Dear Bob, Boy, I have not thought of George for years. If I remember correctly, he was in construction and our country was in a lull at the time. I jumped on that bandwagon quickly and got a brass CNJ Mike with a custom long distance tender. Once my engine arrived I showed it to everyone. And, I mean everyone is S that I knew. He got lots of orders. I think my order, yours and one for Josh Seltzer were the only one delivered. As the building boom returned, he quit making engines. I felt like a real shill over that one... Don
On Feb 24, 2012, at 10:53 AM, Bob Werre wrote: > Jim and all, > > The Hill Country Train Shop was before my returning to railroading and Texas, > but the local group visited him at some open house he held. Apparently he > held some lofty plans. I understand he was going to use high school kids as > part of some training program. > > My bad experience was with Mid America Scale models run by a George Sills, I > think. He published a catalogue of engines most using SSL&S parts. Because > of past experiences you would send your money to Claude Wade at SSL&S. He > would then send the kit to be built to George. When the engine was finished > he then would receive the money from Claude. I started out dealing that way > and after several months was told the engine had been shipped--would I > release the money ($310.)--so I did. No engine--he said "it must be lost in > the mail, so I'll build another"--sure! However, many months later it did > arrive and I can say it was state of the art at that time appearance > wise--mechanically--not so much! > > Anyway we were able to make mechanical improvements to where it ran nicely. > At that point three of us bellied up to the bar and ordered another round. > We sent the money directly to George and the world went quiet. I think all > this happened about 1979 or 80. > > Of course, in all reality having an engine custom made with all the filing, > fitting and tuning for about $100 in labor just didn't make sense after the > first one. But just like zillions of internet scams, hope does spring > eternal! At least I received a nice engine, just had to pay twice the money > in the end. > > Bob Werre > PhotoTraxx >> >> >> Anyone remember Melvin Frankel, YUK, who ran a scam in the early >> 70's--supposedly tried it in O-scale also. He advertised all sorts of steam >> engines but it was obviously no way he could do anything. Bernie Thomas was >> instrumental in handling recovery actions. DJE >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: raisinone >> To: [email protected] >> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 9:23 PM >> Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Status of Kaslo Budd Passenger car kits >> >> >> Ever hear of Hill Country Train Shop, New Braunfels, TX? That one cost me >> $300 in 1976 dollars! At least that debacle made the pages of MR! I think >> Jan Lorenzen (Locomotive Workshop) went to the bankruptcy auction to buy >> nickel silver bar stock... >> >> You're right George - there is a real feeling of family with the charlatans' >> of our past!! <G> >> >> Jim >> >> --- In [email protected], "gsc3" <gsc3@...> wrote: >> > >> > One good thing about these kind of posts is I don't feel alone. (8-) >> > >> > George Courtne >> > >> > --- In [email protected], "John" <armstong5717@> wrote: >> > > >> > > Where is my $865.00 that Omnicon still owes me for a Pennsy J. ? >> > > Heard they skipped to Mexico! >> > > John Armstrong >> > > ----- Original Message ----- >> > > From: Alex Binkley >> > > To: [email protected] >> > > Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 4:43 PM >> > > Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Status of Kaslo Budd Passenger car kits >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >  >> > > >> > > Good point John, but thinking about things like that just speeds up >> > > insanity. I've made worse investments. >> > > cheers >> > > >> > > >
