I love Euro Modell AG! ..and Ferro Suisse... and Hermann.. And ;)

hibar posted:

up148 posted:

To me, highly detailed and executed models of anything (cars, boats, airplanes or trains) is always enjoyable to see and own. These models shown are exquisite and I wish I was into European prototypes, but I'm not and my plate is pretty full just handling US prototypes in O scale. 

I've been told and have read that many European collectors/modelers are willing to pay more for their models than most of us over here and that is the reason many highly detailed models are built to European prototypes. $8-9000 models are not uncommon in Europe, but quite a rarity on this side of the pond. 

A few days ago I re-read an announcement in a 1993 OSN magazine, in which a company in Japan was soliciting orders to build a US prototype brass steam locomotive in O scale (can't remember the road) that would be far superior to any model that had been built and imported up to that time. The proposed price was $8000 with a $4000 non-refundable deposit. It was to be built by Kempei Sofue, but to my knowledge it never materialized. Way beyond my budget at the time, so I never followed up on it and a $4K non-refundable deposit would be a deal killer anyway. 

So, the European market seems to get the lion's share of super highly detailed models.

BH

Interesting  that Mr Sofue went on to produce several hundred custom built models many of which hit that 8K number or more in resales, just saying.

I have a ATSF Mikado Mr Sofue built in the 1990’s. 

Something to notice is that modeling the interior of cars is more difficult than the exterior. Modeling an interior is more abstract, the builder not only has to deal with very small and delicate pieces but also has to make them fit together seamlessly upon assembly. Also since the interior body provides a reference for vertical and horizontal lines, any misalignment in the objects becomes evident. Interiors are overlooked in US models, I would say.

The Swiss are the finest builders on Earth. Sadly the labor rates are higher than here. The Koreans are pretty close behind and the Chinese also build awesome models. Case and point observe the production models from CMC “Classic Model Cars” in 1:18 and 1:12.. how does he do that and he owns his own factory in China. 

Yes we don’t readily see it here this is why I try and share this stuff like this thread. It might rub off on some domestic importers.

The European market has always been more supportive of high end models even KTM years ago when they stopped producing for US importers continued with foreign markets including their own. Here the HO market is still strong for a number of importers, Today with the builders skill level at an all time high almost any model can be built if collectors/investors are willing. just saying!