Lets split this from the OO/HO discussion.
Continental HO is more expensive than British OO.
What are the justifications for this?
Track is twice the price. Accessories seem double the price also.
And locomotives seem to start from about £85 for tank engines with diesels running at £125 to £150!
I will admit that more work goes into creating a German steam loco by virtue of the fact it has all that external plumbing and extra detail to worry about. But what about diesels?
The thing is even if continental locomotives were the same price I simply have little interest in modelling or collecting anything based on prototypes outside the UK. That does not mean I don't like looking but I am unlikely to part with money.
And even though British locomotives are so much cheaper to the Germans than German locomotives they still have the desire to want to only model German prototypes and are prepared to pay the higher prices to do this. Think of HO/OO Live Steam. Hornby do a £500 set. Whilst Hornby do make sales of Live Steam within Germany, the Germans continue to buy the £2000 German equivalent!
So price simply is not a factor in what railway modellers choose to model. It is what interests them that is far more important. And for 90% or more of modellers they simply want to model their home territory or something that reminds them of home.
But given that continental stock is more expensive, how is this justified?
Better detail and finish or what?
Basically as a UK modeller I am not too bothered by a comparison as I believe we Brits get excellent value for money these days with the massive improvements that have been made over the last 10 years.
But our continental friends must be looking at what we Brits get for out money and asking questions of the continental manufacturers and what they get for theirs.
Happy modelling
Gary
Continental HO is more expensive than British OO.
What are the justifications for this?
Track is twice the price. Accessories seem double the price also.
And locomotives seem to start from about £85 for tank engines with diesels running at £125 to £150!
I will admit that more work goes into creating a German steam loco by virtue of the fact it has all that external plumbing and extra detail to worry about. But what about diesels?
The thing is even if continental locomotives were the same price I simply have little interest in modelling or collecting anything based on prototypes outside the UK. That does not mean I don't like looking but I am unlikely to part with money.
And even though British locomotives are so much cheaper to the Germans than German locomotives they still have the desire to want to only model German prototypes and are prepared to pay the higher prices to do this. Think of HO/OO Live Steam. Hornby do a £500 set. Whilst Hornby do make sales of Live Steam within Germany, the Germans continue to buy the £2000 German equivalent!
So price simply is not a factor in what railway modellers choose to model. It is what interests them that is far more important. And for 90% or more of modellers they simply want to model their home territory or something that reminds them of home.
But given that continental stock is more expensive, how is this justified?
Better detail and finish or what?
Basically as a UK modeller I am not too bothered by a comparison as I believe we Brits get excellent value for money these days with the massive improvements that have been made over the last 10 years.
But our continental friends must be looking at what we Brits get for out money and asking questions of the continental manufacturers and what they get for theirs.
Happy modelling
Gary