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DEALER NEWS |
Dealers, friends and supporters:
As I spoke of in the Spring newsletter, if you want a change . . . just wait 5 minutes! There are some global
dynamics that have happpened and the Koreans have lost a whopping 40% because of the continued reevaluation of
the good ol' Yankee Greenback. Think about that if you own a business. What would you do with your company
and workers if your bottom line was suddenly 40% less for no apearent reason!!!?? Well, as I mentioned last
newsletter, look for some price increases on our beautiful models made there! The biggest price hikes will
be in smaller run productions where there is no room for economy in building because of the small numbers
involved (read "steam engines"). We have been able to hold the line pretty well with our 2 builders, but
our caboose/car maker has had to raise prices as of next project.
Now lets talk about good news!! The Rock Island 4-8-4's are history and were a great project! Ask someone who has one! The Central Vermont T-3a's are finally shipping in September and the pilot models look great. Following close on their heels will be our first Canadian offering, the Canadian National J-7a and c classes of 4-6-2! They will be done on Late 40's-50's and Late 50's versions with and without semi streamlining. These never-offered models will be followed this year with the Canadian Pacific G-3 series Pacifics, and the P-2 series Mikes in 3 classes each. Canadian Steam is back!! On the Diesel side of the house, Ajin is completing the GM F/FP re-run along with the second series of the F-2 thru F-9, with delivery in December of this year. Look for the more contemporary paint jobs in Canada, and some of the smaller roads too. Most are sold out at this point, but check for cancellations. If you missed out, put in an order. If we have enough interest we will re-run some models.
We are still on track to have our biggest year since we started. The "Louie" M&StL cabooses were here and gone! We still have a few of the D&RGW dynamometer cars that will eventually be offered with the Krauss-Maffei diesel sets to be delivered around Christmas. (Please see the price increase for the Krauss Maffei models, they are a very difficult production, with no common parts, only 120 available). The Santa Fe "Company" tanks in the Tk series are being built now, and we should see them Holloween. Steam fans are eagerly waiting on our monster Central Vermont T-3a 2-10-4, the largest engine to operate in the New England area. A very limited production with very few (2) left at this point. The Alco FA, and FPA series in FA-1's, FA-2's, FPA-4's are being cataloged now on the web site. We are also doing a small new/re-run of the famous PA series in a few select roadnames, including the Demo's paint in CN Green/Gold! I expect this project to be a great one so check out the list and get your reservations in, as there will be none ordered for "stock".
The Canadian/MLC versions of these competitors to the General Motors mighty F units are sure to be popular as they have never been modeled correctly in the past. Following that, we will continue with the Fairbanks-Morse series of engines to include the H20-44's, H15 and H16-44s, H16-66's and the Canadian versions of the same. Also on the drawing board is a short re-run of the H24-66's we did over 5 years ago now, to include the CN and CP versions. On the rolling stock side, we have CN, CP, DM&IR, ONR, AG and CV rolling stock and cabooses planned and in production. For L&N fans, we will do another steam engine to compliment the Berks we brought out, and are also announcing the L&N "Big Woody" and "Little Woody" cabooses, built from ventilated boxcars in the 1920s. It's a big year for us here at The Division Point and we will finish with a Bang!!
This year we are introducing an offshoot to The Division Point Inc. called DIVISION POINT NORTH. This subsidiary will be dedicated to the production of Canadian and Foreign (Swiss) prototypes. I have met some exciting new contacts "North of the Border" and I am working with them now on a Canadian Program of steam, diesel and rolling stock prototypes. The CN J-7 class Pacifics are first, followed by the CP P-2 and G-3 Mikes and Pacifics this fall. I have a couple of surprises for Canadian fans also, and a caboose or two. Stay tuned for more great announcements in the weeks ahead.
MARKERS . . . Jack and the The Division Point Team
