[Gary]

The British don't seem to care where their models are made as long as they are top quality. See the latest Model Rail review where a comparison is made of identical models by different manufacturers with one sourced in Europe and the other in China.

What would be the views of Marklin collectors if Marklin models made in China were of superior quality and finish and with superior detail to the same models formerly made in Germany?

Does "Made in Germany" still have any kudos in this globalised world and does it matter where the model is sourced from if the quality is right and in keeping with the company image?

Chris Leigh in his Model Rail editorial makes reference to models coming from halfway around the world in his editorial about green credential's. He also claims that todays tools are rubbish and last one job. There was a time when a tool was for life but no longer aparently.

Marklin models are considered to be for life. Would they be if they were produced halfway around the world?

And would you be infuenced if model packaging had a carbon footprint code with green being good and red being bad?

Models made in china would probably be red and in Europe green.

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Are we loosing sight of value for money?

How can we knock Hornby when their top range models are of the order of £80 on the shelves?

The Hornby budget is imposed on Hornby by what the British modeller is prepared to pay. Not by any self imposed restriction of Hornby.

Hornby have always offered excellent value for money and their success is surely driven by this. Lets not forget Bachmann who also have a good profitable business.

What this thread does seem to suggest is that mainland European modellers are (rightly or wrongly) more concerned about where their models are produced than those in the UK or America and whilst this is the case it is difficult to see how European modellers will ever benefit from the incredible value offered to modellers in the UK and America.

And we seem to have forgotten how Hornby models were 15 years ago by comparison with those of today. What could Marklin models be like in 15 years time if they moved their manufacturering to China?

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

Just to remind folk that Britain is now manufacturing more cars than it has done for many years.

Given that Britain is considered by its politicians to be a low cost highly efficient modern economy and a fantastic European example of the American economic model why don't Marklin and other German manufacturers shift their production to Britain?

Marklin with "Made in Britain" stamped on the bottom would surely go down better with the Germans than "Made in China"?

And as Marklin probably already employ a lot of eastern European labour in its factories there would be no change there then!

And with the Marklin offices of the owners being based in Britain it all makes perfect sense as the owners can keep their finger on the pulse in the style of Roman Abramovich much better than they are able to at the moment! They could install a new Director of Model Making.

Maybe this is why the EEC want to do away with any markings indicating product national identity with all products having a "Made in the EEC" on the bottom?

Because what with BMW's most successful model being "Made in Britain" it would make it far easier for Marklin to do precisely the same as BMW!

Happy modelling
Gary

 

[Gary]

I am very confident that there are parts of every European country that visitors "loathe and dread" going to. What I would say is if Britain is such an aweful place why do we attract so many from Eastern Europe? If parts of Europe are so wonderful surely the Eastern europeans would go there instead?

Or is it only the Brits who actually implement the EEC constitution with every other country in Europe giving it the two fingered salute?

What this has to do with railway modelling I don't know.

My suggestion that Marklin could move their production to the UK to cut costs does not seem to have gone down very well in some quarters.

My original response earlier was broadly in reply to another member who seemed concerned that Britain was going to loose all its manufcaturing base. This is unlikely for reasons stated.

Happy modelling
Gary