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increased output of models, and much greater variety, but quality suffered. But hey, they did look good! After a few years of uneven quality, the major importers such as PFM, Westside, Sunset, Alco, Hallmark, and latterly Key Imports, Oriental and Overland Models Inc (OMI), realised that their reputations were suffering and sales were dropping off. Poor models would sell, but only at knock-down prices. They put pressure on the builders to recognise that quality mattered as much as profit.
The “High Summer” of Brass, 1980 – c.2005
Some fine Japanese models continued to be imported up to the end of this period but the ‘80s and ‘90s were dominated by Korean products. The quality and cost of models rose steadily during this period and there were some striking developments: Coasting drives and helical and triple-cut gears, almost silent diesel drives, constant intensity lighting, painting and glazing, automatic drawbars, fully detailed tenders, diesel cabs, steam blackheads, sprung trucks, and overall much greater prototype fidelity. All the Korean builders had teething problems, but once they got their acts together the leading builders who became the major players, right up until the time they left the industry at the end of the era, were Samhongsa and Ajin. Both were capable of creating outstanding products (provided the importers were watching the quality control), with Sam being particularly good with articulated steam and Ajin, after some initial difficulties, having the best diesel drives. (Their early “tank drive” is best avoided, and the first drive in their GE C39-8 was so poor that they had to issue a “conversion kit”).
There were other good builders: SKI, Dai Young/D&D, Dong Jin, M.S. Models (MSM), Sunset Model Industries(SMI), Brother Brass, and F.M. Models all built a range of good or outstanding models during this era. Some of the smaller builders focused on a limited spectrum: ACES built passenger cars (for Wasatch), Yulim built business cars and MoW (for W&R), and Geum Poong/GoldRich built cars (for Pecos River Brass). But then there were also those like Kobra Scale Models (KSM), Rok-Am, Tae Hwa, and Kook-Jea that were less successful. Most of these fell by the wayside fairly quickly.
The most significant importers during the first half of this era were Key, Overland, Oriental, Precision Scale(PSC), Hallmark, Custom Brass (departed 1986), PFM, Railworks, Wasatch Models, Model Traction Service (MTS), E & P Associates and Shoreham Shops/The Coach Yard (TCY). Westside departed in 1981, but two important new importers started up: W & R Enterprises and Challenger Imports. In terms of variety and quantity, Overland with Ajin eventually assumed an overwhelming position. But Key with Samhongsa held the lead in quality for much of the period, only fading in the 1990s. The market suffered a bit of a contraction in the early ‘90s, but from about 1990 on there was an explosion of factory and importer custom painting, along with greatly increased emphasis on the importance of accuracy. Both W&R and Challenger epitomised this movement and developed close links with Samhongsa. (But when Sam when out of the brass business in the 2000s, so did they).
Factory painted models usually (but not always), offer a superior finish. Although some builders, (notably Tenshodo), did paint their models, up until the 1980s most brass was sold unpainted. Since then, starting with Samhongsa and the Great Northern locos built for Oriental, factory painting has gradually become the norm. Recent imports are often offered in multiple variants with individual paint schemes and lettering. If an unpainted model is wanted, it usually must be ordered/reserved with the importer prior to production. As noted earlier, older unpainted models have their attractions, especially if intended for display rather than operation, it being much easier to appreciate the details on an unpainted model, and a display case of unpainted brass always looks impressive! Factory-painted weathering may be an interesting future development, but for now many collectors do not like weathered models. Operators regard them as desirable.
The Current Scene, 2000 – Today
There are essentially just two Korean builders handling all the current projects, Boo Rim Precision and Sam Model Tech (SMT). Although another Korean-owned builder, Primote, is based in China and claims to be larger, building mainly for the European market and BLI/ Precision Craft Models (PCM) in the USA. The other Chinese builder of note is Cheyenne Industries, who has made some nice structures for Overland. The supervising engineers at both Boo Rim and SMT originally worked for Samhongsa and they have sought to maintain an appropriate level of craftsmanship. I do not know to what extent work is presently sub-contracted to China. A third Korean builder, A-Train Model (ATM), was set-up by staff from Ajin Precision when that company left the brass model business. They have built for Overland and Division Point. Of the importers, Challenger departed in 2005, Sunset in 2010, W&R in 2013, and although Overland has hung on as a retailer, they imported their last models in 2008 (the U.P. 2-8- 2s in HO steam and the EMD SD70Ace/SD70M-2 in O-scale) and in 2013, (“Blue Box” diesels).
Modern factory painted diesel #1, the MK5000C by Ajin for Overland in 1996, here as SP #502.
The end of an era - UP MK-8 2-8-2 MacArthur as OWR&N # 2171, made by Ajin for Overland in 2008, one of 7 DCC-ready variants of their final steam models.
Modern factor- painted diesel #2, the GE Dash 9- 44CW by Ajin for Overland in 1997, here as BNSF#1110. Photo by Mike Arnold.
June 2018 - ROUNDHOUSE 17