RC tooling for sale?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I don't know if this has been discussed, but Red Caboose put up an ad in the latest issue of RMC (page 94 I think) auctioning off their tooling. I guess IM was only borrowing it. I hope someone reliable purchases it.

[GaryHinshaw]

I'd heard about this, but don't know any details.  I would think if IM were interested, they would have bought it already when they entered into their partnership earlier this year. It would be a shame if this product line were to languish, especially the auto-racks.  I guess this means that the bulkhead flat that was in development is not to be.

[oakcreekco]

Any rumours on "tooling cost"??????????

[lock4244]

Perhaps it is some of their tooling, not all? Maybe some older stuff, or HO or O?

[ljudice]

I sort of thought the bulkheads were dead - with Atlas doing them in HO - and hopefully in N...

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The tooling is being auctioned off in three lots, one for each scale. The ad seemed to indicate that this was all the tooling for the company.

Man, think of what Blueford or Fox Valley could do with this. The cars are all tooled very well, but printing wasn't always top notch. I think both companies could do a lot with it.

[lock4244]

I wonder if this affects the RC announcements at IM?

[asarge]

Somebody told me last sumemr that the tooling had been for sale for awhile but the asking price was way too high. They are probably trying to get the best price possible.

Yes there is an excellent oppurtunity to get some great tooling......if the price is right. But remember that many manufacturers $ are pretty tied up right now and the funds may not be available.

[lock4244]

I sort of thought the bulkheads were dead - with Atlas doing them in HO - and hopefully in N...

Which bulkheads were they going to do?

[Hiroe]

I'd love to see Atlas buy RC's O-scale tooling, and add it to their own line.

[u18b]

I hope someone buys the old Precision Masters couplers.

Those are unique and reliable replacements for the Rapido.  I still use them for some equipment.

Ron

[Allentown Hump]

Man, think of what Blueford or Fox Valley could do with this. The cars are all tooled very well, but printing wasn't always top notch. I think both companies could do a lot with it.

I don't think there's much you can do with RC's tooling. They ran pretty much every car to death and milked them for almost every road name. There are some possibilities, but nothing earth shattering...

[ljudice]

I think the plan was to do the same ones Atlas did - high and low bulkhead ends on the 73' cars.

RC announced them in N/HO before Atlas - then Atlas did - and then the RC project seemed to die.

[oakcreekco]

I liked their autoracks, and have a ton of the modern "beer cars".

From what I've seen, the autoracks would be the only big "seller", but that market has been hit hard, and pretty much full. There's no more "12 number frenzy" on autoracks, or the beer cars.

Buying/owning tooling is just one small step in the manufacturing process. Paint and assembly is the challenge that the buyer also has to deal with.

Might end up in a "cottage/garage" type business. One small injection machine, run the parts, build up some inventory, then get them painted/boxed/etc.

Hard to say what may happen to the tooling.

[Mark5]

I don't think there's much you can do with RC's tooling. They ran pretty much every car to death and milked them for almost every road name. There are some possibilities, but nothing earth shattering...

I disagree with such a blanket statement, for example who else has a 4740 covered hopper? A lot of the stuff was run so long ago that many people have since entered the hobby that are not even aware of the stuff.

Improved decoration would be a huge plus to some of us.

Mark