New Midwestern Model Works project addtions

Hi Guys ,

          Surprised nobody commented on these models - figured a lot of guys would be interested in them . I've spoken to a number of guys who have had questions about what Erik is doing and where things stand . I talk to Erik on a fairly regular basis and am in for 3 of the SD45s . We've all been talking about loosing Henry Bultmann and his C+LS engines which was an immense loss to the O scale brass market , but I think we're in a position to have someone who cares just as deeply about producing great brass models with some innovative features . Because I've heard privately from a few guys having concerns about getting involved with a start-up operation I want to urge people to drop Erik a line with ANY question you have about the models , the ordering procedure , deposits - WHATEVER . I've heard guys repeat things that were just conjecture on their part without going to the source for an answer. Seems to me we've got a guy who loves O scale who's going to do all of us who love great models a real service . I'm not associated with MWMW in any way  - this comment is a personal appeal to get guys to get your info from the source ! He'd love to hear from you .

          Regards,

          Bryan Davies

Perhaps the problem is that a lot of us cannot afford really high end models?  I am quite sure Bultmann would still be in business if he could sell them as fast as he could build them. I am spending almost a grand a month for fuel alone.

The old saying is that it is better to have ONE 'GOOD' piece of art than several low end pieces of art. Stephen

There you go.  Now all you have to do is convince guys like me.  I am not yet convinced that Diesels past the SD-35 are all that wildly popular.  My interest pretty much stops at the SD-9.  But I am not your target customer, although I have admired EriK's machine work.  I like lots of trains, mostly of the doorstop variety.

 

Why not contact Henry and see what the market is for truly fine models?

I know Henry, and I will not discuss why he is not doing more locos. But he had no choice but to end his business nor will he discuss dicuss it. It was not because of price or demand. If you dare, ask him what happened to the pilot models of the 4 wheel truck Alcos (H 12s) he started.

It also does not matter bob2 if you are convinced that Diesels past the SD-35 are all that wildly popular, sepecially with two importers doing the SD40-2s and two importers looking to do modern SD and GE locos.

I do not believe anyone here is being targeted. There is a demand for all eras and pricing in modeling.  Stephen

 

I have been checking in Midwestern model works from time to time, it sounds neat to what he is doing, but only reading about it only goes so far. I would love to see lots of pictures of the details of the models and the models themselves for that matter. I know there are a few pictures on there, but seeing more than a couple prototype unfinished models would be good. if I'm going to buy something off the internet. id like to see what I'm buying first.

Don't be angry with me Stephen.  Your buddy was asking why there did not seem to be much interest, and I tried to come up with an opinion- type answer.  Check the first two posts.

 

My opinion counts for nothing, since I cannot justify this kind of expenditure.

Bob2 _ my post was not meant to be angry by any means. I apologise if it came out that way.  WOW - a grand a month on fuel. I hear they are going to show porn on the pump screen so we can watch someone get screwed.  Stephen

I think part of the challenge is that he is just starting... I have sincere interest in his future projects : gp 7/9. And SD 9's The modern locomotive is very nice but I model the 1950's... I am hoping he has a successful launch and can quickly add the above models. I think he will have more interest, momentum and success after his first launch completes.

More opinion incoming: few high end suppliers have really made it big.  Key seems to be doing ok at the moment, and I understand that Kohs is still bringing in models for the extremely high end.

 

The two that died are the ones to wonder about.  Henry won't tell Stephen why he stopped, but he had plenty of customers and a profit- making price that was no obstacle. And KTM USA is rumored to have produced two definitive models and stopped cold.  I have a friend with an FEF, and he says it is the best model he has ever seen, operationally and otherwise.

 

CLW tried to move in to the high end mechanism business, and as I understand it, $750 will get you a pretty good mechanism to this day - but demand is in the onesies and twosies.  A fellow forumite produces them in extremely limited quantities.

 

Apparently the secret to offering sort of high end models is to offer a line of profit-making low end stuff to support it.  Check out Lionel - they periodically offer Hudsons to the very high end tinplate market, but support that effort with giraffe box cars and pink plastic steam models.

 

Henry Bultmann was widely acclaimed, especially for that last 4-10-2.  He is an avid O Scaler.  If he was making a decent profit for his efforts, it is difficult to believe that he stopped because somebody ripped off a couple of pilot models.  And bankruptcy is highly unusual in a profit- making business.

 

All of the above is hearsay and opinion.  I have absolutely no facts.

Henry did go bankrupt, the result of exceptional models with limited appeal at there price point. He did not have the advantage of todays trend for the potential buyers to deposit money up front for projects[not enough reservations with nonrefundable deposits, the project does not get off the ground] it will be interesting to see if Eric gets sufficient deposits to produce a new model.

Half is for the airplanes.  Avgas is over six bucks a gallon.  The Cub can use car gas.

 

I get great joy out of my locomotive collection, but nothing can compare with an afternoon flight with the door open.  It was 92 degrees today, but behind that fan it felt like paradise.

 

I had heard Henry did not sell enough models to make a go at it.  That is a shame, because I bet nobody ever matches his quality.  I hope Erik does, but the business models are similar.  It would scare the crap out of me.  The competition is fierce, and if there is profit in this stuff, watch out for the big guys.

The major impediments as I see them are getting more than 2 model railroaders to agree on anything, and put an actual deposit on it, and dealing with the overseas builder. If you can get that part right, I don't figure the "competition" is that much of a factor, unless they can bring in a project in some kind of record time. This and a buck will get you coffee somewhere....maybe!

 

Simon

Bob2, I am not sure the Big Boys (Lionel/MTH) will compete much at that end.... 

 

    They are fixated on moving as many pieces thru a die as they can, changing paint to insure economies of scale.      However, more to your point: the demand for ultra detailed brass locomotives is going to be limited---and expensive!

 

The question for a potential buyer is: if I don't buy today---will I ever find it tomorrow?

I would expect that if I order the GP9/7 and or SD-9 I would get a couple of each---because who will produce these in the intervening decade with this level of detail (as expected per website)?

my guess---no one.

 

If he can clear 1K per engine and sell 50 in a run, he has a business; albeit a small, boutique business---but IMO this is a reasonable plan.

 

He should not expect to sell 100-200 locomotives at $2500ea---this would be an enormous capital risk for him.    If buyers back out, production issues arise (highly likely) or other problems crop up.

 

I have communicated with MWMW that I would have sincere interest in the locomotives mentioned above---but it seems that they could be several years out based on his production/reservation system.