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Post by riogrande on Nov 20, 2024 7:34:00 GMT -8
I remember a kind of golden age of kits, where the unassembled kits were made in USA and cost about $15 each. Intermountain, Red Caboose..... I built a LOT of their kits! I spent a few years away from the hobby (running the real trains instead) and when I slowly got back into it the kits had gone away and everything was fully assembled, made in China and $45 a car. And prices have done nothing but rise ever since. I suppose the jump from a $15 made-in-USA kit to a fully-assembled made-in-USA freight car would be a lot of money.
Thing is, there's loads of those older kits still available second hand, at a similar price, if you want them. Truth. When people complain about the lack of kits, they must not be going to train shows, especially larger train shows. Year after year, I see lots of kits at the Timonium show. It was true when I was in other states as well. |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 20, 2024 7:36:37 GMT -8
Don't forget that the Kadee models are completely glue free, which must be a major consideration for assembly in the US. I misread that as gluten free Good one! Some years ago I bought a 3 pack of KATO 2-bay hoppers. The just fell together - no glue. The only thing I didn't like was the gray was rather dark on the Rio Grande version. |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Nov 20, 2024 8:25:42 GMT -8
Just picked up a Tichy tank car kit for $5 at a show. So the dealer didn't have to break the $20 for a $15 Jordon Erie Steamshovel kit. I have a few dozen kits of one form or another on my shelves. Box shakers and head scratchers...ie: Scale Train SD40-2T w/out directions.  My final ST purchases, ever The Kato hopper 3 packs are really nice. |
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Post by 12bridge on Nov 20, 2024 8:33:36 GMT -8
The issue is far too many guys want the 45$ Tangent, Moloco etc. cars at 1985 kit prices because "its just a freight car!".
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Post by riogrande on Nov 20, 2024 9:47:52 GMT -8
The issue is far too many guys want the 45$ Tangent, Moloco etc. cars at 1985 kit prices because "its just a freight car!".  |
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 20, 2024 10:18:18 GMT -8
The issue is far too many guys want the 45$ Tangent, Moloco etc. cars at 1985 kit prices because "its just a freight car!". I think we all realize the $45 freight cars are a relative bargain. Extrapolate a 1985 kit price into a fully assembled freight car using only US labor and you'd get about a $100+ freight car. |
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pabel
New Member
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Post by pabel on Nov 20, 2024 13:34:09 GMT -8
You mean a $58.95 Tangent or $66.99 Moloco car. I'd love to pay $45 for either manufactures car.
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Post by gevohogger on Nov 20, 2024 14:08:31 GMT -8
You mean a $58.95 Tangent or $66.99 Moloco car. I'd love to pay $45 for either manufactures car. Apparently I should have specified: $45 was where they started in 2007.
Next up will be the guy who says he was buying them for $43.95 or whatever.  |
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Post by hudsonyard on Nov 20, 2024 14:29:33 GMT -8
I remember a kind of golden age of kits, where the unassembled kits were made in USA and cost about $15 each. Intermountain, Red Caboose..... I built a LOT of their kits! I spent a few years away from the hobby (running the real trains instead) and when I slowly got back into it the kits had gone away and everything was fully assembled, made in China and $45 a car. And prices have done nothing but rise ever since.
I suppose the jump from a $15 made-in-USA kit to a fully-assembled made-in-USA freight car would be a lot of money.
Thing is, there's loads of those older kits still available second hand, at a similar price, if you want them. You might be able to build a storage shed for unbuilt kits out of the boxes for proto 2k 50' automobile boxcars. |
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Post by drolsen on Nov 21, 2024 5:10:12 GMT -8
You mean a $58.95 Tangent or $66.99 Moloco car. I'd love to pay $45 for either manufactures car. Apparently I should have specified: $45 was where they started in 2007.
Next up will be the guy who says he was buying them for $43.95 or whatever. With Tangent’s quantity discount, the $58.95 Trinity 4750 covered hoppers come out to $48.93 each, if you buy a dozen. Buy two dozen or more, and they are $46.87 each. You can mix and match products to get the quantity discount, e.g. six 86’ boxcars and six Trinity 4750 hoppers for a dozen (17% off). You may be able to get a group of people together to place an order to have the numbers for a larger discount. Dave |
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My final ST purchases, ever
