Micro Engineering is for sale…

[JeffB]

I think price increases are going to be a fact of life with this, no matter what.

I'm betting the previous owner was happy with a certain margin and level of revenue, but if anyone with any sense is taking it over, that level is almost certainly going to have to be higher.

If that weren't the case, then I'm sure there wouldn't have to be an announcement about the company being for sale and there'd be an investor ready to take it over.

I don't expect someone to put themselves into poverty to support my hobby.

I don't necessarily have issue with the price increase...  Just pointing it out.  I understand the desire to make money at what you're doing.  What is likely happened in the case of NWSL, is it transitioned from pricing their products as a smaller hobby/cottage business, to one of a traditional retail business (higher margin).

Again, completely understandable... 

I was mostly disappointed with the fact that the current owner of NWSL's gutting of the product line and the lack of being able to order previously available custom products.

In the case of ME and how this applies...  I just hope whomever buys ME has the goal of continuing the business as it was.  Let's face it, if ME craters, it's going to leave a big hole in our hobby.

JB

[ednadolski]

Most wheelsets are now "out of stock", the new owner doesn't appear to be interested in producing anything, just selling off whatever was in stock.  I've heard that they're attempting to turn things around, but then Covid hit and they've lost two employees, so who knows what's going to happen now.

FWIW I just recently received an order of Proto:87 freight car wheelsets from NWSL.  They don't list them as 'in stock', they make them on demand to fill orders.  In my case at least they were pretty timely with the whole process.

When I inquired about P:87 half-axle wheels for ScaleTrains C-C diesels, they indicated they could probably make something based upon a sample, which was akin to what the 'old' NWSL from years back probably would also have said.  (I don't have anything to send them tho, at least for now.)

Ed

[JeffB]

FWIW I just recently received an order of Proto:87 freight car wheelsets from NWSL.  They don't list them as 'in stock', they make them on demand to fill orders.  In my case at least they were pretty timely with the whole process.

When I inquired about P:87 half-axle wheels for ScaleTrains C-C diesels, they indicated they could probably make something based upon a sample, which was akin to what the 'old' NWSL from years back probably would also have said.  (I don't have anything to send them tho, at least for now.)

Ed

Hmmm...  Don't know the circumstances.  Maybe you got lucky and they had the parts on hand.

Its possible they've not bothered to update their website regarding stock or building things to order, I haven't checked recently. 

All I know is I've sent four E-mails in the last year or so to their sales@nwsl.com address about custom gears and one size of N scale wheels (just the wheels, no axle) and didn't even get a reply.

Though a recent inquiry to their tech@nwsl.com did get a reply and the person I went back and forth with, told me to try the sales@nwsl.com address again with my inquiry.

Have to let the credit card cool off a little from some recent purchases, then I'll give it another shot.

Thanks for the info...

JB

[Mike C]

  I have also had good luck with NWSL . They do still have many of the old driveline parts , just look in their old catalog pages . https://nwsl.com/pages/old-catalog-pages   

[peteski]

Rolled their own track?  Or rolled their own rail?

I meant rail (the fact that English is my 2nd language is apparent again).

[ednadolski]

I meant rail (the fact that English is my 2nd language is apparent again).

https://www.trefilados.com.mx/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/TDV-PROFILE-2014-PDF.pdf

"Our profiles are used in a wide range of business sectors. The most notable are as follows: .... Modelling: miniature railways on HO or N scale"

So who is up for a custom order of some code 47 rail?   Tho I'd guess the minimum quantity would probably be a lifetime supply for every TRW and then some....

Ed

[Angus Shops]

I meant rail (the fact that English is my 2nd language is apparent again).

You can’t fool us any more, MISTER Peteski, if that’s really your name - a REAL rail nut would know the difference between “track” and “rail” in any language! It’s time to tell us who you’re REALLY working for.

[peteski]

You can’t fool us any more, MISTER Peteski, if that’s really your name - a REAL rail nut would know the difference between “track” and “rail” in any language! It’s time to tell us who you’re REALLY work for.

Ok, you got me -- I'm really a Russian Web Bot. I have not been programmed with an extensive railroad knowledge in my limited-size memory core (my dumb developers didn't think it would be required on modeling forum).

I do know the difference between "tory" and "szyny", but was confused which English word was the correct one to use, however I'm still looking for more up-votes.

Also, "Peteski" is my nickname, combining parts of my first and last name.

[sp org div]

Dont know the last time ya all bought ME n scale flex track,
but both c40 and 55 had the plastic tie molds retooled Years ago,
and, I was disappointed.
Now tie ends have an offset with rail not centered, less spike detail, shorter tie lengths to mention a few errors changes…

Jeff

[Chris333]

Yes all the flashing and crooked ties and it is still the best track you could buy. We spend weeks on a building that sits on the layout and second on track.

[nkalanaga]

Ed:  I'd love to have code 47 track, but since my C55 track has been down for 20 years, I'm not going to rip it up and replace it.

C47 would make it easier to build dual-gauge turnouts in N scale.  The current C55 base is wide enough that the guardrails will barely fit, and the points are even tighter.  The smallest I could do in C55 was a #8, while #6 wasn't hard in C40.

[JeffB]

  I have also had good luck with NWSL . They do still have many of the old driveline parts , just look in their old catalog pages . https://nwsl.com/pages/old-catalog-pages

Thanks Mike...  I'm looking for custom gear "sticks", worm stock and some pretty specific wheels (N scale 40" or 42" 72 profile in NS).  I have successfully purchased a lot of hardware (screws) from them in the last year, but not much else.

Jeff

[JeffB]

https://www.trefilados.com.mx/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/TDV-PROFILE-2014-PDF.pdf

"Our profiles are used in a wide range of business sectors. The most notable are as follows: .... Modelling: miniature railways on HO or N scale"

So who is up for a custom order of some code 47 rail?   Tho I'd guess the minimum quantity would probably be a lifetime supply for every TRW and then some....

Ed

I'd think that some reasonably accurate Code 30 rail would be more popular choice (as opposed to using 0.030" square NS wire like some N scalers do, at least in the UK).

JB

[robert3985]

If I remember correctly, the last time I did some research, A.R.E.A. 136 lb. rail in N-scale comes in at .046"...Code 46...7 & 5/16" tall. 

Railhead width is 2 & 15/16" wide...that's .018" in N-scale and is rounded.

The Railfoot is 6" wide...or .038"

I'd be up for N-scale rail in Code 46 with a correct railhead width and top contour, with the web being the right height too, and the foot being exactly the correct width.

Photo (1) - A.R.E.A. 136 lb Rail:


I am sure that properly proportioned N-scale Nn3 rail would sell very well, as would N-scale Code 40 (that was REALLY .040" tall) for lightly trafficked trackage with a correctly sized and proportioned railhead.

I'm not sure how high the rails were on the RGS and D&RGW...but code 30 would be about the minimum height that would be both easy to work with and allow Z-scale flanges to run on it.

Nn3 Code 30 would also be a boon to Z-scalers who wanted to lay their own trackage.

So, count me in for a big batch of Code 46.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[jereising]

It comes to mind there is an entrepreneur well versed in N Scale that might be a candidate...FVM's Matt Gaudynski.  IIRC he was beginning to offer S scale track...when the world imploded.