Concor vs. Kato...

[n012944]

I think you get what you pay for.

There are certain products that provide what I want: quality detailing, quality mechanisms and handrails that don’t lean excessively.

It’s a very short list of manufacturers. I stick to that list.

John

I agree.

[maxman]

I see what Bear did.

Anonymous is a catch all for people have been deleted from the forum. One of the original posters posted in 2020, the rest last posted 2018, 2013 2008.

Incorrect. All of the original Anonymous’ (Anonymi?) last posted in 2005. If Anonymous posted in 2020, it’s a different Anonymous.

[DrW]

Just to set the record straight. For a long time, Con-Cor produced freight and passenger cars of Athearn BB standards, such as molded-on handrails or paint schems that never existed. Then, for a span of around six years or so arond 2010, they produced some really high quality models of prototypes that few other companies dared to tackle, such as the Pioneer Zephyr, the GM Aerotrain, and Pennsy’s P54 cars and mP54 EMUs. Some of these items had never been availble before, even in brass. As an example, Santa Fe had purchased two P54 cars from PRR and used them as trailer cars for their doodlebugs (T103,T104); before Con-Cor, nobody else had ever thought of modeling these.

Unfortunately, this string of creativity and high-quality models was obviously not sufficient to sustain the company. If you want to assess the present status of Con-Cor, have a look at their current web site (www.con-cor.com),

[tstage]

Then, for a span of around six years or so arond 2010, they produced some really high quality models of prototypes that few other companies dared to tackle, such as the Pioneer Zephyr, the GM Aerotrain, and Pennsy’s P54 cars and mP54 EMUs.

I can vouche for the Con-Cor Aerotrain. They did a very fine job designing that one.

The individual passanger cars hook together easily - both physically & electrically - using 8-pin connectors, with working diaphrams. And it comes with working headlights & rear taillights. I ended up wiring in a TCS FL4 function-only decoder to add gyrolighting to the taillight of the observation car. The motor is also very smooth and the detailing nicely done.

I’m glad I nabbed a full set of cars when I did a few years back. Now they are going for a pretty penny on places like eBay.

Tom

[ATLANTIC_CENTRAL]

Just to set the record straight. For a long time, Con-Cor produced freight and passenger cars of Athearn BB standards, such as molded-on handrails or paint schems that never existed. Then, for a span of around six years or so arond 2010, they produced some really high quality models of prototypes that few other companies dared to tackle, such as the Pioneer Zephyr, the GM Aerotrain, and Pennsy’s P54 cars and mP54 EMUs. Some of these items had never been availble before, even in brass. As an example, Santa Fe had purchased two P54 cars from PRR and used them as trailer cars for their doodlebugs (T103,T104); before Con-Cor, nobody else had ever thought of modeling these.

Unfortunately, this string of creativity and high-quality models was obviously not sufficient to sustain the company. If you want to assess the present status of Con-Cor, have a look at their current web site (www.con-cor.com),

To set the record even more straight, ConCor was at one time not only an important manufacturer/importer, they were also a large full line distributor.

They have often been equally active or even stronger in N scale than in HO.

The owner moved away from the distributor business as the hobby changed and small shops closed up leaving distributors without customers.

More than a decade ago owner Jim Conway publicly announced he was considering retirement, then decided to restructure somewhat and offered those models you mentioned, and a few you did not mention like very nice PCC trolleys.

Jim has always done a few fantasy paint schemes and fun stuff like Christmas cars.

And yes, their products have mostly represented the afordable/casual side of the hobby, like their two lines of streamlined HO passenger cars. Maybe just generic, but affordable and necessary before better models were available.

Your last statement suggests yo