I think Amtrk14 has summed up the situation of the Tower 55 new products using the update from the Tower 55 website. It tells me they are working on the problems.
It seems like they did have some problems being the first of the Tower 55 line and first use of the sound modules from Digitrax, but the Overland / Tower 55 company have a good reputation and will certainly work to correct and enhance future products. I skipped the first ones since this is the normal for first runs to have corrections later.
Thats cool that you got a new loco, but I strongly say to stay a way from tower 55/ overland, they are a crapy company that has gone and bout exclussive rights to make all new locomotives. That is only because they know that their brass division is losing ground to dycast so they came up with tower55 and got exclussive rights to eliminate thier compatition. as far as im conserned that would be like if I started producing models of 57 chevys and got exclussive rights, no one in thier right mind would go for that. the same should be for model railroading.
Now we have an anti-Overland troll? I thought the MTH troll was bad enough.
csmith9474
I agree with you about the troll responses. For some reason, some on our forum cannot help but run down new items and try to make sure we all know it. I hear it at clubs also. No matter what the subject is, they cannot help but run it down. It might be the glass story, is it half full or half empty? The comment that was made is worth two cents.
If Overland’s management had not decided to run the new models, we could be waiting ten years or so for some company to take a chance on the newest and latest GE and EMD engines. Most of us that have been in the hobby for twenty to thirty years or more remember begging someone to make the SD40-2 or the new Dash 8CW’s or just name it. We wanted the new locomotives. We waited for years to get some of the latest model diesels after the real ones were dirty and used, except for the company that is being misrepresented and trashed, Overland.
The rights to make a particular model is not new in this hobby or any other field. It is not written and no law exists in place to prevent Kato or Atlas from getting the rights to make the new locomotives, but they probably choose not to invest their money in the project. All they have to do is pay money and get the rights like ESPN, NBC, ABC or FOX does to a certain sports event.
It is probably more American to purchase the exclusive rights to an item than four of the leading companies bringing out the same model and all losing money on the project. No company still in business would venture money into any unknown market unless some protection is gained.
This is from the man himself. Please post correct information from here on out. Thanks
"This is not the truth at all.
We have not bought any exclusive rights to eliminate competition. We have simply worked to establish relationships with the railroads and manufacturers so that we can work hand in hand. We value those relationships and do everything possible to deliver fine and accurate models to our customers.
Sincerely,
Brian Marsh President Overland Models, Inc Tower 55 Products"
Thank you Brian for all of your efforts in the industry. The brass market is much smaller today and we can not always purchase as much as we would like, but you still have made gr
Thank you Brian for all of your efforts in the industry. The brass market is much smaller today and we can not always purchase as much as we would like, but
Yes, according to Brian (OMI/Tower 55) their agreements are not “exclusive”… but any other manufacturer would have to obtain the proper rights/licenses ($$) and face the risks of being second into the marketplace… which probably discourages many/most/all others…
You just don’t see the other model manufacturers approaching the real loco manufacturers, driving/flying the distances to get the prototype information, and trying to reproduce the prototype in as detailed of a model as possible as the OMI/T55 guys…
Kasey, before hurling a torpedo flaming statement like that…why not do some research to back up your claims first? Otherwise you’ll be labeled a troll. You don’t want that.
Guys, thanks for the info. Hopefully we’ll see some more feedback. A friend of mine is saving his money for a T55 BNSF unit–I suggested to him to “hold off” until more info regarding the quality issues comes forth. Looks like this company is addressing the issues. I’m looking forward to seeing future releases.
I read a recent article awhile back about some lawsuit about a trademark name or something. Does anyone know whats going on? I wonder if the lawsuit, will kill there cash flow, causing them to go under. I really don’t want that to happen or all of us will not get any of the projects. Will this effect Overland down the road??
Apparently someone was upset that they used the name Tower 55, so they changed the name of the company to T55. I am waiting for the Russian government to claim they already used that name.