|
|
Post by backshophoss on Oct 1, 2013 21:58:11 GMT -5
Seems like Polk/Aristo-Craft is about to bite the dust.  The store(Polks Hobby) closes on 12/31/13. The Crest Electronics line has been spun off as well. www.mylargescale.comThen click on "Polks will close their doors 31Dec13" in their public forum section This seems to have the details,this is 3 pages long at this time. |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Apr 22, 2014 15:40:18 GMT -5
Vollmer GMBH,in Germany,maker of building kits in multiple scales of european design and a Catenary system has shut down,as noted in the current issue of MRM.(apr'14 pg126) mrhmag.com |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Apr 25, 2014 1:59:06 GMT -5
The credit for this goes to ihp hobby mike:Model Power has shut down,they were the holder of the Mantua molds
for the classic steam engine line,and some decent cars,both passenger and freight.
Also had some decent building kits of european design as well, at good prices for the beginning model railroader.
There's a thread in RR.net Model Rail, Toy train forum.
Model Power was a supplier to Walters and Hobby Lobby chain of stores
|
|
|
|
Post by acelaphillies on Apr 25, 2014 21:13:56 GMT -5
That is a shame  Model Power made some nice HO vehicles too. |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 21, 2014 21:55:49 GMT -5
There have been reports that Carstens is shutting down,Flying Models,Railroad Model Craftsman,
and Railfan and Railroad will no longer be around,last known issue was May '14 for R+R,June '14 for RMC
Since the death of Hal Carstens,there's been a chain of events that has effected the outfit, including
Hurricane Sandy. From a thread in RR.net,the company is looking for a Buyout. :-(
|
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 22, 2014 16:57:58 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 30, 2014 19:57:21 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Sept 3, 2014 0:02:34 GMT -5
From Sept'14 MR,MRC has been licensed to produce the Model Power and Mantua products,
under the Model Power/Mantua branding.
|
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Jul 19, 2016 22:51:19 GMT -5
Caboose Hobbies in Denver Co Has lost their lease and is selling down their remaining stock at 25% off.
the building was sold off to a developer,unknown if there are plans to reopen in an other location.
One of Denver's Light Rail routes is near Caboose Hobbies site.
|
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 10, 2016 23:48:10 GMT -5
After reading 5 pages of "material" about Caboose Hobbies on the "Atlas Rescue Forum",came away with a few "givens". 1.Caboose Hobbies will find a way to continue,if possible,may wind up in some "Industrial Park" type building, 2 The current economic conditions make any small retail business owner's life hard at times. 3 The Larger Hobby Distrubution outlets like Horizen and(sometimes) Walters require Proof of the shops exisit!(Storefront pics) 4 The Larger Hobby Distrubution outlets have certain expectations about sales and min order standards. 5 That means a decent website that fuctions well in many different internet formats,computer,mobile,and tablet. 6 What does NOT help is manufactures like Exacta Rail selling direct,not having any product on the shelf. What happened to Caboose has happened whenever a neighborhood get redeveloped for any reason,the property values go UP and the Building Owner gets convinced to sell to a developer.  |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 16, 2016 22:27:09 GMT -5
Well a final "Drum roll" please,The owners of Caboose Hobbies have "pulled the plug" and will retire, reportly any "pre orders" in the "pipeline" will be honored by a shop picked by the owners of Caboose Hobbies. Reported closing date is 09/25/16. Another iconic shop bites the dust! Word is Caboose closed up around 09/11/16.  |
|
|
|
Post by rails4dmv on Aug 17, 2016 10:24:49 GMT -5
Well a final "Drum roll" please,The owners of Caboose Hobbies have "pulled the plug" and will retire, reportly any "pre orders" in the "pipeline" will be honored by a shop picked by the owners of Caboose Hobbies. Reported closing date is 09/25/16. Another iconic shop bites the dust! Sad to hear. I wish they could have found a new location. Maybe some of the employees will buy out the remainder of their inventory and open a smaller store in a different location. I'm sure when the owners of Caboose looked at the cost of moving, retaining staff and trying to be competitive in today's e-commerce world, it didn't make sense to stay in business. All brick & mortar stores are feeling the pinch from online retailers and second tier sellers like eBay that offer lower pricing and all kinds of discounts like free shipping. I wish I could have gave Caboose more of my business but their MSRP pricing drove me to look around at other online retailers first. Buying directly from Walthers was sometimes cheaper than their pricing. |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Aug 17, 2016 19:25:55 GMT -5
In my 08/10/16 post,one of the problems Caboose Hobbies faced is meeting the sales expectations of Horizen,Walters, and other Hobby Distrabution companies,the "storefront"expectation,and the "online expectation" Most small retail operators are battling the "BIG BOX" retailers as it is now. The building owner,where Caboose was housed got an "offer you can't refuse" $$$$$$ for the land from a developer, what was the "Gates Rubber Factory" was redeveloped,a RTD light rail station is nearby where Cabooose Hobbies was. Hastings was bought out and is going out of business to sell off the real estate assets I'm not a fan of E(vil) Bay due to the "speculators" that buy off remaining models from store shelves, store them away untill a demand builds up and bidding drives the price well beyond the model's MSRP value!   There's an example of that in the crew lounge section. |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Sept 23, 2016 23:02:33 GMT -5
TAKE this info with a large grain of salt......  Caboose Hobbies might be returning as an Internet only store,the "remains" may have been bought out by "persons" unknown at this point of time.  Caboose HobbiesAS of 10/18/16,the "new" owner has surfaced,and will reopen in a new storefront somewhere in the Denver Metro area. The website refects this change. |
|
|
|
Post by backshophoss on Mar 18, 2019 15:55:20 GMT -5
From a post in RR.net,Northwest Shortline is shutting down in Aug 2019,last "In stock"orders will be allowed till July 31 2019. Seems there was a personal(family) issue involved. Get those needed drive parts NOW!! A good news update,NWSL has been bought by 1 of their employees,that person will need time to setup a new shop,and restart production. www.nwsl.com |
|
