I started manufacturing o scale kits in 1974. My structure kits sold well for many years. After a while more manufacturers came on the market and my sales dropped somewhat. Recently I tried to restart my business with a series of O scale modular factory kits and parts. Nobody ordered any! I now make about 10 to 15 of each kit for sale. That's the NEW market. I spent over two years in development of the new factory kits. Wasted time on my part. Now several companies are producing ready-built model structures. Made in China I can't compete with. My kits are super detailed miniatures but it seems people do not want these any more. They want "good enough". Atlas is having problems with bad metal. I've written them several times about replacing trucks that simply break apart. No response. I no longer buy Atlas items. I am now pretty much modeling my own rail system. Something I've wanted to do for 40 years. Now retired I can chose what I want to do. Modeling is changing. The same auto kits I used to buy as a kid in the 60's for about a dollar and a half are now upwards of $20! If I tried selling my structure kits for comparable prices I'd be laughed out of the market. I'm afraid to say it but model railroading IS dying. Long live the king...
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