What Would You Change?

[shaygetz]

Working in retail gave me some perspective on markets. The markup on kits were such that, if a part or two were missing or broken, the resulting replacement. postage and such would quickly eat up any profit. In 1970, 90% of model train supplies and equipment were made in the USA. Now, that number is around 10%. The market has spoken and those accurate paint jobs and details that reflect how the Onion Specific RR 484 Gribnack looked on Sept. 3 1956 at 2:46 pm came at a price. With manufacturing primarily overseas now, R-T-R became the way to go because substantial markups would cover any warranty work with "factory refurbishing" quickly covering any potential losses.

Fortunately for me, my hobby clock got stuck at my junior year in high school around July 1976 and those $400 DCC/sound equipped Onion Specific RR 484 Gribnacks have made my hobby desires cheap castoffs that can be bought by the box load at yardsales and train shows for peanuts. Long live open frame motors and transistor throttles...change is good.