I don't want this discussion on Lionel and how they make their decisions
take over this list. However, it's not my job to tell them how or what
products to build. If they want to do a survey or hire consultants
that's the way to do it properly IMO. They need to hear from more than
a dozen guys (like myself) with big mouths! With that being said, I've
been asked by three manufacturers (2 S and one HO) if I could help them
and I have campaigned for a project or two. I was happy to lend a
hand. Indeed I have a good friend, neighbor, and HO modeler who spends
a great deal of time helping one of the major importers to get things
right. I think he gets several of the models in exchange for his efforts.
I've griped many times on this list (Grumpy old Men comes to Mind) about
products that had short comings that don't seem to be corrected even
after the defects are apparent. Some manufacturers have made great
efforts to make corrections to the 'new run' of product. In my business
I've spent many a sleepless night trying to figure out how to pull off a
project that is a 'one of a kind' that could make or break a company or
at least a big chunk of profit. Now take for instance our friends at
SHS. If my memory serves me correctly, the first run of Wabash PS-2's
was actually missing the dimensional data and a couple of the cars came
in with overly glossy paint. You didn't find that happening with
additional runs of product. I also think many of us were aware of the
difficulties they had in finally bringing the 2-8-0 to market--but they
got it nearly perfect. I'm sure the next steam engine ?? will have
those issues corrected.
I also purchased a tank car from the original S Scale America. I later
sold the car to Roger Nulton who later mentioned that one side of the
car also had some lettering problems that I wasn't aware of. I now own
three of the DesPlains/SSA tank cars and the lettering is all there. The
opposite of that seems to be my biggest rub, the AM house cars with the
floor being made backward--for what, 25+ years! Imagine too, what a
typical AF house car, gondola, caboose (that Lionel brought back from
the dead about 30 years ago) would look like with a nicely detailed
floor/underbody. I think those products would have generated enough
profit to put a little back into product improvement! Imagine the sales
that they would generate. So if you Lionel guys are listening!! I
think it entirely appropriate to mention it on any list any major
shortcomings of products that can be verified--this happens with all
kinds of products. This list is very mild compared to a couple of
others that I tune into when it comes to bashing manufacturers who don't
get it right.
This again all comes down to how other modelers (and hopefully future S
scaler's) will judge us. I can and have upgraded both AF and AM cars to
a more scale like appearance, but what about the 'tire kickers' in the
hobby shop or train show? If it takes Lionel or ?? more than a quarter
century to develop a contemporary product then we lose--again! Much of
this might come from the passion that we have for our hobby. Face it, a
marketing guy at Lionel, Atlas or ?? goes home after work, has a beer
and relaxes in front of the TV--end of story!
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
On 10/19/11 8:44 AM, Lamont Heppe wrote:
>
>
> The new items in Flyer did not appear by coincidence. When K Line
> produced the O gauge but near S scale Big B oy, a number of Flyer guys
> started a discussion with them about making it in S. When Lionel took
> over K Line, they started talking to Lionel about it, usually in
> person a York. One of the things they had to overcome were the
> negative comments on the S Trains group about ever effort the had made
> to produce more Flyer. Granted many of these item left much to be
> desired but at least they were trying. They just took a long time to
> learn what the market wanted The Big Boy also had problems, but the
> new Challengers are pretty much what the Flyer guys wanted..
>
> It may take a while to convince them about what you want and that
> there is really a market for it. You have to keep talking to them.
>
> Monte
>
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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