Just like most other expensive models, brass engines and rolling stock have a higher level of detail, better performance, and are overall more accurate models. Brass is usually more expensive then high end plastics because they are notoriously good runners. The weight of the metal helps make the locomotive run very well by giving it better traction. I personally have never owned a brass model, but would like to someday.
Yeah I supposed, but what detail you gain you loose in realism. I've never seen a brass locomotive before. I guess I just don't get it.
Until the last fifteen years or so, the detail and accuracy of brass models was far above any plastic models. Running qualities varied, but the detail made them desirable to modelers. Also, in a lot of cases, brass was the only way to get a model of some locomotives. Additionally, lot of the high price is a result of the fact brass models are pretty much hand made in small runs of sometimes as few as 25 models. Though most runs are more, 500 would be a very large run for a brass model. That really helps keep the price up there.
Plastic has come a long way in recent years, driving the price of some brass down. PFM C&O K4 2-8-4 locos routinely sold for $350 to $400 on ebay until several manufacturers started making good running well detailed plastic models of the K4. Now it is rare to see a brass PFM K4 go for much over $250.
There are still some locos only available in brass, so expect to pay a premium price for those locos. But you can also generally expect a high level of detail and accuracy, especially in brass being produced now.
And, they are not models of "brass" locomotives, they are model locomotive made of brass. There are no "plastic" locomotives out there, but that doesn't make a good plastic model any less desirable.
What you said is true of the current brass models. Older brass models may be lacking in detail and their drives are terrible.
Yeah I supposed, but what detail you gain you loose in realism. I've never seen a brass locomotive before. I guess I just don't get it.
I get what you're on about. They come looking like brass, but then you paint them.
Nobody leaves them in their original brass finish, except collectors. You gain detail, and the realism comes from that detail and from the paint you apply over the brass.
I wondered the same thing when I first found out about brass engines.
If plastic models are like a normal car, brass engines are like a hand-assembled car made by one guy in a shed in Italy. For most of us, they're excessive. For hardcore modelers who notice if the air hoses on the secondary compressor have the wrong style of fittings (or people modeling unusual prototypes) who don't mind slinging a little paint, they're perfect.
Brass used to be the most detailed engines available. They are ususally made for specific roads and more unusual engines.
With some of the current offerings in plastic that may not always be the case, the "modern" plastic engines may have a better drive and better detail.
Having said that if I want a 1900 era engine, and don't want to do a lot of kitbashing, I will probably be looking at a brass. If I want a specific steam engine from a specific road, I would be looking at brass.
I model the P&R in 1900. The only truly accurate engines for my road in my era are brass.
I've seen one up close, held one, and taken one apart! Brass has its share of good brands and junk brands.