This post is the best assessment of the state of model railroading in general and S scale in particular that I've seen in a long time. It's obvious from all the "want-to-be" polls that scalers are all over the map making it difficult to lock in on specific product offerings. As far as Lionel scale wheels, I tried to give a heads up back in April after conferring with a Lionel rep at York. And lastly I've tried more than once to get S scale folks to become active on MRH. Sufficient numbers would encourage folks like SMMW to advertise there.
We can sure use more "youngsters" like Jim to get involved with S scale modeling. Even the AF segment of S is aging. The York meet looked like a geriatric convention. Roy --- In [email protected], "SMMW" <jimking3@...> wrote: > > I'm not willing to risk hundreds of hours doing research and creating CAD > files and thousands of dollars buying patterns, parts, decals, etc. just to > test a potential market. That's why I solicit modelers . those who build > things, not just collect . for their ideas. As for advertising, I did that > before in RMC and the NASG Dispatch. Both got no response so I dropped > them. I'm also not interested in buying an ad in Model RR Hobbyist simply > because the percentage of S scale readers, let alone BUYERS, is so small > that even with an estimated 30,000 on-line readership, I can still reach the > majority of my target market via Yahoo lists and my email list created from > previous buyers and recent inquiries. > > > > The fact remains that of the 150+ members on my emailing group, which > represents a large chunk of the S scale environment, only 1/3 bothered to > reply. Why would spending $$ on ads change that percentage? My target > market has ALWAYS been scale modelers, not hi-railers. With few exceptions, > hi-railers don't build rolling stock or engines; they buy RTR. No more than > 20% (often just single digits) of any of my diesel kits went to hi-railers. > Scale modelers are the guys who BUILD my kits, not just take a RTR car out > of a box and run it. Those aren't modelers; they are collectors. That's > not my market and never will be. I'm **NOT** willing to compromise my level > of detail to cater to the hi-rail crowd. There is no room for discussion. > If you don't agree with my philosophy, that's your call. If you think you > can cater to the hi-rail market better than SMMW, by all means, hang you > shingle out and become a manufacturer. Happy trails to you! > > > > One very big piece of the puzzle that no one has considered is that, unlike > a LARGE part of S scale, I'm not retired. More than 1 person has commented > that, at age 53, I'm a "youngster in the scale". That should be VERY scary > to anyone giving it more than just a second's worth of thought. > > > > My bread is buttered from the industrial side of SMMW. Granted, the model > side does generate decent income but not enough to solely pay the bills. > With the last of my HO SAL B7 boxcars due to ship by the end of December, I > will shut down all HO manufacturing to focus on my industrial business and S > scale products. Recently, I became Trainmaster on a local shortline and a > LOT of really cool things have happened over the past 3 weeks, not the least > of which is the arrival of ex-Alexander RR Co. S-3 #7. My time is now > divided between industrial, model making and the railroad. Guess which one > gives me the most pleasure? Unfortunately, it's also all-volunteer based > but we hope that changes in 2015. Should we grow to permit even part-time > pay for the key employees, I will be refocusing my efforts on (1) industrial > work and (2) the railroad. Eventually, if it's God's will, I'll be a > full-time railroader which has been a dream of mine since childhood. Model > railroading, both personal and as a manufacturer will diminish, so S scale > products releases will be farther apart and, eventually, cease just like HO. > > It's no secret that all hobbies in general have declined over the past 10 > years. For model RR'ing, the sales potential in ANY scale will eventually > decline to the point that it's no longer profitable to continue > manufacturing for many companies. HO is already there; my HO sales last > year were less than half what they were just 3 years earlier. Three resin > kit manufacturers have closed this year alone and one of the "big names" > remaining has downsized drastically and eliminated show attendance. Due to > his age and health problems, that company could very well close its doors > next year. Sales have declined for all manufacturers, whether kit makers or > RTR, for a very long time. > > > > The best advice I can give is this: instead of splitting hairs about scale > wheels or not, big couplers or not, or the recent MTH and Lionel comments, > how about banding together to come up with a list of items that a majority > of folks would buy? Reservations and "I will take 3" mean nothing if the > money isn't there when the product is unveiled. Hearing from 35 people with > each one wanting something different will NOT excite a manufacturer enough > to risk a large investment. > > > > Jim King > > President, Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. > > Ph. (828) 777-5619 > > www.smokymountainmodelworks.com > > > > Trainmaster, Craggy Mountain Line RR > > www.craggymountainline.com > ------------------------------------ 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/
