ASM148 posted:In good condition, no matter which model, the price of new brass and quotes for same makes even $300 freight cars look cheap....try and get a brass hopper with Yoder type quality made in Korea today for less than $300 cost.....I just received quotes for a pickle car between $5-700....
In short,while some prices may seem high, they are relative bargains for what you are getting vs the cost to produce same in todays dollars. When the importers finally give up due to quality and price issues, the existing supply of models in good condition may increase significantly in price...
There are actually several guys,not necessarily model railroaders, who are collecting brass models (and other collectibles),not as an investment per se but as a store of value or tangible asset/inflationary hedge etc.....paper vs brass
Regards,
Bill
I think I know a few of those brass hoarders!!! 
Not sure I 'd want to be the one figuring out the brass market. It surely seems that bigger sells and that is why the recurring theme of big boys, cab forwards, H8's and the like. Not much interest in Moguls, ten wheelers or saddle tankers.
I'd love to know what a current state of the art brass Southern SU truss rod box car or UTLX X3 tank car would retail for and to what quantities they would need to be built.
