Yesterday, I received the two “Streeters” kits I ordered. These guys seem to get better with age. I have approached Bob several times with the suggestion that he re-issues some of his stuff… The answer is always the same. Anyone else into those kind of kits? I think they are the best kits of their type on the market.
Rich
Rich,
You have a point but your info is a little off. SRM did make some good kits. They (SRM) didn’t give you the variety that other makers did though. Kits from Master Creations, Builders In Scale, Sheepscot, made kits that had better directions then SRM. And trying to compete with FSM was a waste of time. SRM kits don’t hold a candle to a FSM kit. I am not putting them down, but other kit manu. made better and easier kits to complete and also had a better variety to choose from. I have built many from both of them ( FSM & SRM ) A FSM kit has absolutely everything you needed including detail. A SRM kit was the kit you wanted if you needed to kitbash something or add to it. Look at some of the other big kits, you will see that they are far better (IN DIFF WAYS) then SRM kits.
Mike
South River Modelworks makes large, quality craftsman kits; usually one limited run kit per year. http://www.southrivermodelworks.com/ They are wa-a-a-a-y out of my price range, but our club layout at the Boothbay Railway Village has 2 of them that were included in a donation a couple of years ago. We rescued them from being thrown in the trash [:O]!! They are kit #110 Delabarre Tap & Die and #150 Martin Machine Co. Both were a bit beat up and need restoration; we hope to install them on the layout we are building.
I went over and looked at South River Models’ website; they certainly produce some nice looking models but I’m afraid that the price they ask for their products would be “too enough” for my “just enough” modeling philosophy.
All of the big kit builders are asking big $$$ for there kits. And I am talking about kits that haven’t been made for 20 years or so. Just look on Ebay. I have paid over $1000.00 for some FSM kits that haven’t been made in years. Now I love the old big kits. Some I build and some I just put away in stored plastic bags. They will NEVER loose there value. The kits I think SRM hit the nail on the head are the STONE & BRICK ROUNDHOUSES. But be prepaired to pay $1500.00 to $2000.00+ for those bad dogs. But well worth it. Fantastic kits IMO.
Mike
These artisans are attempting to make a living making a couple of hundred kits a year. When one calculates the dollar-per-hour of enjoyment, the kits are less expensive than your “shake-the-box kit.” From my viewpoint, their kits are worth it. If you don’t enjoy kit building or the kits don’t fit into your layout, that’s no reason to “knock” them.
Mark