In Stock?

Good idea Brian, especially for those of us in Canada modeling CN and CP, but then the manufacturer would not be able to supply the type of number text that all the different roads used. Especially in Canada. Do all the American roads use the same type of numbers? There are a lot of rivet counters out there.

I will never buy a CN decorated Bachmann 2-8-0, Model Power 4-6-2, or Bachmann 4-8-2 steamer, even if they were available decorated, if I had the choice of getting a painted undecorated one first. I have to cut the cabs off most of the steamers anyway to put on vestibule (winter) cabs and do a lot of other detailing besides putting on correct numbers, to try and make them look like something the CN had.

I feel sorry for those guys modeling the CPR steam era, because of Microscale's bad decision not to make decals for CPR steamers.

Thank goodness there are talented guys around ( New Westminster B.C. ) who can make decals up on their computer. Rick in Kelowna needs CPR steamer decals really bably.

 

Espee,
It's not really a Canadian/American thing, it is a regional thing. CP is Canadian that happens to dip into the US, but not as much as CN. My point is an engine is issued that in real life exists and has a number that many would buy, others wouldn't know the difference.

If you asked me to name famous engines in the states, I'd be lucky if I could name two. I just don't pay attention to it.

So lets say SF has a famous engine (name your type) and I decided to run an interchange with SF. It wouldn't really affect me, what number was SF. But to those who knew and loved our mythical beloved engine of SF, they would care, so why not issue that number, sell more units.

Most of us are regional in nature. You could offer me the wealth of the world and I couldn't tell you much about rail roading in the Southern US, not my thing. So if I bought an engine from there, the number wouldn't make much of an impression on me.

So my point is this; how many Americans are going to buy the CP Bachman Consolidation? I am willing to bet not that many. But if it was numbered for the Consolidation still in existence today, and they may have rode in it, more Americans would likely buy that. Sales increase and there is zero increase in production cost (you have to give the engine some number).

Pick your favourite engine in your region, and I bet if it was issued by Bachman or whomever, you'd be more likely to buy it if it had your favourite engines number on it.

 

Rick,

I agree

 

Charlie, your input to this topic is very well stated and addresses the major problem ... the balance between corporate expectation for immediate return versus customer hoping there will be money left over for the hobby.

Sadly, most of us can not justify, let alone afford, a new locomotive the instant one is announced. We have to wait for a birthday or other significant event to spend that kind of money. We modelers may have to wait a year or two before we can afford a new locomotive. However, the corporate planners seem to develop product strategies based on what has been sold within the first few months following the announcement.

Whoever figures out the solution will probably win the Noble Prize for Economics ....

 

With the pressure for New Products the manufacturers must attempt to sell through, or very nearly so, each new release.
You would be shocked to see the fall-off in sales of a new product once the initial sales are made to the wholesale distributors. No one is interested in yesterday's news..... Once a product is in the market the wholesale distributors and hobby shops generally will not bother to order a locomotive or car that is still in stock at the manufacturer.... except maybe a Santa Fe warbonnet whatever.
With the flood of new products coming out, everybody from the consumer, to the hobby shop, and the wholesale distributor have already moved on to the new hot news. There is much wailing an knashing of teeth but the market, taken as a whole, does not care about the few people who miss out on a particular purchase. The manufacturers would like to sell all the units they can (no witholding product conspirancies.....the more they can make the more profit they will realize) but, on the other hand, if they under produce by 200 units it is a great deal better than overproducing by 500 and having dead merchandise in the warehouse dragging down the next new production!
Believe it or not, Jim Conway at ConCor at one time had the ideal formula for overseas production! He would order extra shells with each new locomotive. As the first production sold out he was working on painting and printing (in the US) the undecs to be used on the next production. The next production would be mostly undec units....when the arrived the shells would get swapped out and the cycle started all over again. The fact that he could do the final determination of road name and number locally gave him a great deal of flexibility.... something that Intermountain and MicroTrains may be able to capitalize on with their monthly release model.
Charlie

 

Hi Charlie,

Was Jim's methods primarily for steam or was he able to do that with diesels. Obviously, with the diesels there are varying paint schemes to consider. If the diesels could be painted in the states, then that truly would be the ideal way to go, everyone wins! As far as road specific details, I certainly don't mind adding those myself if I can get something in my favorite road that is close to the actual prototype. I'd be willing to add the rivets myself

 

How many engines produced even just 10 years ago would you still want to buy today?

There are a few models that would still stack up in todays market, but on the whole people would complain if a rerun was done without improvements. Improvements occur with each new model that is brought out today, details are more abundant, running quality improved, and paint schemes are crisper.

Athearn is finally moving away from producing the same old thing as they had for the last 30 years. In a way having everything available at all times for so many years hurt their image. Just look at all the people that thought Athearn in N-scale was going to produce lower end, cheap models. Athearn models were a step ahead when they first came out, but without updates, they soon slipped to the bottom of the pile and people starting showing disdain as the years went on.

Sure a photographer keeps his negatives around in order to print more pictures, but the photographs are unable to be improved later. Old photos will always be useful... old locomotives on the other hand won't.

(Well, they won't be useful for detailed / operating N-scale layouts. As a collector of American Flyer S-gauge also, I have a soft spot for older locomotives = )

Can the market improve? Sure... but its not that bad how it is now anyway. I can wait a few years between releases in order for manufacturers to improve the newer editions of the same model.

 

ConCor used the method for all locomotive types and sources (Rivarossi, Austria, Kato, China) and still does to some degree today.
IMHO the road-specific details have gotten out of hand to some degree with some models having upwards of twenty combinations of variations....although I wouldn't complain if the FT and F-unit manufacturers start putting on the windshield hand grabs across the nose.....and the "wagon wheel" antennas on CB&Q units.....I have some brass that has sat untouched for lack of these details.... but I would settle for major details to be correct such as enclosed pilot vs. open, dynamics and steam generators... suppose there has to be something left for the purchaser to do otherwise we have to change the name of the hobby to Purchase Railroading instead of Model Railroading!
Charlie