I sent Precision Scale an e-mail earlier today expressing my frustrations with their announcements. I mentioned that I would have gotten 2 of the Santa Fe 2-10-4 5001 class locomotives but they cancelled the model. I also mentioned that I had cancelled my reservation for their C&O H7a since they keep pushing the import date back for the last few years. Their response was
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Sae Ho is the best steam builder in the world and he is under a lot of demand from not only US importers but European as well. He just completed our H10 project in HO a total sell out before they even arrived.
My guess is like PSC told you please keep ordering this is the only way we will get more models built.
Photo (c) Erik C Lindgren for The Division Point
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Goooooood Grief Erick: Why are you not being honest with people. There are other dealers besides Lewis!
Yes Roger lewis is the biggest dealer who runs the Key website and will not put the dealers list on the site so he gets all the sales. Conflict of interest?
Division Point's website sucks, No one can find a thing on it. Where are the prices?
Stephen
I am somewhat new to ''O'' scale compared to what I can deduce from the posts that I read. I have models from five of the importers (C&LS,PSC.OMI,KEY AND KOHS). Kohs does the best for the modeler IMO. They announce a model,they give a price,they give updates and also allow incremental payments. That allows me to budget and I can get more than one model knowing what the price is beforehand. Their models are OUTSTANDING!! It would be nice if Key did this. Their models are OUTSTANDING also!! Precision Scale will have some catching up to do as the other 2 keep raising the bar as far as detail goes but they can do it. Just look at some of their past models. I did post on the ''Wanted to Buy'' section a request seeking a PSC C&O 4-8-4 J3a class (#15719 ) unpainted or painted.
Precision Scale was a prolific importer up to about 10 years ago. They seem to have essentially given up on O Scale; their last O Scale activity was their die cast line, which apparently sold well. Key and Kohs issue a trickle of locomotives with long lead times. Glacier Park also has a trickle of O Scale locomotives, again long lead time. The only remaining reliable, high volume, wide variety prototype offerings importer these days is Sunset 3rd Rail. The halcyon period was about 1980-2005. Perhaps it is the weak economy, the dismal wage base, the utterly under-funded Baby Boom generation as regards their retirement, the continuing softness in the employment market place, all of which has shrunk the available capital pool for expensive brass locomotives. It was a great period while it lasted!
Very true Mark. The golden years are most definitely behind us.
Yves
I did have an early PSC cab forward. It was fairly difficult to work on, and when I took a micrometer to some of the larger components and discovered very thin sheet metal, I traded it for two USH models. Side rods were overlapped, much like the Locomotive Workshop kits. Even I know how to clevis a side rod.
It was attractive, when parked on a shelf, and after lubrication, it ran smoothly.
Very true Mark. The golden years are most definitely behind us.
Yves
Sadly You are certainly right.
I did have an early PSC cab forward. It was fairly difficult to work on, and when I took a micrometer to some of the larger components and discovered very thin sheet metal, I traded it for two USH models. Side rods were overlapped, much like the Locomotive Workshop kits. Even I know how to clevis a side rod.
It was attractive, when parked on a shelf, and after lubrication, it ran smoothly.
Precision Scale was a prolific importer up to about 10 years ago. They seem to have essentially given up on O Scale; their last O Scale activity was their die cast line, which apparently sold well. Key and Kohs issue a trickle of locomotives with long lead times. Glacier Park also has a trickle of O Scale locomotives, again long lead time. The only remaining reliable, high volume, wide variety prototype offerings importer these days is Sunset 3rd Rail. The halcyon period was about 1980-2005. Perhaps it is the weak economy, the dismal wage base, the utterly under-funded Baby Boom generation as regards their retirement, the continuing softness in the employment market place, all of which has shrunk the available capital pool for expensive brass locomotives. It was a great period while it lasted!
Thank you for thanking me !!
Erik: I had a PSC N&W class A and every time you picked it up parts would fall off. The pilot hung so low is would short on the rails. I also had a OMI N&W Y3, but OMI had to make a front driver support so that the front drivers would track. What is sad is that a lot of customers did not know about the support and did not receive one, so there are some Y3's out there which do not have the corrected support piece.
It seems that when Samhongsa (SP?) went under there were not any great builders to take their place, therefore poor quality. I think what is being produced now is much better than years past.
Stephen
The golden years are most definitely behind us.
Are we still discussing model trains?
Sae Ho is the best steam builder in the world and he is under a lot of demand from not only US importers but European as well. He just completed our H10 project in HO a total sell out before they even arrived.
My guess is like PSC told you please keep ordering this is the only way we will get more models built.
Photo (c) Erik C Lindgren for The Division Point
Beautiful camera work Eric, just out of curiosity at 2K a pop[avg dealer price] how many of these HO H10s were actually imported?
Though I have little to no knowledge of the PSC schedule and can relate to waiting on items forever, I can tell you I love PSC products.
The PSC 2-8-8-0 UP "Bull Moose' is one of the nicest locomotives I've ever saw. As a matter of fact, I've seriously considered adding a 2R line (I'm 3R) to my layout just to have it. Would love to have that Bull Moose in my collection! Stunning.
The Division Point H-10 sure is one goregous piece of ART!
Stephen
''My guess is Like PSC told you please keep ordering that is the only way we will get more models built'' OH? I just compiled a list of models that PSC has announced and we don't have ANY of them to the best of my knowledge! (#17207 NYC ''Niagara'' ),(#17241 SP&S Z-6 ''Challenger''),(#17243 NP Z-6 ''Challenger''), (#17225 SP ''Cab Forward''), ( #17007-17013 SP ''Cab Forwards''),(#17117,17119 UP ''Big Boys''). At some point one questions how many time do I have to reserve a locomotive before it is brought in.I will wait and see for the PSC C&O H7 locomotives. When they come in I will get 2 of them. Both Key and Kohs will give you the promised product. Yes it may take a while but you do get them. PSC for whatever reason does not seem to be able to deliver.
Thank you I'm happy you enjoy the photos!
Sae Ho is the best steam builder in the world and he is under a lot of demand from not only US importers but European as well. He just completed our H10 project in HO a total sell out before they even arrived.
My guess is like PSC told you please keep ordering this is the only way we will get more models built.
Photo (c) Erik C Lindgren for The Division Point
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Erik,
that H10 is the best looking HO scale loco I've seen. Beautiful. Kohs quality.
One nice thing about the economy from a selfish stand point, quality brass can be picked up at a discount.
Ron
that H10 is the best looking HO scale loco I've seen. Beautiful. Kohs quality.
One nice thing about the economy from a selfish stand point, quality brass can be picked up at a discount.
Ron
Or Key quality too. ;-)
Thanks Ron.
Let me see if I can do this:
Sae Ho is a very busy well organized builder. He builds for us all of the time. As far as PSC's reluctance to produce your models; well that is up to PSC. Tall order doing O scale these days. A garage full of canceled reserved models and a company as well established as PSC could go under at today's prices north of $6500 USD for a model. HO is the primary scale out selling O 1000 to 1. In brass it's even steeper statistics.
Sae Ho is the best steam builder in the world and he is under a lot of demand from not only US importers but European as well. He just completed our H10 project in HO a total sell out before they even arrived.
My guess is like PSC told you please keep ordering this is the only way we will get more models built.
Photo (c) Erik C Lindgren for The Division Point
Beautiful camera work Eric, just out of curiosity at 2K a pop[avg dealer price] how many of these HO H10s were actually imported?
Success! I can do it again, if it helps.
Nice finish