As the silly season starts (with those anticipating new announcements and those who feel it's a beat up) it's interesting to see what's gone by this year.
Duplication irritates some but I believe that for popular classes there's probably more in it for the manufacturers with a shared market than an obscure one modelled exclusively. It also gives the chance of having a descent amount of liveries available before we die! I did chuckle at Bachmann's 'sadness' at the LMS 4-6-0 situation when the year before they did the 9F! I suppose it depends which side of a fence you're on!!
Hornby had a good year and probably increased market share. For most the Southern coaches will be the highlight (actually good it's not a loco) but the real success may well be the Tri...oops Railroad range. They are in reality the only manufacturer with the range to do this.
Bachmann in steam did what they do best - cater for the transitional scale modeller. Their diesels did not have the market to themselves but for me that's not a problem. Is Scenecraft a case of "me too"?
Heljan won many friends by doing less likely classes. Good on them but I'd still like them to persevere with the 47. I wonder what they'll do next year?
Vi seem to have done ok with the 37 and some seem to think the next one will be the 47. Again no problems from here but with Italian manufacture can they keep prices keen and still make a profit?
Peco defying the notion that they're a bunch of fuddy-duddies beat Hornby to a 4th radius set track. For rivet counters this may be mystifying but we know the trainset market still dwarfs the scale one.
Duplication irritates some but I believe that for popular classes there's probably more in it for the manufacturers with a shared market than an obscure one modelled exclusively. It also gives the chance of having a descent amount of liveries available before we die! I did chuckle at Bachmann's 'sadness' at the LMS 4-6-0 situation when the year before they did the 9F! I suppose it depends which side of a fence you're on!!
Hornby had a good year and probably increased market share. For most the Southern coaches will be the highlight (actually good it's not a loco) but the real success may well be the Tri...oops Railroad range. They are in reality the only manufacturer with the range to do this.
Bachmann in steam did what they do best - cater for the transitional scale modeller. Their diesels did not have the market to themselves but for me that's not a problem. Is Scenecraft a case of "me too"?
Heljan won many friends by doing less likely classes. Good on them but I'd still like them to persevere with the 47. I wonder what they'll do next year?
Vi seem to have done ok with the 37 and some seem to think the next one will be the 47. Again no problems from here but with Italian manufacture can they keep prices keen and still make a profit?
Peco defying the notion that they're a bunch of fuddy-duddies beat Hornby to a 4th radius set track. For rivet counters this may be mystifying but we know the trainset market still dwarfs the scale one.
