 99% of it doesn’t look like anything in this hemisphere, so unless you’re making a replica of Busch Gardens or the Adler branch through Bad Schaffenburg, I can’t imagine how they would sell more one or two of any Heljan/Faller item at the prevailing prices.
KL
Excuse me while I wax philosophic for a moment…
Okay, if Walthers goes to the trouble of importing this very nifty (and very expensive) container crane kit, they are catering to the rich elite while gouging the rest of us poor schleps.[?]
However, if someone like Walmart sells stuff everybody needs at very affordable prices, they are exploiting the “working poor” while at the same time laying waste to “mom and pop” stores far and wide. [?]
God! I’m glad I don’t work in retail! [:D]
-George
Fortunately, I don’t model the modern era so I’m not even tempted to add this to my layout. If I did model present day, I’d probably think this is a way-cool, must-have item, whatever the price. Since my choice of eras has just saved me $750, I think I’ll use the savings to buy 2 or 3 new sound equipped locomotives.
Cool? Yes. Expensive? Obviously.
A potential buyer that hasn’t been mentioned is a large model railroad club. If members pitched in, the price would be less of a shock. And a large layout with operations might be able to add another dimention to it’s Op Sessions.
Also, a club having another “gee-whiz” item would attract visitors during open house hours.
Just a thought.
Rich
I should’ve looked harder I guess because there is one in N scale
I just might - repeat, MIGHT - be willing to fork out $750.00 for an N-Scale steam loke that would pull 60+ cars on the straight and level but I have a couple of 0-5-0 switchers that do a fantastic job loading and unloading stacks.
I must agree with the majority of the thread in saying that its really neat, but not $750 neat. For that cash, it should come assmebled and be able to load and unload stacks all my itself… aka totally automated! 
You could build one yourself for considerably less…