Aristo Craft closing for good

Keith Oct 1, 2013

  1. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Received an Email this AM, from Aristo Craft. In it, they state that they will be closing
    for good, on Dec 31, 2013. Due to the slow/bad economy. They just aren't getting
    the cash flow they need to stay afloat. Unsustainable income, and increasing debts.
    Get what you can, while you can!
    Think this may derail my own layout project ideas.
    Unless, I can locate a box of 10 foot diameter curves!!
    Need a complete circle to finish my backyard expansion project, they way I want!
    I can still complete things, but I'll be forced to use 8 foot curves instead.
    And I have a 1/4 curve, that is going to need an 11 for curve, to get me to the back yard!
    And USAT track is just as difficult to come by as well. I'm gonna have some big problems shortly I think.
    Oh well.........
     
  2. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Not good for me. I use their throttles for my N scale layout.
     
  3. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Another one bites the dust. Sad to hear!
     
  4. mgilger

    mgilger TrainBoard Member

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    Keith,
    Purchase a rail bender and that will solve your curve problem.
    Mark
     
  5. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is surely an inconvenience to some. On the other hand a company that MRP's a boxcar at $80 and is today selling it for $20 probably deserves what it is getting. Economy of course, but selling goods at prices way over priced in the 'good' times eventually leads to a decline in customers and then the bad times. Not everyone can be in the G niche simply because of cost. Another good example of too high prices is Brass on epay. Month after month you see the same locos relisted because common sense is starting to filter down the collector type ranks. Too bad.
     
  6. f2shooter

    f2shooter TrainBoard Member

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    I hate to see this company go away, they've been around since the 1930's based on some ads I've seen. Then again these prices are getting out of hand. I'm not a skin flint but when track starts going for 12 bucks a foot something is out of whack. I'm just getting my G gauge road going and though quite a bit has been spent with no track yet in place the only reason I can do this is that a family friend passed away and my Dad got most of his stuff including nearly 250 feet of track. Without that I would never have started. We just bought a box of 14' curve track at over $340! I guess there are other options but I hate to see them gone.

    Rick H.
     
  7. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hopefully, USA Trains can fill in for Aristo, as far as track goes.
    Thankfully, I don't need too much more track. But still, I need
    enough! May convert what was going to the backyard to a small
    yard for switching and/or turning trains on the Wye. Until I can
    figure out what to do as far as my track needs go.
    Well, that and SSDI related benefits. Currently, No Job = No $$$.
    And I thought the $285 I paid for a full box of 10 foot curves was bad......
     
  8. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    I use nothing but aluminium track outside. Cheap. Held up over 20 years so far.
    NO track power, NO wiring.
    I watched them jack the prices into the stratosphere when LGB went poof! and wasn't impressed.
     
  9. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Brass rail, track power. Occasional sweeping needed, to remove tree leaves, and/or
    small twigs dropped by birds/squirrels etc...maybe a quick scrub of rail heads to
    remove what the birds/squirrels leave behind. Most times, I can set up and run without
    doing anything. But, with a fairly small layout in front, cleaning track takes a few minutes,
    so for me, it's not that big a deal.
     
  10. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    It is when you have 1500 feet of it. It is when you want more prototypical rail height than .332.
    It is when you want to attach the track firmly to something as you're four feet up on the edge.
    It is when you have rain, rain, rain and then it freezes...heaves the ballast and track..and rips every wire off.
    If you're on the ground, floating as you must be if clamped...unless Longmont doesn't have temperature swings....then it's a problem.
    In 1:29, .332 is 9.63" high.
    Too high to look good to me. Used to see photos in GR all the time...detailed engines, nice scenery...and 9 inch rails.
    If it works for you, great.
    Couple of places now to get .332 brass...rumour is Bachmann may even do it.
     
  11. f2shooter

    f2shooter TrainBoard Member

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    I don't plan to use track power except on some smaller features such as a gandy dancer and possibly an interurban. Still I like brass and it's what my dad has used on his very large layout for the past 15 years or so. I'll also use it on a track powered Christmas train we'll set up at a local hotel right after Thanksgiving. I'm sure I'll need more track along the way and it will be something more reasonably priced. I hope someone is able to come in and take over the Aristo line and wouldn't mind seeing Bachmann produce some brass track but it still has to be priced better than it currently is. I could easily live with steel or aluminum and if it looks a little different, oh well....

    Rick H.
     

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