Just read in another post by Cal Zephyr that they have pulled out of the Anaheim NMRA national show!! There have also been other grumblings on the forum about them. In chapter 11 or something? Curious [%-)]
All good things come in time…
I’m not sure what to make of Smitty’s ambiguous reply, but I wouldn’t be sanguine about their decision. They have advertised models for, what, over two years now, and…nuthin’.
I’m not in the market for anything they claim to have in the works, but I can at least sympathize with those of you who were drooling over their ads. A sign of the times perhaps?
-Crandell
I’ve heard that Overland is shipping out its RSD-5 models to dealers presently.
Mark
Note, the time stamp on T55s posting. That is probably the latest on the subject.
This same issue came up just a few weeks past if I recall right.
There are reasons, I know from experience, why companies will puff their status even though they may be on the verge of bankruptcy but reading the above cited newsletter doesn’t give me any obvious indication that OMI is giving serious consideration to folding Tower 55. About six months ago, in fact, I responded in a topic about Tower 55 - remember I am an N-Scaler and really only give hurried attention to HO-Scale advertisements - asking if the company had ever done anything. Their first advertisements stated that somewhere in the vapor they were planning on making N-Scale offerings. Anyway, I got a reply to my querry that their ES4400(?) was a really a great running unit and the respondent was looking forward to (promised) future offerings.
Don Z, Thanks - that post seems to answer any questions. Lets hope they can “pull it off”. [:)]
I’m just wondering, mind you.
Is there a possibility that brass DIESELS do not appeal to a market so well represented by plastic manufacturers such as Proto, Genesis, Atlas and others? I remember back in the heyday of the brass market, and the fact that brass diesels NEVER seemed to sell as well as steam. Why spend over $2-300 dollars for a diesel that actually didn’t run as smoothly as a $20 Athearn? Sorry, guys, but the brass market is the one that picks up on DISTINCT models, which is mainly steam, which was pretty much custom-made by the Big Three–Baldwin, ALCO and Lima for particular railroads. Is it possible that Overland in their attempt to build super-detailed diesel models of current locomotive power in either brass or plastic don’t realize that a lot of their product is duplicated more readily by other, less expensive manufacturers? Or that by buying one of the plastic diesels, one can add details to it that STILL are below the price of imported brass?
Just wondering. Hey, I’d like to see Overland still in the market, but perhaps they need to change their product a little bit–go more toward the unique–like other brass manufacturers–instead of the models that are readily available from the LHS in plastic boxes.
Just wondering–
Tom
I think everyone is focused on this because the T55 prices were like double the Kato/IM/Proto/Genesis range. I would like to own a pair of the '70Aces and I was ready to “pre-order” them and wait. A few things scared me off, though. Overland sold off their entire parts inventory. Overland has been selling off other things like reference books and things. Until the most recent posted update, there was really no news for the last 10-11 months. I’m sure the Hobby will have some casualties in the near future, things just seem to get worse out there, but I’m rooting for Mr Marsh and his fine company to survive and prosper in the future.
[2c]
I have to echo Tom’s comments. Considering how nicely detailed (road specific detail at that!) the two Athearn MP15ACs I just bought are and how smoothly the run, I don’t think I could gotten anything better in bra$$.
Unless it is something that just isn’t available in “plastic”, I just don’t see the need to buy brass - especially deisels.
Just my [2c]
-George
To bring the topic back into focus, remember that T55 makes plastic locomotives with or without sound as a sister company to Overland. Regarding the comment that they are twice the cost of a Broadway Limited or Proto 2000 with sound, I must disagree as I own 4 of the Tower 55 units and they cost about $50.00 over my Atlas, BLI and P2K sound equipped locos. Hardly twice the price…
Don Z.
To be fair, the 70Ace prices aren’t posted yet, but the ES44’s are listed at $270 for standard dc, and the other brands I had listed (plastic-high level of detail) are in the $100-$140 range. I would expect a brass quality (including power) model at the very least.
The cost of the T55 models is higher for many reasons, including specific details on the different road names. Brian wanted his plastic models to reflect the quality of specific details of the brass models and the price has to reflect those details. It is hard to beat Atlas in general for price and overall detail but they are generic in many ways.
I believe that the extra cost of the T55 models is worth the money and the Atlas units with sound are almost the same list price. On the other hand, the street price of the Atlas models is much lower since they have the regular percentage of markup and are discounted more than the T55 models.
I certainly hope Overland can overcome the problems they are having and continue to bring us great brass models in the future. The brass market is slow since money is tight and the latest brass models are priced beyond what most of us want to pay.