Sale on Classic Metal Works N scale vehicles at Trainworld

[peteski]

https://www.trainworld.com/manufacturers/classic-metal-works/classic-metal-works-n-scale/

The above listing is for all their vehicles - look for the on-sale items.  Really good prices.  Too bad that these aren't better models. IMO, by today's standards (especially the wheels) are fairly crude.

[mmagliaro]

CMW stuff is very uneven.  I have some of their station wagons, Crown Victoria, Ford 300's, and other sedans, and some trucks where the wheels are really nice (and even have fine whitewall tires), the chrome, grills, taillights, and other trim are sharply painted, and they look really great, especially for an outta-da-box model.  And then there are some where the wheels look like blobs of paint or old tin pie dishes glued onto the tires and the whole vehicle looks like a Dr Suess vehicle with wonky angles and an off-center stance.

Lately, I find it actually better to snag them either in person at a swap meet or off eBay if there are close-up photos of the actual one that the seller has (not a stock photo).  Then you can see if it's "good CMW" or "evil CMW".

[StarCruiser]

Well, whadda ya expect from China?

A RRRRRRUUUUBBBBERRR Biscuit?

[DKS]

CMW stuff is very uneven.  I have some of their station wagons, Crown Victoria, Ford 300's, and other sedans, and some trucks where the wheels are really nice (and even have fine whitewall tires), the chrome, grills, taillights, and other trim are sharply painted, and they look really great, especially for an outta-da-box model.  And then there are some where the wheels look like blobs of paint or old tin pie dishes glued onto the tires and the whole vehicle looks like a Dr Suess vehicle with wonky angles and an off-center stance.

This.

[peteski]

Well, whadda ya expect from China?

A RRRRRRUUUUBBBBERRR Biscuit?

That's pretty funny.  So how many of currently produced N scale vehicles are *NOT* made in China?  Many other Chinese-made vehicles have well modeled wheels.  In this case, it is a design issue, not the fact that these are made in China.

[Chris333]

I thought they were made in Ohio?

Looks like they started in Michigan, went to Iowa, and now 4073 Meghan Beeler Court
South Bend, IN 46628

Well I dunno there is a whole bunch of history:
https://round2corp.com/amt/

I thought they were made in NW Ohio.

[peteski]

I thought they were made in Ohio?

Looks like they started in Michigan, went to Iowa, and now 4073 Meghan Beeler Court
South Bend, IN 46628

Well I dunno there is a whole bunch of history:
https://round2corp.com/amt/

I thought they were made in NW Ohio.

LOL!  Atlas, Athearn, MRC, Bluford, and other model manufacturers are U.S. based, but their models are all made in China.

IIRC, Round2 acquired CMW few years ago. That is probably the reason for the last address change.

[Chris333]

Well I though right here on the dirty streets of The Railwire I read they were built here. And I remember looking up the factory on Google maps.

Old owner mentions China a few times, but I can't tell if they were or are made there:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41857.msg524420#msg524420

[Chris333]

And just so I'm not crazy:
CMW Holdings LLC
3401 Silica Rd
Sylvania, OH 43560

[muktown128]

Some really good deals.  Thanks for sharing Peteski!

[peteski]

Well I though right here on the dirty streets of The Railwire I read they were built here. And I remember looking up the factory on Google maps.

Old owner mentions China a few times, but I can't tell if they were or are made there:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=41857.msg524420#msg524420

Quoting from the post you linked to:
We accomplished that task which is why I am proud to announce that perfect partner to carry on the legacy of the Classic Metal Works brand - Tom Lowe's Round 2, LLC. Round 2 will now be producing and marketing all of CMW's brands!

Nowhere in that letter there is a statement that the manufacturing takes place in U.S. (only the company HQ is here).  The old owner of CMW was mentioning  that they (as a small company) found dealing with Chinese factories very difficult.  By joining forces with Round 2, they now have a larger partner that has an easier time dealing with Chinese manufactures.

So, there is partnership (or maybe Round 2 bought them).   Round 2:  http://round2corp.com/product-category owns bunch of older plastic  model kit brands, slot cars, and diecast models.  They are all made in China and marketed in U.S.

[Chris333]

So they always were made in China? 

[peteski]

So they always were made in China? 

Here is one I bought in 2010.

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[garethashenden]

Well, whadda ya expect from China?

It’s not China that’s the problem. It’s the importer. The Chinese will make what you want at whatever quality you want, but you’ll have to pay for it. It’s entirely on the importer to specify what they want. No one complains about their iPhones being badly made because they were built in China, because Apple sets high standards and holds their manufacturers to it.
Now it’s entirely possible that no one would be willing to pay for N scale cars with excellent tires, but that’s kinda a different issue.

[StarCruiser]

That's not the point of the comment... This is: