Thursday, 11 January 2018

Micro Engineering: Over Half A Century Of Model Railroading

By Donna Turner


Those who knew of this company when it first started off might know it by a different name, Rail Craft Products. This is because back in the days when it was just getting started in 1964, there were only a few key products that they offered. Robert Rands is the founder of this business, and it is something that grew and grew from early in his life when he discovered his love of model trains, something that he eventually learned he could make into a business, which led to Micro Engineering.

The narrow gauge track that this company first offered was something that was specially designed by Bob Rands himself. He started to notice that HOn3 trains needed a different prototype of track both so that the trains could run better and so the track was a better representation of the actual track that it is modeled after. This company was the first one ever to manufacture this product, and this was also the first product that the company offered.

The Code 55 rail was a popular product that this company designed and manufactured. This led to them offering many other types and sizes of track, eventually leading to the highly popular Flex-Trak. It became necessary for the business to change its name since they were offering a more and more diverse range of products.

This is a company that has the spirit of family to back it up. Bob was soon joined by one of his sons, Ron, in 1972 because he too shared the same love that his father had for model trains. Another son of his, Richard, also joined the company in 1981. Although he later left in 1997 so he could pursue other aspirations, he left a lasting mark on the company with many of the product he helped to develop, which are still available.

This company moved into a bigger building in 1984. This was so they could develop new products and offer the wide range that they do today. Their new tool and die shop contains equipment like CNC milling machines, tooling, and injection molding machines.

Companies that have been around for longer have the advantage of being able to know exactly what their customers want and knowing the best way to deliver quality products that are exactly what their customers want. Having been in business for over 50 years, this company has plenty of experience. With that experience, they bring the same enthusiasm that they've always had.

Many people are benefitting from the act of building, setting up, and designing these types of models. One of the big things that people notice when working on these small trains is that their fine motor skills are honed in on, which can lead to having better handwriting and less prone to knocking things over. There are also very few things that are quite as relaxing as taking the time to build up a beautiful scale model country landscape.

No matter how much a person adds to their model railroad, there is no limit to the possibilities that a person has. There are so many accessories such as businesses both big and small, modern and rustic, that can give a railroad any kind of theme or feel that the creator wants it to have. Nothing is more fun than building on an old model design to see what it slowly becomes, much like Bob Rand's business itself.




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