[Severn]

As soon as I picked up the mini hi cube, I broke a piece off. That's another to fix now. But overall they are very nice and seem exactly like ExactRail platinum. Do they come from the same supplier? I can't tell them apart in any meaningful way. Is it possible? I went over samples of each literally with a magnifying glass. But I believe I need a loupe.

 

[Old_Hobo]

Well, they are two different companies, but they could very well have been made the same factory.....I don't know what you mean by "supplier".....

 

[Severn]

Contractor. All this stuff is contracted out. Same outfit maybe? I have to look more closely. I really need a better magnifying set up.

Also for the money, I'd like a parts diagram.

 

[LateStarter]

If I kept breaking stuff like that, I'd probably switch to Bachmann for awhile.

 

[Severn]

No I'm afraid it's genetic. (Edit)

Manta btw says 2 employees and 200k or so in revenue at exactrail. Can that be right? A website, a bunch of railroad books and materials, a cad/cam, a short term loan, a contractor in china.... And a lot cardboard boxes and shipping tape.

 

[CTValleyRR]

While things may be made in the same factory, generally speaking, the "manufacturer" will own the tooling and the design data, and be responsible for quality control.

 

[Severn]

I was poking around. Tangent has similar sales, 3 employees. (So to be fair I have no idea how this info is obtained by these websites or accuracy). Meanwhile injection molding runs from end to end services to make the mold for you and ship.
The nice thing about cars is no other kinds of parts. I mean you don't need pcb boards, LEDs or speakers. There's no manual of operation, manual of sound or parts diagram. And this is nice because in theory you aren't as dependent on co located businesses.

 

[Old_Hobo]

Don't forget the assembly of the model in the factory.....after all these cars start out as kits, and put together and sold as RTR.....sometimes offered as kits to put together your self, I think Tangent offers kits.....

 

[Old_Hobo]

Contractor. All this stuff is contracted out. Same outfit maybe? I have to look more closely. I really need a better magnifying set up.

Also for the money, I'd like a parts diagram.

If by "outfit", you mean factory, then yes.....if these cars are too tough for you to see, there's always Bachmann, as Latestarter said, or maybe even old Lifelike....

 

[Old_Hobo]

The nice thing about cars is no other kinds of parts. I mean you don't need pcb boards, LEDs or speakers. There's no manual of operation, manual of sound or parts diagram.

The nice thing? But I thought you wanted a parts diagram.....?

 

[LateStarter]

Tangent & ExactRail both sell parts...
But they're not meant for accident-prone folks.

TANGENT:
HO Scale Parts for Cars and Cabooses
Parts for Cars – Tangent Scale Models

EXACTRAIL:
HO Scale Parts & Structures
HO Scale: Detail Parts

 

[Severn]

I was thinking of a kit. But I have other things to break first.