Press Release
News Flash
Athearn Drops HO Blue Box Line
Effective immediately, we here at Athearn have made the difficult decision to discontinue the production of our Blue Box line of kits. There were several factors that contributed to this extremely challenging decision however, the primary issue revolved around affordability and ensuring that our Blue Box kit pricing remain aligned with what the market can bear. Unfortunately, due to increased manufacturing and labor costs it has been determined that we are no longer able to continue offering kits at competitive price points as compared to our already assembled products.
Blair Line Announces Cabin kit
HO Joe's Cabin & Outhouse Building Kit (Laser-cut Wooden Kit. Features tab/slot walls and floors, windows, trim, shingles, stairs, handrail, laser etched nail holes in siding and cast metal smokejack. Measures after built; cabin 4.25" x2.31" and outhouse .62" x .62". Boxed with colored picture.) 37.95
Bar Mills Scale Model Works Boiler
HO Hurst Boiler & Welding. Laser-cut wood craftsman kit with weathered and aged shingles and detail castings. Production limited to 500 kits. Price to be announced. August 2009. Bar Mills Scale
Possible Märklin Buyers Narrowed to Five
According to several German news sources, the field of qualified companies interested in purchasing model train manufacturer Märklin has been narrowed to five. Insolvency trustee Michael Pluta says all of the remaining suitors are Western European and have the financial capacity to operate Märklin on a long-term basis. He says a concrete offer could come as early as October for the beleaguered company, which also manufactures and sells large-scale trains under the LGB brand.
While the company with the winning offer could take over the company this fall, Pluta says there's no pressure to get a deal done quickly, as financing for the company has been secured through 2009. A dozen other companies have also expressed interest in buying Märklin, however, theirs are not long-term outlooks for the company. Two more possible purchasers could enter the second round, but they would have to submit solid bids to be considered. Märklin filed for insolvency protection in February, owing about 600 creditors approximately $157million (110 million Euros).
German structure maker Faller declares bankruptcy
According to multiple German media sources, model railroad structure manufacturer Faller GmbH has declared bankruptcy. The company, headquartered in the Black Forest town of Gütenbach, employs about 130 people. An attorney has been appointed provisional liquidator. Faller, started after World War II, is run by the third generation of the Faller family. It has been facing a tough time financially since 2007, sources say. Faller products are imported to the U.S. by Wm. K. Walthers. The German company's product line includes model structures and the Faller Car System, which allows scale vehicles to drive on simulated roadways.
Kato USA Inc. New Train Set
N Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe El Capitan set. Electro-Motive Division F7 diesel locomotive in red-and-silver passenger warbonnet scheme, A unit (two road numbers available) or B unit (one number), $85 each. Ten-car base set: Baggage-dormitory (transition), five coaches, two step-down coaches, lounge, and diner, $250. Two-car add-on set: Storage mail car and baggage, $50.
Lenz Agency of North America's Railcom
LRC100 RailCom transmitter and Standard+ locomotive decoder. LRC100 RailCom transmitter allows regular Digital Command Control decoders to work with RailCom system. $79.95 per five-pack. Standard+ locomotive decoder offers the features of the Standard locomotive decoder plus the addition of RailCom technology, which allows decoder to transmit data for bi-directional communications from the decoder to RailCom devices. With eight-pin plug. $32.95.
Con-Cor International New Coaches
Conc cor has announced its HO Pensylvania RR-prototype MP54 passenger coach. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Boston &Maine; Long Island RR; Norfolk & Western; Pennsylvania (pre- and postwar paint schemes); and Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. Also available unlettered. Detailed underbody, separate endchains, and metal grab irons. $15 per car, $30 per two-pack.
Digitrax Inc. Super Throttles
Digitrax has announced its Wireless Super Throttles and transceiver. Expanded 29-function support, step-by-step throttle option setup, and wireless operation via infrared, radio, or duplex radio. DT402 infrared Super Throttle, $185. DT402R radio Super Throttle (works with UR91 receiver), $235. DT402D duplex radio Super Throttle (works with UR92 receiver), $250. UR91 radio/IR receiver, $149.99. UR92 duplex radio/IR transceiver panel, $160.
Bowser New Loco
Bowser has announced a Winter 2009 release of its HO Executive Line Alco C-630 diesel locomotive. Available names will be Chesapeake & Ohio, Conrail, Pennsylvania RR, Reading Co., and Union Pacific. Two road numbers each. Etched-brass details, five-pole skew-wound can motor with flywheels, and magnetic knuckle couplers. Direct-current models $169.95; with SoundTraxx Digital Command Control and sound, $269.95.
Athearn Trains has moved
Athearn Trains has moved to a new location. It's new address is:
Athearn Trains
2883 East Spring Street
Suite 100
Long Beach, CA 90806
The phone number remains the same, 310-763-7140
Atlas Model Railroad Co. Box Car
Atlas has announced a HO United States Railroad Administration 40-foot steel rebuilt boxcar. Eight- or 10-panel body styles and side ladders or grab irons, as appropriate to prototype. Roadnames and price to be announced. Winter 2009 delivery.
Bachmann Spectrum
Bachman plans on releasing an N Spectrum Chesapeake & Ohio HF 2-6-6-2 features the VC12 Vanderbilt tender. Four road numbers available; also available painted black but unlettered. Dual-mode Digital Command Control decoder; wire details; and separately applied bell, whistle, pop valve, and hand rails. $285. Fall 2009 delivery.
Model Rectifier Corp Announces Tech 6 Power Pack
Tech 6 DC power pack: Direct-control power pack includes controls for sound-equipped DC decoders, such as Broadway Limited's Blue Line. Two versions available: 2 amp capacity for HO scale and 6A capacity for O scale. Model switch selects between analog direct-current or BlackBox technology, smooth linear motor control in either mode, and 28 function controls. Two-amp unit, $109.98; 6-amp unit, $269.98.
Rapido Trains New Passenger Cars
HO Super Continental Line assorted lightweight passenger cars. Buffet-parlor car: Amtrak (Phase 1 paint scheme); Canadian National (1954); Chicago & North Western; Erie; Grand Trunk Western; Gulf, Mobile & Ohio; Milwaukee Road; Missouri Pacific; New York Central; and Northern Pacific. Also available undecorated. $64.95. Post-war 6-section, 6-roomette, 4-double bedroom sleeper: Amtrak (Phase 1 paint scheme); Canadian National ("wet noodle" herald); Chicago & Eastern Illinois; Chicago & North Western; Erie; Great Northern; Milwaukee Road; Missouri Pacific; Nashville RR; Chattanooga & St. Louis; New York Central; Northern Pacific, and VIA Rail Canada. Also available undecorated. $64.95. Canadian National/VIA Rail Canada club galley car, $69.95. All include detailed interiors, operating diaphragms with etched-metal end gates, and Macdonald-Cartier magnetic knuckle couplers.
Atlas lets GP40-2 Ph. 2 plans slip
Atlas representatives at the New England/Northeast Prototype Modelers Meet in May confirmed the company will release a new HO Atlas Master GP40-2 Phase 2 locomotive later this year. The units will be available in five road names: Southern Pacific, Burlington Northern, Boston & Maine, Norfolk Southern and Cotton Belt. Silver (8-pin DCC-ready) and Gold (DCC-sound) versions will be produced. Pricing, model numbers and estimated delivery date will be announced in July.
The Phase 2 Southern Pacific model will include several signature features, including L-shaped front windshield, round brakewheel, operating Gyralite, SP-style low nose headlight with non-operating red signal light and the related rear headlight package. These models will also include a cab-roof air conditioner and antenna platform with related piping. Other units will also feature road-specific detailing.
Round 2 Announces New Star Trek License
Round 2 will be producing new Star Trek vehicles, licensed by CBS Consumer Products, based on the popular film that hit theaters this past May (see July 2009 Market Trends: Models). The reimagined USS Enterprise, designed for the movie by Ryan Church, will be the first kit in this new model kit range, with a release date sometime in the second half of 2010.
The new Enterprise, while reminiscent of the ship in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," is proportioned differently, according to Round 2's product development team. It maintains the basic design features though, with a saucer section connected to a secondary hull via a pylon and twin warp nacelles. The scale for the new Enterprise kit hasn't been decided. Although Tom Lowe, president and owner of Round 2, says that a 1:1000-scale kit would be nice. The first release will more likely be a 1:2500-scale kit, putting the finished model at just under 12 inches long.
Blair Models Announces Motel Kit
2001 HO Sunset Motel Building Kit (Laser-cut Wooden Kit. Features flexible design to build various layouts: L shaped, angled or straight. Includes office w/canopy, 2 identical 4-room motel units & various signs. Building features: tab/slot walls & floors, windows, trim, shingles, laser etched sidewalks & curb. Also includes soda machine. Boxed with colored picture.) $65.95
Rio Grandes 'Dominion' Wins Mensa Award
Rio Grande Games' strategy card game Dominion has received the Mensa Select seal from the well-known society for people with high IQs. The award was announced at Mensa Mind Games, the organization's combination gaming convention/awards show, which took place this last weekend in Cincinnati.
The society has given out five awards at Mind Games every year since 1990. In addition to Dominion, this year's winners include Family Games' Stratum, Good Company games' Cornerstone, Gigamic's Marrakech, and Mad Cave Bird Games' Tic Tac Ku. Previous winners include Trivial Pursuit (Genus Edition), Magic: The Gathering, Fluxx, Apples to Apples, and Blokus.
June 13, 2009
Lionel licenses standard gauge, Flyer products to MTH
Lionel Electric Trains has announced it has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with MTH. Electric Trains in which MTH will create a new line of tinplate Lionel Standard and O gauge products. The license will also include tinplate Standard and O gauge offerings for American Flyer, which has been part of Lionel since its acquisition in 1967.
Using its extensive collection of tinplate tooling, MTH. plans to issue new versions of Lionel and American Flyer classic tinplate trains and accessories originally released between 1900 and 1942. These products will be packaged in all-new boxes with Lionel and American Flyer advertising images and logos from the prewar tinplate era. Promotion of new tinplate Lionel and American Flyer products will begin early this year with full-color catalogs. A Web site, dedicated to the new product line, will also offer product videos, sound clips and other information not available in print catalogs.
Gen Con Co-Sponsors Announced
Signaling a continued return to normalcy after Gen Con's emergence from bankruptcy, the company has announced that Wizards of the Coast and Upper Deck will return as co-sponsors of the convention, to be held August 13-16 in Indianapolis. Major WotC releases planned for the convention include a new Dragonlance novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Dragons of the Hour Glass Mage, The Lost Chronicles Volume 3, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dragonlance; the new 4E Monster Manual 2 and Players Handbook 2; and a limited number of Magic: The Gathering from the Vault: Exiled.
Upper Deck will hold its North American Continental Championships for both the World of Warcraft TCG and the World of Warcraft Miniatures Game, as well as the debut National Championship for the Huntik TCG.
Revell cited licensing costs as the main reason for ceasing production of NASCAR kits
"Despite our best efforts to secure reasonable licensing terms for NASCAR model kits in general, and the Car of Tomorrow in particular, we have been unable to develop a program that allows us to market the product at a viable price point," the announcement read.
Mike Brezette, Revell's vice president of marketing, said that exiting the NASCAR license was hopefully a unique situation. "We have no plans at this time to exit other licenses," he said.
As for NASCAR, sponsorships are in short supply, and it faces slipping ad revenues.Twelve of NASCAR's 42 drivers do not currently have sponsors for 2009, and NASCAR recently laid off 1,000 workers. According to "Advertising Age," a news and business Web site, NASCAR has watched its track attendance suffer for three consecutive years and was down 9% from last season.
Accurate Miniature's 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan
Accurate Miniatures, maker of plastic model kits, has implemented a new marketing plan to help both consumers and retailers. Consumers who purchase three Accurate Miniatures "yellow box" kits (excluding 1:100 scale) should clip the UPC codes and send them, along with the original receipts, mailing address and a $5 check or money order, to Accurate Miniatures. Once received, Accurate Miniatures will send the customer a 1:48-scale kit valued at $26 or more, free.
Customers can send the UPC codes and receipts to:
Accurate Miniatures 2009 Kit Promotion
PO Box 535
Harrisburg, NC 28075
This promotion ends March 20, 2009.
Gen Con to emerge from Chapter 11
According to announcement from Gen Con LLC, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of Western Washington has okayed the company's plan of reorganization and approved the company's rejection of a hostile takeover bid.
"This is bright day for us," said Adrian Swartout, Gen Con's CEO. "The entire team is looking forward to 2009 and continuing our growth as a stronger, more focused company."
Since filing for bankruptcy protection in February of 2008, Gen Con has significantly reduced its expenses and increased its cash position. The company's cash flow is positive and prospects are said to be looking up. A three-member advisory committee will assist the company and its board, and Peter Adkison will retain ownership.
Gen Con Indy 2009 is scheduled for Aug. 13-16 in Indianapolis.
MRC Distributing Profiline
MRC distributing Profiline models MRC has announced it will offer scale model aircraft kits manufactured by Profiline in the Czech Republic. According to a company release, the models are easy to assemble and highly detailed. They include comprehensive painting instructions and decal sheets.
The first Profiline offerings are two 1:72 scale sailplanes: the Let L-13 (Item No. 547002) and L-13A Blanik (547001) Each has a $19.98 MSRP. These kits will be available in about two weeks. More will be offered soon.