Kenneth, Tom and Friends,
Many years ago I was asked by the NMRA to be part of a committee (I
was to be the S part of it) to help coordinate modelers needs/desires
with the manufacturers who should be supplying those needs + profit. I
wasn't super active (I can't afford to attend all the nationals etc.)
but during my time nobody from either side contacted me for aid. I had
done some research as to the demographics in S and was prepared to make
some basic recommendations as such. I finally threw it all away, as
apparently nobody needed this research, or perhaps nobody knew this
committee was there to help.
Anyway, yes a lot of people have talked about various 'one of'
projects that they wanted to do. Somebody was going to make a MP1500, a
modern reefer, signal towers and some I'm sure have been forgotten. Us
older guys remember all the promises that didn't happen, so nothing is
new in that area. Our long time suppliers, seem to be doing okay
(although I'm sure none make what they should--welcome to that club, as
I've been a long time member). I think S needs to welcome new
manufactures if they are aware of what they are getting into i.e.
smaller market, dual flanges/rail systems, heavily into Eastern roads,
etc. Maybe that's something the NASG could be more involved in,
although the little steel building and the newly revised plastic
warehouse kits might have come from those efforts--don't really know!
All that being said, I'm quite sure there would a decent market for
a 70 tonner kit, the ribbed sided boxcar and perhaps an assortment of
different cabooses. A couple of us have lobbied, supplied data for, and
made reservations for River Raisin's newest effort the ribbed sided
caboose, that seems to be happening. There is no reason that
manufactures shouldn't be able to team up and provide complementary
products to make everybody happy. A prime example would be the B & O
engine that doesn't have a caboose (hopefully Mr. King to the rescue)
and some F units, GP-9's, & U boats to go with the Milwaukee cabooses.
I also think that a least one manufactures miss's much of the potential
market, with his first engine the FP-7. There were lot's of major
railroads that had those engines that have never been produced, but lots
of bogus paint schemes have been applied to those engines (making the
rivet counters question everything). Perhaps redoing the plain sided
passenger cars combined with some new engine paint schemes would spur
sales.
When it comes to brass and the price of such, one has to weigh all
the factors. In my casual discussions with the Raisin Twins, I
mentioned that most of us would prefer brass cabooses because of the
delicate nature of the end platforms, railings and such. However, I
certainly would have welcomed a Smokey or Kaslo version had RR not been
interested in the project. The interesting thing in going either way is
that the price of resin kits, + custom builder + custom paint + custom
decals might not be all that much different from brass. Remember lot's
of guys have kits stashed in storage because they don't have the time to
build them. I have a fair amount of brass, much of it picked up used
and some obtained in barter for my photo work. So if the cost of brass
is too high, maybe there is some way of helping someone that needs
custom painting or kit building who wouldn't mind trading for brass,
that in turn can be traded for some brass you really need. Make
everybody happy!
Bob Werre
BobWphoto.com
kenneth parson wrote:
> Thomas,
> thanks for the reality check. We do need to express our desires at
> least in the railroading sphere. Having been good friends with a
> couple of imprters/mfg. I find it ironic that they seem well aware
> that many of the chatters fail to put their money were their mouth is
> when the product is introduced to the marketplace for a thousand
> reasons. And so production depends often on the wisdom of the importer
> who must make a very serious decision. Most of them have done very
> well without our help. Given all this, chatter on we must.
> ken parson
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Thomas Baker
> Sent: Monday, April 30, 2007 8:19 AM
> To: richardforst2004; [email protected]
> <mailto:S-scale%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: RE: {S-Scale List} Golden Goose
>
> If mere chatter frightens away a potential manufacturer, well, that is
> unfortunate, but I doubt that people wil refrain from discussing what
> they would like. And some will dream big and think that they can
> somehow produce a particular item or connect with someone who can.
> Usually, that does not happen. About eighteen months ago, I was a
> culprit: I talked about a MILW ribbed side box car and did connect
> with someone who produced it in O scale. He told me the price for 100
> copies of the item would be about one hundred Dollars.
>
> My point is that chatter about doing something does sometimes actually
> lead to production of the item.
>
> Tom
>
> PS: As for items in brass, well, I have no idea. I do not have the
> cash for most of that, and I suspect that many do not. Brass is a
> market reserved for the well-heeled, or at least for the highly paid.
> I see the brass market as quite apart from the plastic market.
>
> ________________________________
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
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