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My understanding is that only the FVM original tooling went to ScaleTrains. The former Deluxe, Red Caboose, Precious Masters, etc stayed and sold under the Scale America line
THIS bothers me the most. I was looking forward to weathered and beaten up versions on a monthly base. Gondolas to collect scrap metal from Alter Metal, Pembine, WI
In addition to the destination of the tooling, the Reddit poster also is misinformed about the printing technology not being available overseas. My contractor acquired the same equipment that Micro-Trains had and they’ve been releasing quality photo-realistic mural models since earlier this year, albeit in scales larger than N. The front end of that equation is mastering the artwork in Photoshop. I’ve been practicing, and it can be mastered in a few weeks. Smooth side cars are much easier than rib side cars, as you have to remove multiple Sol-generated shadows from the latter. But Photoshop does have the capability to do that, although not in a single step. That’s where most of the practice is required. Also, the artwork is created at 3x N scale, and any illegible lettering in the photo is masked and retyped if desired.
And lets recall that MTL's first ventures with this process were.. sketchy.. (Thinking of that wood side boxcar that sent @peteski into a tizzy..)
Atlas posted a statement that the tooling is not going to China.
There’s been a lot of talk about Micro-Trains tooling being ‘shipped off to China,’ so let’s clear that up right away. While Micro-Trains has had some limited production in China in recent years — at some of the same factories Atlas uses — none of the U.S.–based tooling is being moved to China. That assumption just isn’t accurate.Atlas has been around for over 100 years. The company was started by an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, and over the decades manufactured products in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, England, Italy, Yugoslavia, Brazil, and yes, China. The point is: Atlas has always used a global production mix, choosing partners who can meet the quality, tooling and cost requirements for each specific product — not relying on any one country.Something that often gets overlooked is that Atlas has always been headquartered in New Jersey. That’s where administration, R&D, marketing, advertising, parts and repairs, customer service, and distribution all take place. Those are American jobs that stay right here. On top of that, Atlas regularly works with engineers, designers, and consultants from across the United States on product development, tooling, electronics, and problem-solving. A lot of U.S.-based expertise goes into every product line, including we hope, some MTL employees who are offered Atlas jobs, and decide to stay.To be clear, no Micro-Trains molds or tooling are being sent to China. The core operations will remain firmly in the United States, and Atlas is actively looking to employ former Micro-Trains team members. Our goal is simple: preserve the Micro-Trains product line, support its skilled workforce, ensure product availability, and maintain the same high level of quality and fidelity that customers expect from Micro-Trains and Atlas.
It is kind of crappy how they were called into a room and told they no longer work here and to clean out their stuff. I think that part could have been done better.
from Reddit:TheFlashJaxx•1d agoAll employees were fired this morning except the skeleton crew to process remaining orders. Everything is being packed up and shipped to China. The quality can not remain the same because only 2 of us know the special printing process we have worked a combined 20 years to perfect, and we aren't training atlas on the process that is for sure. If you like the weathered and graffiti cars they will definitely not look as good. Prototypical clean releases may look as good since everything will be printed in China as a fraction of the cost per print we had been paying US workers to do it
If other Eastern manufacturing options are opening up at a lower price point, this is a good thing. For now. I mean, obviously the same thing could happen down the road as happened with China in terms of pricing...but if for now we can keep costs down and avoid the tumultuous relationship we have with China right now, those are good things.
European manufacturers (like Fleischmann and others) have their models produced in Eastern European countries like Romania for few years now. But I wonder if the parts and materials still come from China?
I guess I have some implicit biases to overcome. I interpreted "Eastern" as Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc. Wasn't even thinking Eastern Europe. Interesting.
His history checks out with his claim that he worked for MTL. However, confirming that tooling was being packed up is one thing. Leaping toward the rumor it was then shipping to China is probably anger vs truth. I'm sure Wednesday sucked for those folks.
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Topic: Atlas acquires Microtrains (Read 24070 times)
