It may be a somewhat false hope that making realistic gains in the number of S-scalers will have a significant impact on the pricing of products. As an example, I believe that HO modelers account for something like 70% of the hobby, while S-scale modelers account for something like 1% of the hobby. Bachman recently released a very nice model of a B&O articulated steam locomotive which can be purchased at many places for about $250. Lionel is talking about a $1000 price for their articulated.
So, we have a market size differential of about 70:1 creating a price differential of about 4:1. Although I am mixing apples and oranges to some extent here, the conclusion is still clear: An equivalent model in a minority scale is always going to cost considerably more than in a majority scale. Even if S scale grows to 4% of the hobby, the price differential is not likely to change all that much. With production costs going up, probably faster than most modelers' incomes, something is going to have to change. In the recent past, we have all gotten used to highly-detailed models produced in China with incredibly low labor costs. As the Chinese economy evolves, these low labor costs will rise, and their production will increasingly be turned to production for their own population. So, as a consumer of S-scale products, it will be interesting to see what the future will bring. Dan Vandermause Ellicott City, MD --- In [email protected], "ctxmf74" <ctxm@...> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "danvandermause" <danvandermause@> wrote: > > One issue the scale will have to grapple with in the coming years is the > > ability of an aging market to sustain purchases at such high prices. > > Many of us may need some attitude adjustment going forward, thinking back > > to the days when "Athearn Blue Box" models were the norm in the hobby. > > American Models may have the right marketing strategy here - building basic > > models which can be detailed if desired. > > > > Hopefully more product will create more modelers to buy the stuff and > lower the unit prices. Don't just think in terms of the present day S scalers > think about what might be possible if more modelers decide S is viable for > them. > Atlas O produces a nice value priced Trainman line so I think with more > volume prices could fall. The present day HO scale parallel to an athearn > blue box kit is a RTR mostly detailed model, a bit better than most of the > old blue box cars with improvements like better paint job and metal wheels > and a better box for storage. So even in HO the blue box kits have outlived > their usefulness. > I'd hope that enough new modelers and manufacturers could hook up so that > quality S cars like the Des Plaines excellent modern boxcars could come in at > around $50 which makes them a good value compared to a low ball kit that > might cost $30....DaveBranum > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
