Looks like a great model . Only concern I have is the possible price tag . I was hoping a more affordable model maker was going to make it and it's price was going to be more in line with the 994 loader bt Norscot which is a great model for the money in my opinion.

Here´s what we can expect from TWH http://www.presseagentur-noris.de/SM08/2008_02070069.jpg

---

Leo

No I haven't gotten the model. I'm also not a crane guy. If I was a crane guy..... then I would have to

JohnGalt,

I'm not going to continue this any further, I don't have time to read your mile long essay of a PM. If you think your right, then I guess your right. Just remember real men don't solve their problems by email or posting on forums.

Jim

---

Been studying this TWH L1850 very closely and all I can say is if it comes out like that then I won't be buying it.

Had 2nd BE 49HR arrive yesterday. Gone back today. Again assembled by a gibbon.

Look closely at these samples here and the handrails are all over the place. Also, I think Leo raised it about the tires, they are not what is fitted to the ASAM L1800, which have all the Bridgstone info on the side walls and are based on 55/80R-57. Nothing written on these, but being a sample it is very possible that the tires have been borrowed from the 994 to get it to the show. Having said that, the 994 can run on these or 65/65-57 tires, so in theory the tires on the L1850 should be as big or bigger than the ones on the 994.

Price of it is (I would guess) probably going to be around $500, (Euro 550) or by the time exchange rates are taken in, what I paid for the ASAM L1800 8 years ago!. The difference being the L1800 is beautifully assembled.......

TWH clearly put a lot of effort into getting parts right etc. BUT they have got to sort their assembly Q/C out. I have 3 BE495, 2 resprayed and all rebuilt, 1 BE49HR total rebuild and respray and another going back because of build quality issues.

I thought Brami were made in the same factory. How come they are properly assembled?

Also studying the pics closely, the overall detail is similar to the ASAM that came out 8 years ago and will cost roughly the same!!!!!!!!!

How is that for progress?

KR

R

If you guys want to keep bashing Chuck on HIS forum, please remember he puts on a one-of-a-kind collectors show every year which is FREE puts out HIS own money weather you buy anything from him or not.I have had some minor problems here and there but I don't buy $5000 worth of models every year, every time I have called them they fixed the problem and apoligized for the inconveince so I think this has gone kinda off the original point.

Chuck,

Hope you have a great time at Toy Fair!

Now as far as the model goes, I think it looks amazing and I can't wait to see it come to life.

Mike

---

MikesModels2011 on Facebook

MikesModels2011 on YouTube

Mikes Model Reviews Thread

Mack Granite Project Thread

This thing could be awesome, I think TWH has proven themselves by now. Let's just hope that thay don't continue that aweful trend of inflated model pricing, I just won't support that.
If the 495's were in the high $500 area, this model will be a lot smaller and less complex so the pricing should be well south of the 495 to reflect this.

Here's hoping,

Nate

Brian,

You are right that we could be way out of line about the pricing. Most of us are not privy to such info. But when people hear rumors like 500 Euros, $500.... they are likely to share them like they did. Then people get excited. And they should, hundreds of dollars still gets you some pretty good stuff out there.

Do you really think that the average, maybe any, model is fairly priced? That depends on how you define fair I guess. I don’t believe that the manufacturing company simply adds an average percent of profit and then sets the selling price. Models must be pretty difficult things to understand what people will pay for them. I do believe however, that the pricing is largely arbitrary and is set as high as possible and still sell and minimum number of units. Consider the 994F; this model was like $60 I think originally. If you take off DHS’ profit and then the manufacturers profit its pretty clear that this thing is made for tens of dollars, if that. And that’s fine; I own it and I like it. But when you compare that to another similar model that’s hundreds of dollars more you know that there is a lot of profit money there. Quality just doesn’t cost that much.

The arbitrary pricing simply comes down to supply and demand. They attempt to attach a price to a new model by researching the target market to determine demand. I wouldn’t doubt at all that this site/forum/Chuck is viewed by those people for research. (You will also notice that the 994F went up 20 or so dollars because the demand was so good.) That’s why when I say that I won’t pay $$$ for a model I know someone other than the average collector is listening. And the rest of us should too.

Nate

Not really going to say too much on this topic as my opinions may be considered "different" by some of you. However, I will note to kingn8 that the "price of the 994F" did NOT raise because of the demand. If you look ACROSS THE BOARD on the Norscot pricing... it ALL WENT UP! ALL OF IT... EVERY SINGLE NORSCOT PIECE both old and new, has gone up. While I don't work for Norscot and can't give you the EXACT reasons, I can say that the price increases are due to several things.

A. Models like the D11R CD have been at the same price point for years... it's time for an increase.
B. Norscot has DEFINITELY beefed up the quality and bang for your buck in recent years... thus the increase on the new models becomes justified.
C. The cost of the Raw Materials has gone up CONSIDERABLY over the past few years with little or no increase (again, the D11R CD for example, has been at the same price point for years roughly anyway)

The Cat 330D L Excavator was recently priced at (if memory serves me correctly) about $59.99 most places. DHS now lists this model at $75.95

NONE of these increases were just because Chuck and / or any other dealer just woke up one day and said "Hey, I think I want to make more $ on Norscot stuff". It is / was done by Norscot. Dealers / Distributors are supposed to follow manufacturers guidelines on these matters.

In regards to the pricing of the LeTourneau 1850 Wheel Loader from TWH replicas, I can say that a website in Italy already offers it for ordering at (what I believe is the symbol for) UK Pound Sterling 449 which according to www.xe.com translates into $873.00.

Is that accurate information? I don't know what Greasemonkey knows so I can't say. However I'm sure we will find out soon enough. Like Greasemonkey said however... let's not all jump to conclusions about what is on the tires sides, what the price is etc... until we hear from a reliable source and see a FINISHED SAMPLE picture (s). ... Prt

Paul R. definitely not going to shoot anyone down. lol. I am unfamiliar with the European Symbols and checked out the symbol again and you are of course 100% correct! I like your price better than the one I figure out anyway! lol ... Thanks for the correction! ... Prt

Prt,

The reasons you mention for the price increase make sense. And of course no one just woke up and decided to increase prices. Who said that? Dealers can't set prices if they have any sort of competition.

It still boils down to supply and demand, your first two reasons rely on it and the third is indirectly related. My main point was that the people here represent a very important part of the previously mentioned target market, where the demand is. The moral for me is if we're talking about a $600ish loader my demand will stay in the bank.

Nate