Westlake Publishing Forums

General Category => General Forums => Topic started by: Frank65 on November 16, 2016, 09:54:23 AM

Title: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Frank65 on November 16, 2016, 09:54:23 AM
I'm seeking contact information for Trackside Details. Their website is non-responsive as of November 15 2016. I have several products from them and would like additional parts. They were always prompt and provided high class products for "Fn3" and other large scales. Any help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: finescalerr on November 16, 2016, 11:01:45 AM
It looks as though TD may have gone out of business or is in transition. Pete Thorpe began the company and, before his death, sold it to Valley Brass. I did a quick search and found websites for neither Valley Brass nor TD. It is remotely possible Ozark Miniatures could have some TD parts (www.ozarkminiatures.com (http://www.ozarkminiatures.com)) or, more likely, something you could use instead.

The large scale train hobby is in steep decline. Even at its zenith, Pete Thorpe told me only 1% of the hobby did any scratchbuilding or detailing and that may have been a generous assessment. Craftsman kit makers were the first casualty (Hartford Products comes to mind).

Good luck.

Russ
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Frank65 on November 16, 2016, 01:53:41 PM
Russ, Thank you for the reply. I had done the same search and discovered the same disconnected web page! Oh, well!
BTW I am detailing an AMS/Accucraft D&RGW passenger car in a manner similar to the approach Rio Grande Models UK used. https://sites.google.com/site/riograndemodelsuk/  I have finished the RGS Combine #259 https://sites.google.com/site/riograndemodelsuk/rio-grande-southern-combine-259  and the boom car. This satisfied my need to make something and not devote my whole life to a passion for trains! Alas these folks are also in deep undercover.
Again thanks for your help and the service you have provided to fine modelling.
S
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Ray Dunakin on November 16, 2016, 08:33:53 PM
I'm sorry to hear that TD has apparently gone under. They had a lot of good detail parts, and I had hoped to use some of them whenever I get around to modeling some rolling stock.

Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Hauk on November 17, 2016, 08:50:38 AM
But any word on David Sciacca?
Is he still offering his Casting service? I got in touch with him through the Trackside Details website.
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: lab-dad on November 19, 2016, 06:40:57 AM
More bad news.
No wonder i dont frequent here much anymore.

Time to buy a lathe/mill and learn Sketchup.
We all know/knew its coming.
Just as long as raw materials are available I'm good.

Marty
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: finescalerr on November 19, 2016, 11:34:51 AM
Is the reason you don't frequent the forum "bad news", you're just not building right now, or have you moved to a different forum? -- Russ
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: lab-dad on November 21, 2016, 08:15:52 AM
The bad news is always depressing.
The lack of modeling (from everyone - including me) is depressing.
I'm modeling but also pursuing other interests (woodworking).
Not on any other forums; they don't get "scratch-building" like the guys here do.

-Mj
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: finescalerr on November 21, 2016, 10:59:28 AM
All I can say is that our forum and modeling in general are much more healthy than jazz and acoustic music in general .... -- Russ
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Ray Dunakin on January 22, 2017, 10:06:14 PM
This was posted a couple days ago by Joe Augustine on Large Scale Central:

I do not know how many of you use Trackside Details products but this info is or those who do. David Sciacca, the owner of Trackside Details sent me this in reply to my difficulty accessing his web site. F Y I

"Thanks for taking the time to email me. The website has been down for at least 3 months now. I have always had problems with the guy who host it, but this is the worst. I think he just doesn't want to do it anymore but does not have the decency to tell me this, he just keeps making excuses. I am now working on a whole new website which I hope to get up in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully this one will look a little better. I'm going to try to start the photography today (237 items), already have a guy lined up local to set it all up for me. He is going to set this up so that I can have access to it to add new items or correct mistakes, or even add to the descriptions such as measurements. I am and always have still been in business, but with the website being gone, I fear many think I am not. Thanks again for taking the time to check in with me, hope to do more business with you in the future......David"

Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: lab-dad on January 23, 2017, 08:24:43 AM
Ray,
Please keep us in the loop.
That is GREAT news!!!!
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Scratchman on January 23, 2017, 11:15:00 AM
That's good news! They make the best parts.

Gordon Birrell

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gordonbirrell/
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Frank65 on February 10, 2017, 08:03:33 PM
Yes, Great News! It seems we can run but not hide from our hobby addictions!
I look forward to some high quality bits and pieces from Trackside Details again. My models will be greatly enhanced! Keep us posted on how to contact.
Frank65 in SLC
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: NORCALLOGGER on February 10, 2017, 08:27:24 PM
Try here

http://www.tracksidedetails.com/
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Frank65 on February 13, 2019, 05:14:41 PM
Updated news: February 13,2019 - I have just received an order of detail parts from Trackside Details. The service was great, prompt and the parts are nicely finished with little work needed to install the missing parts on a WSL15 Accucraft Shay and the RPO bash of the AMS passenger car begun some time ago and mentioned in my earlier comments.
It was nice to find great products and great service. A catalog and he may be contacted at www.tracksidedetails.com (http://www.tracksidedetails.com)
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: finescalerr on February 13, 2019, 08:43:25 PM
It might be nice to remember the man who founded Trackside Details: Pete Thorp from San Luis Obispo, CA. Later my friend, Dean Lowe, helped by creating some masters for Pete. Others also contributed masters. I guess, as long as I'm still around, I should try to give credit to those guys. -- Russ
Title: Re: Trackside Details availability?
Post by: Hauk on February 14, 2019, 03:40:04 AM
Quote from: finescalerr on February 13, 2019, 08:43:25 PM
It might be nice to remember the man who founded Trackside Details: Pete Thorp from San Luis Obispo, CA. Later my friend, Dean Lowe, helped by creating some masters for Pete. Others also contributed masters. I guess, as long as I'm still around, I should try to give credit to those guys. -- Russ

I guess patternmaking is a lost art. But art it was, I have many times marveled at the incredible brass and styrene castings that have been produced through the years. I have no idea how the craftsmen were able to achieve such results.

They absolutely deserve credit. And before it is too late, someone should write a history of Fine Scale Modelling. What about it, Russ?