Whatever happened to Rolland Industrial Limited?

[MetroRedLine]

Whatever happened to Rolland? I bought a few of their containers when they first came out a few years ago, they were actually pretty good (though lacking underside detail), and were a step up from the DI containers (which were the standard bearer for containers in the late'90s-00s), but it seems they've vanished from the face of the earth! They do have a website , and claim to have a full line of 20, 40, 45 and 53-foot containers, but no specifics anywhere. Anyone know the story?

[Plumcrazy]

I liked the Rolland containers too . I recently discovered in one of railwire threads (I think jagged Ben mentioned this ) that they are  being sold on eBay  as 1/150 scale containers  Sure enough he was right . I bought a bunch of 40’ and 20’ containers. They also have 48’ and 53’ containers 

[MetroRedLine]

I liked the Rolland containers too . I recently discovered in one of railwire threads (I think jagged Ben mentioned this ) that they are  being sold on eBay  as 1/150 scale containers  Sure enough he was right . I bought a bunch of 40’ and 20’ containers. They also have 48’ and 53’ containers

I just saw that in the almost-hijacked FVM thread. Very interesting, and knowing they are actually 1:160 and not 1:150 is good to know (but probably distressing if you actually modeled in 1:150 and found these to be too small for your needs), I might buy some, although there's nothing in that selection that I really want that JTC or Atlas isn't already offering. Still, and I'm not even the most business-savvy person, but I do know that doing all that tooling and production work just to sell your items on eBay is most definitely NOT a financially sustainable business model.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Commenting on a post in the FVM thread... The Rolland 20' and I think the standard hi-cube 40' pre-date JTC products of the same type by a few years. Rolland may be an OEM producer for JTC or Atlas and had these as an off the shelf design ready for production knowing that containers are an in-demand item for hobbyists.

Looking on their site, they are the OEM for for the Weaver 35 foot trailer, Lionel's Company House, the Walthers HO corrugated gondola, and the Walthers HO 89' TOFC.

They could also be rolling their own after a near compete, but canceled contact much the same way that Exactrail got its start. [For those that don't know, several of their first releases were actually unfulfilled LBF models.]

I did order several containers from eBay and will do a detailed review when I get them. Rolland does seem to be doing more popular paint schemes that were around in the 90's where JTC is focusing on less popular roads. I need basic schemes so I'll go with Rolland.

Ordering bulk on eBay seems to be the way to go. While each container is about $10 individually, they reduce to about $5 per unit when ordered in packs of 10. For those who do some serious intermodal, this may be the only way to get a sizable fleet economically.

[Ike the BN Freak]

I recall seeing the same containers, or at least those photos on aliexpress a while back, and for the ones I checked, about $3 cheaper on aliexpress

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-scale-model-shipping-container-plastic.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000124031895.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.63f6704aePDF2o&algo_pvid=628a6101-a839-4f05-a4f7-723884fe130c&algo_expid=628a6101-a839-4f05-a4f7-723884fe130c-0&btsid=1316d0c0-fb89-44ac-9433-0951b0fcf8df&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_8,searchweb201603_52

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I recall seeing the same containers, or at least those photos on aliexpress a while back, and for the ones I checked, about $3 cheaper on aliexpress

https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-scale-model-shipping-container-plastic.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000124031895.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.63f6704aePDF2o&algo_pvid=628a6101-a839-4f05-a4f7-723884fe130c&algo_expid=628a6101-a839-4f05-a4f7-723884fe130c-0&btsid=1316d0c0-fb89-44ac-9433-0951b0fcf8df&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_8,searchweb201603_52

You can buy 2, 3, 5, and 10 piece lots on the eBay store for additional discounts. The 10 piece 40' container set is about $60 with free shipping. Ali Express usually charges extra for shipping, so the prices are about the same. Most eBay items from China are sent e-packet which is a LOT faster than standard ground shipping Ali Express uses.

[jagged ben]

Are the tanktainers on eBay? 

[jereising]

(Copied from the FVM thread; eB vendor is evemodel or something like that...)
I bought some of the 53 footers this guy was selling, and they are bootlegs / duplicates / ripoffs of the JTC line (Yes, I told JTC).  I figure the guy either works or knows someone who works in the factory that does the JTC work...
Or he's rolling his own and it just happens to be an exact duplicate of JTC's work.

(Or is Rolland)

[Mark5]

Commenting on a post in the FVM thread... The Rolland 20' and I think the standard hi-cube 40' pre-date JTC products of the same type by a few years.

Agreed, at least for the 20' containers (I picked up a bunch a number of years ago).

As far as profitability goes, we're talking about a potential cash cow  - a product that has no moving parts and no separately applied details! 

Mark

[jagged ben]

(Copied from the FVM thread; eB vendor is evemodel or something like that...)
I bought some of the 53 footers this guy was selling, and they are bootlegs / duplicates / ripoffs of the JTC line (Yes, I told JTC).  I figure the guy either works or knows someone who works in the factory that does the JTC work...
Or he's rolling his own and it just happens to be an exact duplicate of JTC's work.

(Or is Rolland)

Jim, the 53 footers from evemodel on eBay are clearly bootlegs/duplicates of Atlas products, not JTC.  Same for the 45 footers.  All the roadnames and photos match.  I don't have any Atlas to physically compare with JTC, but if they are identical then I think that suggests that Rolland is making them for both.

[MetroRedLine]

(Copied from the FVM thread; eB vendor is evemodel or something like that...)
I bought some of the 53 footers this guy was selling, and they are bootlegs / duplicates / ripoffs of the JTC line (Yes, I told JTC).  I figure the guy either works or knows someone who works in the factory that does the JTC work...
Or he's rolling his own and it just happens to be an exact duplicate of JTC's work.

(Or is Rolland)

The JTC containers have bottom pins. Do your 53'ers have pins too? My Rolland 40' & 20' containers have no pins, and the ones on eBay don't look like they have pins, but I can't really tell for sure.

[jereising]

The 53' are absolutely identical to the JTC model, including the magnet pocket (without the magnet) and the gorgeous decorating.

[jagged ben]

The 53' are absolutely identical to the JTC model, including the magnet pocket (without the magnet) and the gorgeous decorating.

What roadname did you get?

I wonder if anyone has the Atlas branded ones and can compare to JTC.  I do know that JTC deliberately made their pins compatible with Atlas.

[Ike the BN Freak]

You can buy 2, 3, 5, and 10 piece lots on the eBay store for additional discounts. The 10 piece 40' container set is about $60 with free shipping. Ali Express usually charges extra for shipping, so the prices are about the same. Most eBay items from China are sent e-packet which is a LOT faster than standard ground shipping Ali Express uses.

The shipping is free on aliexpress also, but as you said, it takes the slow boat from China, literally.

But based on the Aliexpress post, it is the same seller, both are Evemodel

[jereising]

What roadname did you get?

Three different ones IIRC, Hub Group for sure, don't recall the others.  But I already had the same ones from JTC which is how I know they're identical.  I used the Bay because I couldn't find them anywhere else - must have flown off the shelves.  More needed.