Mullet River Model Works Closing

WOW! That Stinks!

Hopefully Glenn and Dan will continue their other enterprise that I better not mention here. You two railers most likely know what enterprise I mean.

Silly as it might sound, if you go to the Mullet River web site you can read the whole story w/o twisting anybody's panties here.

Novel thought. Might try that.

Of course, that might decrease the fun factor,

BUMMER

Agreed.

Link to the Mullet River information.  Click on the underlined phrase.

This post rings up a question that's gnawing at my insides BIG TIME!!

With the heavy price increases in Atlas Master Series rolling stock,MSRP well over $100 per car,how much longer can O Scale stand viably as a scale? Every scale has been hit with price increases,but with less materials in HO products for example,& a larger market place with more competition for a lot of the same models,prices stay a little more within reason,plus a modeler can stand the increases longer.

 

This isn't meant to be critical here,I LOVE O Scale,but this reality keeps hitting me in the face,just about the time I start to move ahead in O,it's like I get stopped dead in my tracks.

 

Now this O Scale company closing-how many more closers? When do we get a notice from Atlas or MTH saying due to price increases & lack of sales,we will be closing our O scale part of our business?

Al Hummel

Al,

 

Not only that, but with an increase in prices the number of items I buy will be lower.  I just won't buy anything anymore but will be looking for specific items that meet my wants.  If I can't find it (like the ACL caboose I was asking Glenn to make) about the only option I have left is to build it myself, something at this stage in my life I don't really want to do.

 

I would guess that most O scalers have way more stuff than they possibly need.  I have 14 engines and that's peanuts by some of the posts I read.  I have that many passenger cars too plus 50 freight cars, really more than enough for my small layout.

 

I suppose there will always be modelers who resort to making things themselves, wouldn't it be great if we had a "O-Modeler's Co-Op" store where folks who have made molds for parts and entire cars (mainly for themselves) could offer their wares so buyers could have a One-Stop-Shop

I don't know what you are bemoaning here.  Would you have ever actually built a Mullet River caboose or car kit, Alan???  These kits were priced at ~$120 or more w/o trucks & couplers, are true craftsman kits and appeal to that segment of O scale that is still very much alive and active despite some opinions to the contrary.   

 

Despite all of the hand-wringing, wailing at the walls, sturm & drang, etc., I can go to just about any of the 2 rail meets/shows and fill the back of my Outback with cars and engines any time I want - there's no shortage of available stuff in O scale, but there is an overabundance of myths. 

You otta try being in S Scale...  Now there's a scale not for the faint of heart.

 

Rusty

 

 

The first time I met Glenn was at the Cleveland O scale show a few years back.  Almost ran over him with my car in the parking lot.  He was walking and wasn't paying attention but I was and stopped. Once inside I introduced myself and he said, "So you're the one that tried to run me over!"  Very nice guy and builder of some first class kits.

 

Larry

Well I guess I made a mistake here in O scale,glad you told me. I can still correct the mistake.

I wasn't talking about that Craftsman area of O scale in specific&you're right,I don't do Craftsman kits,I do RTR.

So let's address that area of O scale ONLY. At current production prices,how long do you see O scale continuing?

Al Hummel

The average viewer needs to know the intensity of these kits.  Well made, requiring some advanced assembly skills, and tools.  Here is a link to a caboose kit, not for the average out of the box modeler. IMO.  Still a lot of work to complete.

Oh boy. Looks like we are entering a wilderness period in O Scale similar to the drought times of the early to mid-70's. Then a wonderful flowering of O Scale developed about 1978, initiated with the entrance of Sunset imported brass locomotives. What with the aging of our enthusiast cohort, probably won't be a new flowering going forward. But, who knows!

I must admit that I do not find the sell prices of "ready-to-run" O SCALE rolling stock as expensive as you seem to think. I have yet to encounter an Atlas, Lionel, nor MTH O SCALE freight car even approaching $100 each. Granted, I model in the early to mid 1950s steam & early diesel era, so I do not bother to check prices of of all the current "modern" freight cars, but I have had no issues with the "steam era" products.

Glenn's products are great.  I built one of his caboose kits and it is the best piece of rolling stock I ever owned.  I also have two sets of his Fox trucks on some early freight cars - they are terrific.  I wish him well.

 

That segment of the hobby (craftsman kit builders/scratch builders) is still alive, but the activity level isn't enough to sustain O scale IMO.

 

There needs to be a healthy RTR market for any model railroading scale to grow and prosper.

 

Jeff C

Exactly so; plenty of products out there - just requires an effort to locate some at times.  Going to the Chicago meet, Indy meet, East Penn meet, Strasburg meets, Cherry Valley meets.......helps to locate many items....and tests one's resolve against some serious temptation, too! 

I could put one together but you are right about the average guy doing it. Wish i had known about these kits, i would have bought some.

I'm sure many of his kits are still available, if not in stock, then from various dealers around the country.

You never acquire and improve on skills by not building kits.  And, while fairly challenging, being laser cut slot & tab with well above instructions, these are not the hardest out there.

 

If you've got a thought about wanting one off in the future, you might want to check his web site for availability and/or the dealers that carry these....or you might just see them floating about at shows, swap meets, and eBay for the next 20 years.

As the man himself said:  "I will continue to supply models and parts as long as I have inventory on hand. When the decals and etchings are gone that model will be taken down. Des Plaines Hobby and P&D Hobby are my two dealers and they have a lot of my models in stock. Check with them for stock. If you have been wanting one don't wait. The S Scale and HO Scale line has been sold to Des Plaines Hobby and you need to check with them about what they have available."

 

Allan

Glenn's Southern caboose is very close in appearance to the ACL cab.  Some new steps need to be cut in and some window pane muntin strips need to be added to the cupola, then of course paint and decals and trucks, but it might be better than building one from scratch.

That's all? That's a lot better than "very close",

 

Then again, winter is coming.  You'll need a scratchbuilding project.....

Martin,

 

Glenn said about the only thing in common between the two was the red paint, but to these old eyes they look pretty close on the outside.  Maybe under the paint is where all the differences are

 

I haven't bought anything in a while so maybe it's time I sent him some $$$.

Those are really nice kits.  Our loss.

 

O Scale may die, but it will not be due to a lack of products.  We are an older group, mostly above 40, and the younger generation is more in to cellphones than trains.  As those of us who are ancient approach croaksville, there will be more and more really good O Scale available.

 

You want more variety in trains than ever before - visit eBay.

 

Opinion.

From Sam The Answer Man in the current Kadee email newsletter:  "A number of years ago there began a “noticeable trend” for manufacturers to produce better detailed and more prototypical models. There, of course, are many modelers that scratch built or kit bashed finely detailed models. Then there was a trend that seemed to bring more RTR (ready to run) or near RTR models into the market which affected the “kit” market. There certainly is not as many new kits being produced as there was before and the majority of these are from the resin model makers. In a sense this is not all that bad because many newer and up coming modelers do not enjoy building kits and, like many electronic based life styles, these newer modelers want the “instant take it out of the box set it on the tracks RTR models.” Now how this came about is a bit argumentative but in a way the computerized plug in world started about the same time these noticeable trends started. There’s always been stiff competition for hobby dollars then the electronic era came into the competition and now it’s a battle for hobby dollars and hobby time. Also with this came a trend away from “skill” development. The few skills that I notice now are based on pushing buttons, touching a screen, or just talking into an electronic gizmo, skills right? It seems this is a deterrent to developing real skills, dexterity, patience, and using your own brain to think for yourself. I don’t have anything against modern technology and computers. What I have issues with is the lack of any desires to use any sort of manual activity to improve or simply develop a persons skills and talents.
So get that cell phone out of the side of your head, stop texting, get your face off the computer screen, and find a real enjoyable hobby that actually helps you develop skills and talents, and even challenges your ability to think on your own."

Well, we can't order these folks around.  What they want to do with their spare time is really not our business.

 

Here's a tidbit from 1937 - Fred Icken would sell you a NYC Hudson for $225, 2-railed.  That, according to the "inflation calculator", is $3480.14, today's money.  No smoke or sound.

 

Having only been in O Scale since 1955, I cannot answer for before then, but today we have more, varied, and better O Scale 2-rail models than we ever have had in the past 60 years.

 

As always, Opinion.

It's interesting to see a start-up industry like this.  A lot goes into a business that produces a product or for that matter a service.   Having been self-employed most of my working life, you see a lot of similar problems that most any entrepreneur would have.  Best wishes to Glenn.  

If you can't tell, then the differences are so small as to be insignificant, and if that does not bother you, I'd go forward and not worry about it.

 

Winter is coming and you need a kit to build,

Sorry to learn Glenn is going to hang up Mullet River Model Works.  Absolutely distinctive and superior kits.  Kits in this day and age are a hard sell, no matter how outstanding the models, ask Red Caboose and Intermountain about their experience.  Not many folks building kits these days.  O Scale used to be known as the "builders scale".  All this business about "fidelity to scale and detail" goes out the window if it requires building a kit. May never see kits of this level again.  High tech, laser cut window mullions scale dimensions, complete interiors for the cabooses.  Sad to see these projects abandoned.  I had always hoped to see an IC side door caboose, rats!

Am I right in saying I can't buy directly from him but have to go thru one of his dealers?  Not a big deal but I couldn't find a button to hit on his site.

You can buy directly from him or his dealers.

I just emailed Glenn and the email bounced back undeliverable.  I heard his website is gone along with the instructional pics and videos.  Did anybody get a copy of them?

I remember one show where someone was selling 2-rail freight cars, most with metal wheelsets and KD couplers for $8.00 apiece. I bought a few that I liked and when I got to my car, I realized "What a fool I was, what a.....", promptly went back and bought all but one or two of what was left. I did fill the trunk of my car; all for less than a hundred bucks.

 

2015 must be the year for vanishing suppliers.   I have both of Mullet's side door caboose kits, one built, and would have jumped on an IC one, with the high cargo door, and several others.  Not easy to build, but easier than scratchbuilding them ground up, and cheaper than having them custom built (I think, although I have not tried that).

His email address is on his O Scale Resource mag:

 

glenn@oscaleresource.com

 

Here's what it says on page 5 of the Vol.3 no.1 2015 issue:

 

Mullet River Model Works is closing and all the
remaining stock will be sold through Des Plaines
Hobby or P&D Hobby. Contact one of them for
availability.