Why is Overland Models so expensive?
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True, but you have to build it and then paint it. Is that worth a hundred bucks in HO? Many think so, and brass kits aren't for beginners.
Reasons for buying brass:
It ain't always about the bottom dollar!
You can get models no plastic manufacturer will ever do, because the appeal isn't large enough to generate a profit on a large run.
You want that one "holy grail" model and don't want to wait until your skills are sharp enough to scratchbuild or kitbash it.
You're a collector. (I like those guys...they keep the unit cost down
)
Brass is expensive because of the production costs. Most importers take reservations for a time, then make enough models to cover the reservations plus a very few extras, and that's it. Inventory sitting on a shelf for who knows how long will ruin your profit on a brass project. The production costs are divided among however many models are actually made, so the unit cost is much higher than plastic or diecast. Everything is hand built and hand painted.
Their prototype fidelity and level of detail are generally superior to anything else. Importers and builders do make mistakes, but generally the quality is top notch.
They don't depreciate. You may not make a profit, but you can always get your money back out of them (unless you're panic selling).
They're aiming at a niche market.
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Trucklover
BNSF SD70MAC's
Overland Models is a Brass Importer, which would explain why the prices are so high. Brass Models are highly detailed and as you can see, run you a pretty penny or two
rlundy90
Armchair Engineer
Athabasca Scale Models makes 2 very detailed brass kits in N and HO scale. They have the CN Point St. Charles caboose as well as the CP wide vision caboose. N scale is under $40 and HO is $89.00. Not cheap, but much cheaper than Overland stuff.
www.athabascashops.com
www.athabascashops.com
True, but you have to build it and then paint it. Is that worth a hundred bucks in HO? Many think so, and brass kits aren't for beginners.
Reasons for buying brass:
It ain't always about the bottom dollar!
You can get models no plastic manufacturer will ever do, because the appeal isn't large enough to generate a profit on a large run.
You want that one "holy grail" model and don't want to wait until your skills are sharp enough to scratchbuild or kitbash it.
You're a collector. (I like those guys...they keep the unit cost down
)Brass is expensive because of the production costs. Most importers take reservations for a time, then make enough models to cover the reservations plus a very few extras, and that's it. Inventory sitting on a shelf for who knows how long will ruin your profit on a brass project. The production costs are divided among however many models are actually made, so the unit cost is much higher than plastic or diecast. Everything is hand built and hand painted.
Their prototype fidelity and level of detail are generally superior to anything else. Importers and builders do make mistakes, but generally the quality is top notch.
They don't depreciate. You may not make a profit, but you can always get your money back out of them (unless you're panic selling).
They're aiming at a niche market.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)