Well this stinks!!!!!!!

[central.vermont]

While looking for some detail parts I just found out that Sunrise Enterprises
is no longer making their white metal detail products as of Jan. 1 2007. This
just isn't good!!! Someone has got to pick up this ball and keep running
with it.  I guess I better stock up on what I can find. ;D

Jon

http://sunrisenterprises.com/#

[3rdrail]

When you see all the "I want it ready to run and fully detailed" complaints on the Atlas forum, are you surprised?

Someone started a request for "B" unit road switchers. Mike Skibbe reminded them that Des Plaines Hobby offered a kit to make a GP9B for an Atlas GP9 that could be used for other "B's". Which started a "I don't want a kit, I want to buy it not build it" mantra.

Don't get me started on this... > :'(

[Mark5]

 :

[Wlal13again]

Guess I need to get as many Cab Control boxes as possible...

[biker_ray_pa]

DOH! I like their parts.  :'(

But RTR models are fun too....you can cut enough parts off of them to make all kinds of neat stuff.  ;D

[tom mann]

I wonder if that Craig guy (BL...something something) could pick up some of the parts...

[Robbman]

Message deleted

[TiVoPrince]

Too much perception
that time spent doing something well is time wasted.  Time spent buying more, but less accurate models is not making advances in the hobby.  While 'ready to run' brings more participants to the hobby, it also dilutes the art of the hobby...

If 'good enough' is good enough, maybe a new pastime is in order...

[David Leonard]

Maybe it's just a case of people not having as much time to spend on their hobbies as used to be true.  I've bought a lot of Sunrise parts over the past few years, and all of them were purchased to add to models that were already RTR.  I buy a lot of RTR models too.  In my experience therefore, the "RTR mentality" has nothing to do with my purchase of detail parts (I keep on buying parts), but the facts of life are such that I have about a hundred projects waiting for me to get around to.

Yes, I hope someone else will pick up Sunrise's cast parts line.   And make some improvements too.

[wm3798]

I'll need to scoop up all the 5 chime horns I can get my hands on... Finally I get my WM f units, now they're taking away my horns!! :'(

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I am NOT looking forward to having to scratch build all those cab signal boxes.

[up1950s]

If he is that signal guy , I heard he is no spring chicken , and its a one man show . Could be more at stake down the pike than those castings .

Edit , Well I guess I should have went to his site first and read his comments .


"Effective January 1st, 2007 we have stopped production of our white metal parts, we have been deliberating this for nearly a year with our distributors and we feel now is the time. We are unsure at this time if we will make them available again.
Going strong for 15 years I want to take time to model again, work with certain organizations to make New products available such as the Santa Fe Modelers Organization.
Its been fun and hard work to produce products for the Model Railroad Market and I have no plans to leave it, working alone dosen't give much time do modeling of your own, at age 53 today now is the time to begin to enjoy it again.
We will maintain our Signal line and add to this line by bringing back our three light GN style as well as New Semaphores that I've been working of for sometime. To all that support us we Thank you and we hope 2007 will be a Great year for you and your family."

[randgust]

I think that Craig and Mark4 have proven they are the new emerging leaders in detail parts, and hopefully will jump in to fill the voids on missing items.

I'm only a baby at doing this stuff, but I can tell you that from last April, and peaking just before Christmas, all I've done is cast resin parts, and that is as a second job on nights and weekends.  Making kits is not a hobby, its work, good work, but still work.   I can sympathize at this point with anybody saying 'its been fun, but I'm taking time off'.  If the stuff is selling hopefully he can reach a businesslike deal to let somebody else produce the items for purchasing the copyright or taking a small royalty.

I was in HO for years before N, and had started to buy steam detail parts and put them on my Tyco steamers (Cal-Scale, etc.).  I've never had much space for a layout, so I've amused myself by concentrating on superdetailing within the space I had, and if I couldn't buy it, seeing if I could build it.    I've always enjoyed the fact that N was a new frontier, and not everything was available, and it was a real challenge to do accurate modeling in the scale.   Personally, I'd leave N if you could get everything you wanted right out of the box.

[Mark5]

I'll need to scoop up all the 5 chime horns I can get my hands on... Finally I get my WM f units, now they're taking away my horns!! :'(

Lee

Which 5 chime did they make? Nathan? Leslie?

Hopefully soon we'll see the end of "generic" N scale loco horns ...

[Erik W]

Interesting thread.  I would have to agree that scratch building, kitbashing and super detailing in general are not as popular as they used to be in all scales of Model Railroading.  When I need a break from N scale, I build HOn3 rolling stock.  Caboose Hobbies in Denver has a huge super detailing part selection in HO, an entire long wall of parts.  I've noticed more and more empty pegs over the last several years.  The old timers at the store say that sales have dropped off significantly over the last many years.  I've actually been thanked/ commended by the staff when they see me, at 37, buying these obscure detail parts.  They are happy to see someone "young" still building things from scratch. 

I agree with those here who enjoy super detailing and scratch building.  It scares me to think what will happen to the availability of detail parts with aging owners, the market dwindling and a high demand for quick ready to run everything.

I feel like a fish swimming upstream at times since my own modeling habits are heading towards more scratch building.

Erik