Model Railroading > Athearn/Scaletrains to make kits or not

So given the recent events with tariffs I got thinking that Scaletrains makes kit classics which if we take Jason Shron of Rapido trains breakdown of tariffs which is the tariff is based on imported cost not selling price. So if that is correct it seems Scaletrains would be in a position to produce runs Kit Classics. Yes they would be more expensive but not as expensive as the $300 locomotives. This would keep the factory working while the tariff issue is worked out. 

I never understood why Athearn exited the kit market 100%. I understand not producing a large catalog, but maybe some of the older gondolas or flat cars say one or two year with classic road names even if they didn't exist in real life. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/25 13:42 by Dantrain.

Interesting points. There's definitely less of a market for kits than there once was, but at least speaking for myself as someone without a layout who likes to still scratch my modeling itch when i can, I regularly will pick up an Accurail or older Walthers kit for an enjoyable evening of modeling. I would absolutely buy a few cars if, say, ScaleTrains offered another run of Kit Classics boxcars

I wonder if ScaleTrains could offer some of their Operator models as kits. I still enjoy building kits, but I probably have enough unbuilt ones for now!

Posted from iPhone

I still wish Athearn, Roundhouse, Walthers and the others who did the old blue box and kits.
Were still making those kits. They were always a pleasure to work on.
I don't mind the ready to run models. But the kits just added a unique touch to the hobby

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

Lets not forget about Accurail who is still producing new releases on kits all the time;

https://accurail.com/accurail/new.htm

A good way to weather the tariff storm for many.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/25 06:43 by funnelfan.

Accurails stuff is cool for those modeling mostly 80's and earlier but no good for the past 30 years, for the most part.  Kadee, similar.

Since I am modeling the late 70's thru early 80's, I do have a few of the above.  But in general, like many others, I've collected plenty of trains so I don't really need to be buying and worrying about tariffs. 

If anything, thinning down.  And in that vein, maybe the tariffs will help the secondary market!

Cheers,
Jim

We've become spoiled.
Picture trying to sell manual transmission "stickshift" cars today because it's too expensive to get automatics.
Some will sell, but not nearly enough.

I agree with we all more than we really need. I am worried about 'keep pre ordering' mantra or we will hold back shipping until the situation improves. Well if they ship 6-9 months of product at once that is not good for anyone. So I am not pre ordereding as I don't want screw over the hobby shop if all the product hits at once. 

As for the kits in general, I enjoy putting together the kit classic or a old blue box if I find them. I understand not everyone can or wants to do. I just have no issue taking $15-18 kit classic and adding airbrushing weathering or taking some heat to warping the side of coal car. Now as for the $29 scaletrains Bethgon, I am still on sidelines maybe some chalk weathering I can wash off and do over if it comes out bad. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/25 08:04 by Dantrain.

KA7008 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We've become spoiled.
> Picture trying to sell manual transmission
> "stickshift" cars today because it's too expensive
> to get automatics.
> Some will sell, but not nearly enough.

I may be burried in my manual transmission Miata. They'll probably toss a few of my unbuilt kits in the trunk when they do.

Arved Grass
Fleming Island, FL

Kit  sales dropped off the charts about the time that Intermountain and LifeLike introduced kits that were not much more complex than the average plastic model car or airplane kit.   Too few modelers wanted to deal with dozens of tiny pieces or lengthy assembly routines to build their rolling stock.  LifeLike had to resort to marketing mostly-assembled kits to move their inventory. My hobby shop guy at the time said he could sell 20 ready-to-run cars to every kit, even with the price difference.
Now we have 'modelers' flocking to our club layout because it is mostly built and they don't need to deal with wiring and carpentry and track-laying to run their RTR trains. Most we don't see unless there's an op session or a weekend run-what-you-brung.

grahamline Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kit  sales dropped off the charts about the time
> that Intermountain and LifeLike introduced kits
> that were not much more complex than the average
> plastic model car or airplane kit.   Too few
> modelers wanted to deal with dozens of tiny pieces
> or lengthy assembly routines to build their
> rolling stock.  LifeLike had to resort to
> marketing mostly-assembled kits to move their
> inventory. My hobby shop guy at the time said he
> could sell 20 ready-to-run cars to every kit, even
> with the price difference.
> Now we have 'modelers' flocking to our club layout
> because it is mostly built and they don't need to
> deal with wiring and carpentry and track-laying to
> run their RTR trains. Most we don't see unless
> there's an op session or a weekend
> run-what-you-brung.

I don't know about them, but with a full time job and a wife with a honey do list, there isn't a lot of time to bulld lots of kits, let a lone a layout.  I envey you folks with lot of hobby time to build kits all say.  And yes, I've built quite a few over the years - I got some of the Proto2000 and intermountain kits and built them while I was separated and single, but the RTR stuff has built up my roster since I remarried..