"Surveying The Line To The Millennium
"An Interview with Lewis Polk, President,
Polk’s Model Craft Hobbies, Inc.
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TATE (The Aristo Train Engineer): Lewis, thanks for taking a few minutes to talk with us about your plans for Aristo-Craft Trains.
Railroad surveyors in the 1860’s were hard at work discovering and planning the rail routes that would bring America the fulfillment of it’s newly declared Manifest Destiny. Their job was to explore the land, map the terrain, and plan the best route. They didn’t get involved in setting the construction timetables, estimating the ticket prices, or deciding on the decoration or livery of the trains.
I’d like to use that analogy as the basis for our interview. Our goal is to respect your policy of not announcing new items until they’re in full production. Yet we still want to get a sense of what you’ve got planned for Aristo-Craft as it moves towards the new millennium. You have, in the past, always been a leader; first in American Standard Gauge prototypes, providing a full variety of accessories, innovative power supplies, American Track, figures, buildings and a wide variety of cars and locomotives.
Can we "survey" the road ahead for Aristo-Craft trains? Will you confide in us how you will maintain your leadership position?
LEWIS: I’m always happy to talk about what our "Surveyors" tell us. We’re constantly listening to customers, dealers and distributors. One of our most valuable surveying tools has been The Forum on our website at http://www.aristocraft.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi. What hobbyists tell us at the shows and conventions is important as well. We do use all of that information to plan our route into the future of this hobby. We also "survey" the economic landscape. We have to be aware of whether the hobby is growing, leveling out, or shrinking. We also take the measure of our competitors.
With all of that information, we can plan our road into 2000, and beyond.
Now, I’m happy to share some of our plans, but once again, I must ask that no one jump to conclusions about time frames on any of the plans we share.
TATE: Everyone’s talking about new diesel power. What are you talking about with your product development people?
LEWIS: First, we have to recognize that my vision for this business is very focused. Aristo-Craft provides leadership in the industry and is to a large part responsible for major growth and for participation by new modelers from other gauges. We have a success built on providing model railroaders with the type of models, eras and performance they were used to in the smaller scales. The transition from O Gauge, or even S, HO and N is logical, and should be comfortable. Many hobbyists have discovered that having a second gauge outdoors in the Spring, Summer and Fall is a natural tie-in. Aristo-Craft’s line makes them feel comfortable, giving them many options that they are now used to. Our "surveys" of the landscape of the hobby show us that migrating model railroad hobbyists are a big part of the growth of the Large Scale portion of the hobby.
It doesn’t stop there. Giving hobbyists a comfortable transition is a point of departure, not a terminus. Once we’ve been able to bring new people into Large Scale, we’ve got to give them a reason to stay; with G Gauge and with our products. Therefore, we are doing more than talking about innovations…..and are actual doing something about it.
Every day, new breakthroughs in technology offer the potential for brand new ways to do things, new products to do them with, and in some cases, the creation of entirely new categories to fuel growth. Aristo-Craft Trains realizes the importance of this creative chain and the need to consistently nourish its growth through investment in product research and development. This includes making our trains the best operating, with the most detailed paint schemes, the most durable and smooth running drive trains, backed by the best customer service in the marketplace.
To enter the new millennium we took time to deepen our Vision and to re-think our direction in achieving it. We’ve carefully "surveyed", as you put it, the market demands that we would like to fill. Three and four axle ball bearing drives, D.C.C., RDC’s, Doodlebugs, Mikado and Mountain locomotives, Railbus, Center Cab, 10 channel radio, Std.Hvy.Wht. Pullman, Ready Built structures, more new figures, SD-45 Loco, battery operation, ball bearing wheels, Streamline Baggage car, log car, 3 20’ cars, Vanderbuilt Tender and other upgrades and products mean we are more than talking about R & D and we’re doing something about it.
TATE: If I understand you correctly, it’s not all about new diesels?
LEWIS: Exactly.
Locomotives are an important part of any manufacturer’s product lineup. But, they are only a part. Locomotives, whether diesel or steam, won’t be successful, long term performers, if they aren’t powered by gear-boxes that are electrically efficient, have strong pulling power, can follow uneven track, and provide the owner with an ease of use and maintenance that is technically correct in all aspects of operation.
We’re proud of our GEARBOX INNOVATIONS. Our R & D engineers have truly outdone themselves with our next generation power blocks. Starting with a ground zero, new perspective on how a gearbox should be made, we have developed a truly wonderful mechanism that will lead the way for us in both Steam and Diesel locomotives over the next few years.
The first implementation will be in our new SD-45 Diesel that uses a 3 axle truck. We are proud of a truck that, depending on loco chassis configuration, will maneuver through tight 5’ curves and still run quietly, and with great power. This innovative gearbox is modular and thus the unit will turn up in 3 & 4 axle designs. With its introduction, we’ll begin to standardize all of our power brick parts on this truck for easier maintenance. The consumer, and shops, servicing our product will realize an ease of repair much like what the prototype railroads seek when they standardize their locomotive fleets.
3-Axle
Truck
This innovative 3 axle truck is in addition to our newly delivered, six ball bearing, 2 axle truck that is getting rave reviews. Its’ low current draw, along with smooth, powerful operation makes this power truck the new standard for operation on their layouts.
TATE: I heard you say "SD-45 Diesel Locomotive". Tell me more!
LEWIS: The new SD-45
locomotive we are working on was truly one of the most aesthetically
good-looking locomotives of its era. We’ve researched this popular
diesel extensively. Starting with original builder’s plans, and
supplementing them with photos taken over a few days of climbing all
over a full size prototype, we’ve developed the manufacturing plans
for a new diesel powerhouse in the Aristo-Craft stable. I believe that
we’re on our way to having Large-Scale’s most popular diesel to
date.
SD-45
Locomotive
The builder’s plans are 2 dimensional, so the photos and measurements from the prototype are needed to show the 3 dimensional aspect of the locomotive. Then we drew the plans in a new 3-D style computerized drawing program that allowed us to design and fit all the model’s parts together in advance of production, to insure that the fit, visual fidelity, and operating components, all worked together to create an impressive locomotive.
We believe the SD-45 will be amongst the finest representations of a locomotive in any model train scale. It will be a true joy to modelers for many years to come.
The engineering drawings are finished and the molds will begin shortly.
I’d like to point out that the 3 axle drive molds are finished and tested. This means that we will be able to release this truck for scratch builders before we deliver the locomotive.
TATE: That information should make a lot of people happy. There’s got to be more than one Diesel on the horizon. Can I get you to tell us about others?
LEWIS: It doesn’t stop there, TATE. The year following the release of that locomotive, we will also make a true SD-40, using many of the same components.
And there’s also the Center Cab Diesel. This model is a freelance design that looks like a true center cab. It’s a utilitarian, workhorse diesel. It uses two of the new power trucks we’ve created for the Railbus, but has a different side frame and wheel size. This will add to the fun for those looking for a smaller switcher.