Midwestern Model Works update

What's the website?

Midwestern Model Works website:
http://midwesternmodelworks.com

@George diSanti posted:

I see that Erik has updated his website - updated both rolling stock pages, the general news, and homepage.  Hoppers at the painters and NSC Lumber cars in production. Apparently he has been moving forward projects during the covid shut downs and and travel restrictions.  The SD45s will start again as locomotive is a much more complicated and a hands on project and travel restrictions in Korea have just been relaxed. He stated that he had been making a list of corrections to the SD45s during the down time. China travel is not feasible due to covid and CCP.

George DiSanti

Home of the Tar Heels

I love the looks of the Bethgons but the price is as high as the moon. It's very disappointing that Lionel or Atlas O couldn't come out with these same coal cars with the same details but 1/4 the price.

One would not get the correct working rotating coupler nor the correct paint job (note the rib color on the photo) on a plastic mast produced model. His pricing is on par for brass if not a little cheaper because of the deposit.  Tangent Models were the same price with less detail.

George DiSanti

Home of the Tar Heels

I am just curious and I am not trying to open a can of worms, but has MMW ever delivered anything?  Ever since I came over to 2 rail (3 years ago or so) I saw them mentioned, but yet to see a thread where someone was showing off their newly acquired model.

@roll_the_dice posted:

I am just curious and I am not trying to open a can of worms, but has MMW ever delivered anything?

Promises, lots of promises, along with vast quantities of Kool-Aid for their tireless advocates to enjoy.

Can you smell the popcorn?

@George diSanti posted:

One would not get the correct working rotating coupler nor the correct paint job (note the rib color on the photo) on a plastic mast produced model. His pricing is on par for brass if not a little cheaper because of the deposit.  Tangent Models were the same price with less detail.

George DiSanti

Home of the Tar Heels

Leave Tangent out of this. Besides, that is not even an appropriate/valid comparison. Tangent’s tank cars were made by Sam-tech. A top Korean builder with an exceptional record…. Not only of quality, but also DELIVERY.

Santiagop23: I LOVE POPCORN and I am watching the comedy as they are posted,  I have been buying and selling brass since the 70s and working with all the importers. The Tangent model is nice as it is, but lacks details that are normaly are on brass cars like opening wheel covers etc. Remember the builder only builds to the price point that an importer wishes. You should do your research before you speak. I do own three of them as I wanted to support them.  They are not the quality as OMI, PSC, Kohs, etc.

Erik’s models are on the way shortly have rolling bearing caps, a special design rotating coupler if you want to operate it like the prototype and rotate the car. As far as a model not being delivered yet, that is close to proving the naysayers WRONG. The Proof will set you Free! Erik was at the Chicago show and was well received. I do know on solid ground that another builder may not be delivering his Big project  anytime soon and on good authority not at all.. Just saying. If you would like to visit him, he will be at the 3-rail show in York with his 2 rail models.

Hahahah “opening wheel covers”. Good one! I stand corrected, guys!

Opening journal boxes are an interesting feature, and I guess some people value that.   It is not a detail I would pay for.    Last time I looked, I had no O scale people that could actually open them and put in lubricant!    It is like opening doors on a boxcar - not a detail generally worth the price.    As for a plastic mass produced car not having the detail or correct paint, I would disagree.   A mass produced car could have all of those things - albeit for only one variation most likely.    A custom/more had assembled model could have many variations, but at a much higher price point.    And cheaper because you already put down 200 does not make sense - it like saying we are from the government and we are here to help you.

I believe the pre-production models MMW showed at last years meet were 500.00 and this year the in-production models are 600.00 and any left over after the reserved buyers pick up the models they have paid for will be 690.00 per model. The Centerbeam flat is quoted at 700.00 reservation price [ 250.00 up front] at this point in time , just saying

Well, the trucks sure look like they will accept 3 rail wheels… lots of room! Can they be ordered with railsounds? Super curious! Just doing my own research.

Guys....we regularly get alerts whenever a thread about MMW gets started.  Over and over again the same discussion about production and the same bantering about their models.  Do they ever produce anything?  I certainly don't know and I can tell you that they get plenty of FREE press and promotions on the forum.  Anyway, we are getting tired of the speculation and personal nature of some of the posts.  AND, I know that they don't support the forum in any way.  How about talking about product that they have released in the last few years? 

OK...now that you all have my attention, I will stop by more often to see how things are going.

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

Guys....we regularly get alerts whenever a thread about MMW gets started.  Over and over again the same discussion about production and the same bantering about their models.  Do they ever produce anything?  I certainly don't know and I can tell you that they get plenty of FREE press and promotions on the forum.  Anyway, we are getting tired of the speculation and personal nature of some of the posts.  AND, I know that they don't support the forum in any way.  How about talking about product that they have released in the last few years?

OK...now that you all have my attention, I will stop by more often to see how things are going.

Alan, I appreciate what you're saying and hope this is allowed, but for what it's worth, a few days ago I heard a rumor from a colleague I highly regard that the MMW coal gons will begin shipping next month, and that the SD45's went into production last week. Of course, rumors or just that, so I contacted MMW, and they confirmed. I don't believe the SD45-2's are moving to production yet, and not sure about the tunnel motors either, but it appears things are beginning to progress. I'm expecting two ATSF SD45's and an ICG SD45, (#7000), so I'll be one happy camper they day they arrive, especially for the ICG. The SD45 is my all-time favorite loco, it was the big block corvette of 2nd gen diesels, and ICG's #7000 was the only SD45 ICG ever purchased. Growing up in Southern Illinois in the 1970's I remember seeing it occasionally, sometimes lashed up with some other really eclectic ICG locomotives, hammering east up the bluffs out of East St. Louis or through the tunnels on the Edgewood cutoff through the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois, some great memories, I just wish I would have taken some pictures back then.

John