Commercial Trash Containers from NJ International

[Bob Bufkin]

These look good:

http://www.blwnscale.com/NJ%20International.htm

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Those are nice, but the price is way out of line.

MSRP of $30 for two trash containers?

I don't care if they walk and talk, that's way too much money for a "scenic detail".

[FrankCampagna]

MSRP of $30 for two trash containers?

I'm inclined to agree. However, note that the detailing is about as good as any current freight car. And $30 is close to what they are going for today. Might be nice for an up front scene. Use something different for background.

Frank

[Denver Road Doug]

Those smaller dumpsters look like the ones NJI has done before. (at least I think it was them, but regardless)  Granted they were undecorated but I've picked them up at shows for 50 cents each.  I could "Athearn them up" with a whole bucket of paint with that much budget left over.   

I guess I appreciate the sentiment...they look pretty good, but yes they are a bit on the pricey side.  And more importantly, I can think of about a hundred other things NJI could be doing with their time.

[chessie system fan]

Maybe they should have been done in resin instead of "fine scale brass."

[MichaelWinicki]

I guess I appreciate the sentiment...they look pretty good, but yes they are a bit on the pricey side.  And more importantly, I can think of about a hundred other things NJI could be doing with their time.

I wasn't going to post anything in this thread, even though I had the same thought you did when the thread first popped up, but your comment prodded me.  ;D

Sometimes I just shake my head when it comes to the business acumen of some of these manufacturers/suppliers... Here's NJI who's been trying to be the top firm out there when it comes to signals, but instead of concentrating on improving/enhancing their signal line... They come out with dumpsters...

That's what happens to a lot of these smaller companies– they lose focus.  They become bored with their current product lines and decide to jump into other areas, well before they've mined their perspective market to the fullest extent possible.  

So instead of being the top signal company they want to become one of the myriads of companies making detail items.  When you go to their website now, it says, "The Signal People"... I guess they're going to change that to "The Signal & Dumpster People".

If they wanted to make details items, then I would have suggested a different company name and a different web-site... Don't water-down what you're already known for.  

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sometimes though, it's not about being a business, it's about doing something you're interested in, and if NJI enjoy making dumpsters, well, more power to them.

Even MORE if they sell a few. They probably don't have to move too many to make it worth doing.

[Mark5]

NJI should put their N scale PRR signals in their N scale dumpster! (how do you spell re-tool?)

Notice they don't put pix of them up on their site ...  

Oh well, the dumpsters would be useful to me if I was modeling current.

Mark

[MichaelWinicki]

Sometimes though, it's not about being a business, it's about doing something you're interested in, and if NJI enjoy making dumpsters, well, more power to them.

That's cool Ed.  They're nothing wrong with that, but do it under a different name so not to bastardize the existing USP (unique selling proposition).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't really think that NJI has much brand equity built though, beyond "garage manufacturer of stuff you sometimes like".

[MichaelWinicki]

I don't really think that NJI has much brand equity built though, beyond "garage manufacturer of stuff you sometimes like".

But there are reasons why some companies stay as "garage manufacturers" and some turn in say Athearn, Atlas or MicroTrains.

And if they want to stay a small shop that has a hodge-podge of offerings... I guess that's OK too.

[Mark5]

Maybe there's no money in signals. A surprising amount of N scalers don't seem to give a crap about signals.

[wm3798]

I dashed that together with about 7 cents worth of styrene.  I need these 1970's classics for my layout... those roll-offs and plastic lid things are way too modern.

Of course, if the price was right, they could be a good foobie stand in!  But then no one would make the dumpsters that I really need!

Does anyone do an N scale shopping cart?  I've got a ditch I'm trying to detail...  I need some color TV's, too.

 

[TrainCat2]

Gold Metal makes carts Lee, #160-37.

[MichaelWinicki]

Gold Metal makes carts Lee, #160-37.

I've got some... They're A-OK.