From what I understand Branchline Trains has sold off their blueprints, molds and existing stock of their model freight and passenger line to Atlas. Atlas, I believe has not yet stated what they will be doing with the assets, i.e. continue kits and RTR or what ever. I tend to think they will be going RTR only.
I guess the hobbyists that love quality kits will be pushed further into the cold again. Out side of Tichy I can not think of any kit manufacturers still making quality kits at a reasonable price.
OH well time to go back to brewing and give up this hobby.
This was discussed a couple of weeks ago here on the forum. Given Atlas’ track record: If they do decide to re-release the Branchline molds, IMO, they’ll make them RTR. But, then…maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
That still leaves Westerfield and a couple of others besides Tichy, also if wooden cars aren’t too old for your time frame there is always scratch building wooden cars, reefers, boxcars and such. Not to mention there are still “lots” of kits available yet from old stock and stashed away in basements.
I sold about a hundred Intermountain kits about a year ago because I finally figured out I’d never live long enough to build them all anyhow. Most of them brought between $10 and $15 each. I still have several more crates of kits in the basement that I’ve bought over the years but I hope to get them built, someday.
My LHS has one entire rack of “kits” that he can’t sell because it appears most guys today don’t have the skills to build a kit, if it’s not RTR apparently they’re lost so you should have no shortage for a long, long time.
I believe there are numerous issues for the decline of kit models. While there are fewer people proficient in kit building, i would believe that many more hobbiest just don’t have the time to spend on putting together kits. The value of time has changed over these past few generations as technology has allowed us to accomplish more in a given amount of time. This has resulted in the so called rise of “instantaneous gratification” or “I want it now” generation. Even the older generations have gotten used to getting something now. It’s not so much they’re impatient but the bar of what can be accomplished is so much higher than in previous generations. Most manufacturers do listen to their customers and manufacture based on your buying habits. If RTR products are selling better than kit products, then to them it’s a no brainer that they should sell more RTR products.
The trend towards creating the most realistic models and layouts has also not gone unnoticed by manufacturers. Manufacturing and material technology has changed significantly over the last generation and has enabled manufacturers to meet this trend. Prior to this, kits were popular because RTR could not meet requirements of “realism” desired by modelers. Realistic, well-detailed, well-running models a generation ago were best achieved with a model that was not already constructed. Again this required time, not just building the kit but also researching the prototype in. Advances in technology have allowed for mass production of well detailed RTR prod