Does anyone know anything about a company called Fox Valley Models? I just ran across some very interesting pieces of equipment, but judging from the price I would think it was pretty poor quality stuff. Does anyone know?
It ain´t so, mate! Fox Valley Stuff is pretty good. Check MR´s review on their N scale loco!
I have some N-scale rolling stock from FVM and it is top rate, among the best of the best that I own. Their metal wheelsets are the standard bearer in N. The FVM N-scale GEVOs are a big hit amongst everyone I know who has them; one will be coming to my fleet soon when the CSX model hits the shelves. Jamie
TZ,Its anything but " pretty poor quality stuff." in fact I rate their N Scale right there with Atlas,Athearn,Intermountain,Red Caboose and ExactRail…
The owner of Fox Valley Models is a very experienced modeler and custom painter (and railfan photographer) who over the years has been associated with Des Plaines Hobbies (and their manufacturing arm) and Intermountain in the kit development field. He has many contacts with the major Chinese manufacturers.
Dave Nelson
I own a few of their N scale box cars. I would rate them right up there with Intermountain and Atlas for detail and quality.
Okay, but how well are they scaling up? They have a nice Hiawatha Set in the works for HO…
I have high hopes for the Hiawatha seeing how well their first diesel locomotives turned out.
For their n-scale products, they are absolutely incredible! Paint and printing is crisp, MT’s couplers already installed and even already include etched-metal endwalks. The thing that really sold me on their products is the design. When I bought my first boxcar from them, I took off the body to remove the steel plate to put in A-line lead weights. The steel plate is cleverly situated snug between the body and frame without any permanent glue to deal with. It comes right out easily! Only Atlas (more recently) has done something similar in screwing the steel weights down… Micro-Trains also places the weights higher in the car away from track magnets. FVM quality is just as good as Altas Masterline or IMR for less money too. I also bought a 24-pack of their Trinity hoppers with the same satisfaction! I highly recommend their rolling stock, at least n-scale. I haven’t tried their locos and I don’t know when I will… Their NS ES40DC will have a nose headlight (I e-mailed my complaints to FVM) but I will try a loco when I find one I want. I wish they would expand the selection though…
I was just emailed this by InterMountain:
April, 2010 EDITION - IRC MODELERS CLUB INFORMATION !! NEW! FOX VALLEY MODELS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT!! InterMountain Railway Company has entered into an agreement to distribute the product line of Fox Valley Models. Fox Valley products are recognized in the marketplace as prototypically accurate, finely detailed, and, in many cases, niche driven, designed to meet specific needs of the discerning N scale modeler. We feel that this fine product line complements InterMountain’s offerings. Dave Nelson |
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Yup that is the one I am looking at. It looks nice, but how can they do it for that price?
I dod a cost split on them. The add on car is 65 (not unreasonble considering Rapido and Walthers), so if you use that as a base, 600-(65*6 [the 6 car set included]) is a $210 DCC ready engine. Is that about right for a steamer?
I am anticipating Fox Valley models Hiawatha. $210 seems right for an engine of it’s size without sound and DCC. Milwaukee road’s hiawathas are probably the only bathtub shapped streamliners I like the look of.
Apparently FVM had the HO model running at the NMRA show.
Model Railroad Hobbyist has a picture here.
Actually a number of display HO layouts had their FVM HO scale Hiawatha running for the show. It appears to be a smooth and quiet runner and looks very good. One modeler mentioned that his Nickle Plate brand brass Hiawatha cars pale in comparison when it comes to detail.
Pilot models/ initial castings of the N scale set were shown. It can’t be long now before the N scale Hiawatha is released. Matt looked pretty pleased when I chatted with him …
Dave Nelson
That is a whole lot more than I saw them advertised for. The ad I saw listed the set for $450 and two add on cars were about $80.
$600 is the MSRP. I’m sure many retailers have them for much less.