Perhaps a half way? Sell the kit, plus the paint and decals you need all in a package together. This is kinda like in a supermarket where they put the instructions and the various ingredients together, but you still have to cook it when you get it home...
I am not sure - the fluctuations in the process, which is nowhere near as accurate as hign pressure injection, gives minute changes in the resulting models each time the line is run.. This means that good, or even adequate pad printing is very difficult to achieve. Injection moulding has much higher tooling costs, but much lower individual costs, which means it has to have long runs to be profitable. The advantage that N Scale Kits lines, and others using similar technology, has means lower tooling costs but higher production cost per unit. But it is also much more subject to variation. Even ambient temperature and humidity will affect the process. All this means that pad printing is more difficult. We will be looking at rtr - but it could be quite expensive using local labor rates. Now there's a sensible idea - which I will explore further. Peter Peter N Scale Kits
Tony, I will be doing this with the new PRR Ore jenneys. A basic kit and a deluxe kit with trucks, couplers & decals. I guess we'll see how that strategy works with time. This was a suggestion on TheRailWire from a user. Let's face it, manufacturers need to listen to the users and users need to continue giving feedback and suggestions to manufacturers. No losers there...
I don't see why paint should be included. Just tell us the brand and color of paint that is recommended to build a given kit. It'll definitely help Peter control inventory costs if he doesn't have to include paint in each kit!
Good luck with the business, Peter. I know Alan personally and have seen first hand the quality and care in his workmanship. With him onboard as a 'consultant' you'll be in good hands. That idea had merit but the downside of supplying the paint to offshore markets is it may fall foul of shipping regulations. Also, there will be a proportion of kit purchasers that already have the paint on hand so will they be catered for as well? Supplying decals is a great idea, though. Specifically with a diagram showing what goes where in relation to the sheet. Seeing white print on white background in N scale is a wee bit difficult at times.
I agree - it will be a hard act to follow - the quality of the Alan's workmanship is very high. I hope we come up to the mark. I am glad I am not alone here - this is the bit that really gets me too. I have always thought that its was odd that decal printers did not put a map of their decal print in the pack. It is hard enough in HO - in N it is almost impossible to work out what the white writing is, and where it goes. I will see what we can do! Peter N Scale Kits
I have another idea. I am not willing to put 100+ decals on a model just to get the paint right. Would it be possible to include a decal that covers all the logos and text in a larger decal? That way we woulden't have to add the demential data peice by peice then the warning plackards right next to it. A single decal would work for the spine cars, thought you would need seperate ones for the spine and wheel shelves. An 89' flat could be broken up into 2 or 3 sections so the decal wouln't break. Add a series of decals for car number/reporting marks and an entire car decal job could take 45 minutes instead of hours.
Congrats on the acquisition... Alan had quite an offering to the N scale community. As far as RTR, others should be encouraged to try and paint their own........
Time for another relaxing trip to? Rest and recuperate from parting with your life's work? Boxcab E50
I have quite a few railfanning trips planned for this year, plus a lot of walking in our lovely countryside.
Peter,best of luck with your buisness,I'm sure I & quiet a few other Aussies will be interested in your kits. Agree with Gats,decals would be a big help,without the paint. Also could you show us all how these dies look,coming from a fitter/machinist back ground,I'm interested to see them. Cheers.
Yes I would like it too. I am very bad at decals, its like I do weathering without meaning too, because I can't get them on right......
Just two of the molds that are now installed here. [logging flat car elements and flat car steps]. The unit is fitted out, no view out of the window - but plenty to get on with inside. Everything is up and running and equipment installed. Test castings now completed - and all is set for the start. The website will be launched on Friday, and we will be taking orders from then on. We should be able to ship nearly every item on the old Alan Curtis N scale inventory straight away. Thanks for all the wishes. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Yes, decals like you mention are possible. I have done similar when making my own decals and it does make decaling a bit faster......
