N
NP2626
Guest
I started in Model Railroading in the mid 1950s. I have been involved in this and other model building hobbies ever since and I would say that my main interest in life has been building models, everything from model railroading, free flight flying model airplanes, radio controlled airplanes, boats and cars, plastic sailing ships, cars and airplanes. Back when I started in model railroading, you could be fairly certain that the manufacturers intentions were that what you bought, would last a long time. In fact the pride in manufacturing an item was that it was understandable to build and made to last. I have assembled quite few HO model railroad locomotives: Round House/MDC, Mantua, and Bowser Steam locomotives and Athearn Blue Box Diesels. All of these models held-up well. Then there was a shift in the hobby, kit's where no longer the back bone of the hobby and in fact became non-existent, except for some old stock which is dwindling as we speak. The new standard is Ready to Run and packed with fragile details. Companies such as Broadway Limited Imports, Bachmann, Athearn Genesis and MTH have lead the way of these Ready to Run offerings. I have had no experience with any offerings from the Horizon Hobby's lines: Athearn Genesis, Athearn Ready to Roll; or Athearn Roundhouse. Nor have I had experience with MTH. I can tell you that my experiences with Broadway Limited and Bachmann have been less than I felt it should be with the prices I have paid!
Is "Planned Obsolescence" the new marketing strategy? Make a product that will last one to two, maybe three years, before it fails and needs to go back to the manufacturer to be repaired? I have several long stories I could tell you about expensive products I have bought from these two companies that have failed with very little use. Suffice it say, what I already have! If you've owned products form these two companies and not had a failure, I would consider myself to be very lucky.'
I find the above to be extremely disheartening! To an extent, these failures have given me a very bad taste in my mouth, enough to make me consider maybe finding another hobby to occupy myself with.
Is "Planned Obsolescence" the new marketing strategy? Make a product that will last one to two, maybe three years, before it fails and needs to go back to the manufacturer to be repaired? I have several long stories I could tell you about expensive products I have bought from these two companies that have failed with very little use. Suffice it say, what I already have! If you've owned products form these two companies and not had a failure, I would consider myself to be very lucky.'
I find the above to be extremely disheartening! To an extent, these failures have given me a very bad taste in my mouth, enough to make me consider maybe finding another hobby to occupy myself with.