Benchmark models

Off the top of my head, I'd like to nominate the first U.S. outline HO switchers produced by Kato?

I believe it was an Alco S1?

Whatever the prototype, Kato set the ball rolling regarding accurate, FINE detail, and superb mechanisms, which the rest of the US-market manufacturers were compelled to follow.

Gone were the days of brute force and huge amperages.

Given their prices, I believe Kato spoilt things for the rest of the world as well, by providing superb mechanisms which really 'showed up' the shortcomings in European and UK-outline RTR models?

I also believe Kato spelt out the death knell for those into cheap 'n cheerful loco detailing?

I recall my efforts at detailing Athearns and Bachmann's products, and Model Power..to see the first Kato switchers, and feeling.....''what's the point in my wasting my time?''

QUOTE (poliss @ 27 Dec 2007, 21:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I remember a Japanese made American outline model with lost wax Westinghouse air brakes. The detail was amazing.
Can't remember exactly which model it was after 37 years, but if madkitten looks in the July or August 1970 Railway Modeller she might find it.

It was in the June edition for 1970 on page 195 and they were made for Victors of the USA in Japan. The picture does indeed show staggering amounts of detail. They were both Southern Pacific Prototypes, a GS2 4-8-4 semi streamlined express and a 2-8-0 freight loco with a vanderbilt tender. They were considered very expensive at the time the UK imported models costing a whole 32.00 - 52.00 quid!!!. Apparantly all the small details where Lost wax cast and the finish is extremely good - i would say matching that of modern day models easily...............

Nikki

QUOTE (adecoaches26point4 @ 27 Dec 2007, 19:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I would like to put forward Liliput Wien.

1.The introduction of DB scale length 1/87 coaches in the late 1960s.
2.Model of the 05 class of locomotives in the early 1970s, which set the standard for all the model manufactures.
Finer wheel profiles and what would have been classed as superdetailing at the time
Then followed by the Br 45 a couple of years later

Then let down by that bloody awful motor they used

David

Should of added a green Epoch I Bavarian BR 18? in green with brass topped chimney and cranked axle to rods for the inside cylinders.
Beautifully Engineered by Liliput

David

Hi All

The Loco for me that really changed the amount of detail available RTR first sold in 1972
the Fleischmann BR64 the worst aspect of this model is the gap in the buffer beam for the coupler but the rest of the detail is great Lettering fantastic

It won awards at the time



From the 1973 catalog

Regards Zmil

*** Sorry Zmil... I know its individual thought that is the focus of this thread ..... but from my perspective, how can you say the worst aspect is the gap in the buffer beam when the wheel flanges are HUGE and scream "Toy" as soon as you look at the picture!

There are very many very fine EU model locomotives, but very very very few that can claim to look good below the running boards!

EU wise, I can't fairly comment on one individual loco but to me the move of Brawa into more refined RTR mainline products took things "detail realism wise" a step beyond almost anything I've seen by Roco, FLM, Matrix, Liliput etc... Brawas refinement in everything from flanges to handrails seems a step above the rest.

I think that the "break point" in RTR for US modellers was Kato + Stewart hobbies F7 - Kato took a commonly modelled prototype that had been made in the millions and added detail and refinement plus a superb mechanism to start a waterfall in other US Brand improvements... This was followed by Lifelikes sudden change from toylike to superdetail with their E8 and the flood of subsequent and always nice Proto series models.... and all the rest fell into line. Athaerns current nice lco's really owe their new found refinement to Stewart & Highliner which they absorbed to take them from reliable toy to realistic models.

Madkitten/Poliss: Those early Brass loco's were never very good - the detail was OK in comparison to concurrent RTR, but in reality no better than a bowser loco with detail kit added... mechanisms and motors were universally poor so good running required hours of fiddling with minor shorts and frequently, remotoring and new gearboxes (thank god for NorthWest Short Line who started their business in order to provide quality parts to fix faulty Japanese/Korean brass loco's!!

The detail and accuracy/proportion of earlier brass was actually very clumsily done in many cases.

I think that for UK Prototype Hornby Dublo's "super detail" series was the quantum leap, taking RTR from tinplate to well proportioned injection moulded plastic models.

For a more current UK perspective: Hornby, they progressed in a stuttering sort of way but real change came to them and Bachmann with the move to China.. Personally I think for Hornby the the Pullman coaches, Black 5 and 8F were the real start of something special loco wise (my LMS preference is showing there) and for Bachmann, BR Mk1's, the Jinty and their LNER A4, which I still prefer to the Hornby offering body and running quality wise.

Regards

Richard