The end of the Walthers N scale referance book?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

It looks as if Walthers combined the N&Z with HO:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/2017-85th-ANNIVERSARY-ED-HO-N-Z-REFERENCE-BOOK-p/913-217.htm

[EspeeGoldenState]

I'm glad, as a person that does both N and HO, I decided to stop buying both. And honestly, catalogs are a little out dated with the search capabilities of the internet.

Part of me wants to buy this version just so I can have it all in one book; DCC and scenery, stuff that overlaps all 3 scales.

Chris

[dckuk]

Have not bought one for years; the last was in 1992, when I came over here, and found I was better off contacting my trusted suppliers (sadly all of whom are out of business and/or passed away).

Any "current" reference publication seems to be outdated even before it hits the shelves, and while I still find the older versions useful, I'd prefer to spend the cost on a car or such for the layout, and use the web to find what I need. There is usually someone posting every new announcement within minutes of "release" (I am guilty in a few cases), and with pre-order/limited run it is about all I need...

[Jim Costello]

As a retailer its a good idea. As a modeller its even better.  There's lots of good 'stuff' that compliments all scales and not all of it appeared in the N Scale version .

Jim

[mplsjct]

I purchase one about every 5 years or so, they are nice to have for reference material.

[asarge]

A sign of the times. The internet has affected sales of catalogs and model trains would be no different. Combine that with the slow down in sales a lot of manufacturers are lamenting and well...........

[Mark5]

A sign of the times.

That. I bought my last one in the 1990s (last century!) - since then I use that W W W.

[djconway]

Isn't it kind of pointless to have a catalog of things that are produced based on preorders?
My experience has been that 99.9% of the rolling stock is "sold out" or "TBD" when you try to buy.
Have not tried structures in years.

Its a history book - if you preordered when what you wanted when it was announced (and not in the catalog) this is what you could have got.

[jpwisc]

When I was 12 years old I thought the Walthers guides were the most amazing books.

But then 27 years passed, the internet came into form and now I see this book as a waste of paper. If Walthers was the one distributor, I could see getting it. But there are so many great companies that they don't do business with or include in those pages. My Google reference guide is far more complete, has better inventory and better pricing. This hobby has evolved with technology, Walthers didn't get the memo (maybe they forgot to check the fax that day).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Whoa, Walthers is still doing a catalog?

I mean, I guess I hadn't heard it was ending, but I also can't imagine spending any money on it these days.

[peteski]

Whoa, Walthers is still doing a catalog?

I mean, I guess I hadn't heard it was ending, but I also can't imagine spending any money on it these days.

I imagine that there are lots of older model railroaders living in their basements, running DC-layouts who aren't tech-savvy spring-chickens like you.    They will still find the printed catalog quite useful.

[thomasjmdavis]

Isn't it kind of pointless to have a catalog of things that are produced based on preorders?

Because Walthers wants to sell all the stuff they have already "pre-ordered." Walthers is probably the single largest "pre-orderer" in the country. As a distributor, if they don't order it, they won't have anything to inventory and sell to hobby shops or people like us. All the stuff I buy from them on sale is what they pre-ordered and they haven't been able to sell yet, and I haven't already bought from a hobby shop or MBK or other online discounter.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I imagine that there are lots of older model railroaders living in their basements, running DC-layouts who aren't tech-savvy spring-chickens like you.    They will still find the printed catalog quite useful.

I don't think you have to be too tech savvy to visit a website, or do a search on it.
In fact, I think, if you can't do those things, you might have a hard time doing MUCH in 2016.

[tom mann]

In fact, I think, if you can't do those things, you might have a hard time doing MUCH in 2016.

Good point, Ed. 

So with all the monthly releases of new products, how in the world was the catalog worthwhile for any product that Walther's didn't have in stock? I mean, I could "get it" if it was a monthly thing, but so much comes out every month that is sold out not only long before a year is up, but before the ink on the page is dry.

[peteski]

Ed, you young whipper-snapper, you will find this hard to believe but there are modelers out there who do not own computers and who go to a local hobby shop to order stuff from the Walthers catalog). Or call Walthers on their land-line and order their items that way (by actually having a live conversation with the Walters sales staff).  There might even be some modelers who snail-mail their Walthers order enclosing a money order or a personal check as a payment). Believe it or not  . . .