Key Model Imports?

Everything about Key is top shelf, especially the prices

Oh yeah...bring your check book baby.  Excellent, excellent products...did you see the upcoming SP E2?....That is gonna be a head turner.

That depends on your relationship with your loan officer,

 

 

It's one of those deals where it's said, "if you have to ask" and you know the rest.

 

Bob

Darn, I should never have looked. can't believe how beautiful these models are. I see the upcoming FTs but no price mention. Any thought from past models what these could go for? Might have to go to stock market account as checking can't handle such a hit.

 

Phill 

Hi Phill,

          I'm guessing $1800-$2000 per unit . If you don't have a regular dealer you deal with you may want to contact Roger Lewis at Wasatch Model Company - he is great to deal with and  has a good tie-in with Key .

          Regards,

          Bryan

This will show you what one retailer is selling the last batch of E units for, remember these are A/A or A/B or A/B/A .  Approx. $2000-$2100 per unit.

 

http://www.brasstrains.com/cla...rains/Scales/O-Scale

 

And check out Wasatch:http://63splitwindow0.tripod.com/

It's only money and those are trains - sell your children for medical experiments and buy what you like!

It is only money. If I routinly spend $1200-$1500 on a big Lionel steam what is another few hundred for a scale model of high caliber. Since everybody here seems to agree they are excellent models then I think I will be placing an order.

P.S. Anybody what to buy a kidney

 

Only if I can the 2nd one at 1/2 price to go with the fava beans,

I wonder if I can get the dialysis machine to run on TMCC

It appears Key does not actually price any of there models on the web site but leaves it up to the interestered buyers to deal with the "authorized" dealers, price obivously can vary. The Caboose in CT. suggested 2200 to 2400 for Sd-40-2s. Overland to its credit puts out a suggested list price at least on there previous models, the current Heritage models are flexible[ up only] on final pricing. I believe if MMW goes forward with there SD-45 project there could be some sticker shock when final numbers are announced. In the case of most modern diesels most buyers would want more than one, double or triple those numbers. Just food for thought.

Chris, that brass dealer you mentioned has an A&B E6 UP for 1800. and after it all sorts of AA for 4000. Does not compute. Any offering why. I was first shocked that I got A&B for 1800 as Atlas charges separatly for the B but then the AA deal was so expensive and the kids are too old for me ot sell and BAC stock has a few years yet to prove rewards.

 

Phill

The UP, manufactured by Samhongsa was from a much earlier run and it is an E7 (not that that accounts for the difference in price). 

 

The just released  fun of early E's represent the higher priced models.

 

Personally, I think the E7 looks like a great deal, I wish I modeled UP. 

Hi Phill, I would agree with Markers response.  The latest offerings are higher in price.

The latest run of E8/9's had and all KEY models going forward will have the improved ballbearing drive, simulated prime mover with lighting inside the shell so it can be viewed through the windows/portholes/side grills as well as some other very nice improvements. KEY is constantly improving their product. I just wish they'd get the top headlight slope correct. Shouldn't kick back at the top as it does on the E7 set being discussed. Every KEY E or F "A" unit I've owned had this same mistake, although some not as pronounced as this E7 set. I keep waiting for this to be corrected as the rest of the model is outstanding. 

 

With all the issues the new 3rd Rail E7's have at least they got this feature correct.  And at $450-500 dollars per unit the mistakes are more tolerable and correctable.  

 

Butch

This is probably a question for Eric, have the Key Santa Fe early E units arrived yet and if so any pics also pics of FEC units. Neither appear on Keys web site.

According to Roger they are being sent to dealers this week.

Butch,  If you are saying the top headlight is vertical, I respectfully disagree. If you look at pictures from the side, there is a slight backward tilt at the top. The only bulldog nose that was vertical was the F9 series, as the headlight was a bit different. Note this image of the E7 in the PRR museum:

 

     http://www.railpictures.net/vi...d=327581&nseq=68

 

You can see the slight backward tilt.

 

Key's orientation of the nose is pretty well done.

 

Simon

Simon I think he referring to the hood line from the windshield to the tip of the headlight housing...not the face or lens area.

Hello Chris,

 

I don't read it that way, but I could easily be in error. Maybe Butch will clarify. Always room for discussion as far as the contours of the bulldog nose. There was a LOT of Bondo on those contours in the real world!

 

Simon

Hi Butch,

I see what you are getting at, but to me if the models profile is off it isn't by much.  In these photos here you can see and compare for your self.  The 3rd photo down of the NYC unit is probablly the best to see the angle.  But you gotta love what you spend your $ on.

 Here is an E6 on the left and a E7 on the right.

 

Butch,

 

Thanks for responding! I agree with you that I would like a bit LESS tilt than a bit MORE, but I guess I would rather have a bit too much rather than NONE! I think the models might imitate the real world in that they vary from one model to another.

 

Here's a link to Key's website and an image of a line of E7's from the latest run:

 

   http://www.keymodels.net/id25.html

 

It looks to me like some (the NYC unit in particular) slope back more than others, which makes sense considering the things are hand made!

 

I find there are some with contours that please my eyes, while others just don't appeal. I fully understand your point of view.

 

Simon

I'm not getting in the middle of this.  Here is one of the EMD drawings I have.  They all show the headlight with the same slope, from the FT drawings to the E9 drawings and everything in between.

 

"It looks to me like some (the NYC unit in particular) slope back more than others, which makes sense considering the things are hand made!"

 

 

Excellent observation Simon and I believe you hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately, my units more closely resembled the NYC units in the photos and being yellow (UP) paint, the slope was highlighted. 

 

I was thinking about this earlier today and wonder exactly how the builder formed the nose contour on brass models.  Plastic locos would be easy since they are injection molded, but you can't inject a brass model.  Are they pressed into a mold or block? 

 

Butch

I think we found a happy answer Roger.  Thanks for posting the drawing as I lost the one you sent me when I got a new computer.

 

Since you're online.  How do they form the nose on brass models?

 

Butch

I thought I put this issue of the headlight to rest a long time ago, here is a photo from 1942 showing the headlight slope on all these units.

 

My price on the FT's and all the F units is going to be $1950 for the A units, $1750 for the B units.  I know it seems like an F unit should cost less then an E unit but the Koreans don't see it that way.  The cost of everything is going up all the time in Korea.  My trucks from OCS keep getting more expensive every time I run them.  

 

Thanks for the kind words Bryan.

 

Roger

Butch,

 

I agree, it seems like some E unit headlights have more slope to them then others.  I know some look like they don't have any slope at all.  And some of the Late Key E units may have had a little too much slope.  Not much, just a little.  I think you will see that large steam engine that you have been waiting for before the end of the year.

  That is good news for sure.  Signed on 3 years ago this June.   Hopefully it is worth the wait.

 

Butch

I have to ask all of you who are buying the products by Key,Overland,Kohs and such. With a price tag that high on what are with out question drop dead gorgeous models, how (for lack of a better term) disappointed are you when a detail like that is off or just flat out incorrect? I gather a deal breaker for some.  I own some brass models and I know there are some details that are incorrect or missing and for me it comes down to my own personal "can I live with it" feelings.  Now this said I understand that no model is 100%, to me they can't be as everything just doesn't always scale down well and consideration has to be given to operational reliability.  So what are all of your thoughts on the matter?

I will answer that this way.   The Key ATSF E1s have lots of modifications that were done in the 1940s added to them.  I have informed my LHS I do not want them as such, period!  I want them as delivered to go with a '37-8 Super Chief or not at all.

 

Richard

With Avgas hitting the seven dollar per gal mark, my desire for expensive models is seriously diminished.  Fortunately, I am quite happy with what we call doorstops, and am tickled when I find a pile of brass castings that can approximate a railroad locomotive.

 

The overall look has to be "right"for me. This is different for everyone and is based on how much exposure they have had to the prototype. It's not brass but an example is the Atlas RS3. I was given one as a gift and really hadn't looked at the prototype much. I was happy with it at that time. It didn't take long before I saw the gross mistakes in the model. After that I couldn't even look at it without being let down. I guess the moral of this story is do less research you will find less mistakes and be happier with your models. If I ever pay upwards of $2000 for a model I am going to stop looking a prototype photos to assure my happiness. Ken The guy from AR

If you look at the Samhongsa models and the new generation ones (by Sam Model Tech as I recall) there appears to be common parentage, which would support the above comments.

 

I have heard from someone very familiar with brass model building that the noses had further refinement after they were stamped. On the assumption that this is correct, it might be a likely reason for the slightly differing appearance of various models.

 

Perhaps some points that could be illuminated sometime you are chatting with Dave DeVita.

 

Simon

 

It does not appear that on there reservation listing Key was year specific as to the

Santa Fe early E units, as built or early years modifications, they do like to do the most detailed versions.

The following two images speak more than words could ever do. 

 

Photo Courtesy (c) Otto Perry (Denver Public Library Collection) Used for reference only

 

I think these models are as real as it gets.