[34C]

QUOTE (Purley Oaks @ 30 Sep 2008, 15:33) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I guess that Bachmann and Hornby have got their 2009 catalogues well underway by now, so the current economic climate could see a significant reduction in new models for 2010; neither manufacturer will be taking chances with their new models.
That is a whole other thing! There's nobody out there who can predict exactly what is going to happen. While a manufacturer is still employing an R+D team they can still be busy with the process of developing new models, even if it is not certain when those models can be put into production. Bear in mind that it is new introductions that generate a large proportion of a model manufacturers sales over the first couple of years from launch. Without new models in the pipeline there is no potential for strong future profits: so it's a risk worth taking to keep the new model development going. If the market holds up, all well and good, if there is evidence of reduced spending then the rate of introductions runs somewhat slower.

Funny thing about recession, it is very uneven in its' effect. Some businesses actually do better, particularly those that deal in reasonably economical entertainment and fantasy. People can't afford the fancy holiday or other costly luxuries, so those businesses feel the pinch; but people still want fun, and if it can be found at a lower price they will still spend on it.

 

[Purley Oaks]

QUOTE (34C @ 30 Sep 2008, 16:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That is a whole other thing! There's nobody out there who can predict exactly what is going to happen. While a manufacturer is still employing an R+D team they can still be busy with the process of developing new models, even if it is not certain when those models can be put into production. Bear in mind that it is new introductions that generate a large proportion of a model manufacturers sales over the first couple of years from launch. Without new models in the pipeline there is no potential for strong future profits: so it's a risk worth taking to keep the new model development going. If the market holds up, all well and good, if there is evidence of reduced spending then the rate of introductions runs somewhat slower.

Funny thing about recession, it is very uneven in its' effect. Some businesses actually do better, particularly those that deal in reasonably economical entertainment and fantasy. People can't afford the fancy holiday or other costly luxuries, so those businesses feel the pinch; but people still want fun, and if it can be found at a lower price they will still spend on it.

Quite agree; what I was trying to say is that they'll have to be much more circumspect with new model decisions to be certain of good sales. We should be chatting about this over a wee pint of heavy.

mal

 

[7113]

QUOTE (34C @ 30 Sep 2008, 17:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>While a manufacturer is still employing an R+D team they can still be busy with the process of developing new models, even if it is not certain when those models can be put into production. Bear in mind that it is new introductions that generate a large proportion of a model manufacturers sales over the first couple of years from launch. Without new models in the pipeline there is no potential for strong future profits

With the two main players now producing most of the BR standards, most major diesels, and a large chunk of the big fours top link classes, the problem is surely going to be what to produce next. Assuming that all manufacturers are in business to make a profit and thus keep share holders happy, where are the new products coming from?

Yes the average modeller needs more coaches, especially those of a western persuasion, and there is a shortage of high quality goods stock.

However I suspect that there is nowhere near as much profit in a four wheel wagon as there is in a pacific locomotive.

Regards

 

[34C]

QUOTE (BRITHO @ 1 Oct 2008, 16:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>With the two main players now producing most of the BR standards, most major diesels, and a large chunk of the big fours top link classes, the problem is surely going to be what to produce next. Assuming that all manufacturers are in business to make a profit and thus keep share holders happy, where are the new products coming from? ..
Locomotives, big and glamourous, never previously available RTR:
P2 2-8-2
Duke of Gloucester
Locomotives, singularly beautiful, never previously available RTR:
Cardean
Claud Hamilton
Dunalastair
Stirling single,
Ivatt Large Atlantic
LNWR Jumbo
GWR Armstrong
Stroudley Gladstone
Locomotives, big useful freight types
ROD/O4
NER T 1, 2 or 3
GWR 47XX

And those are just a few of my favourites, once the present ranges have all been brought up to a decent standard. How is it the GWR Castle for example isn't available to the standard of the King Arthur or Britannia? I can only conclude that enthusiasm for the products of Swindon is no longer what once it was...

I am totally bemused at the lack of any LMS suburbans. We have practically the complete LMS to BR 2-6-4T development available, and no typical matching coaches until well into the BR era?

 

[paftrain]

QUOTE (34C @ 1 Oct 2008, 21:55) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Locomotives, big and glamourous, never previously available RTR:
P2 2-8-2
Duke of Gloucester
Locomotives, singularly beautiful, never previously available RTR:
Cardean
Claud Hamilton
Dunalastair
Stirling single,
Ivatt Large Atlantic
LNWR Jumbo
GWR Armstrong
Stroudley Gladstone
Locomotives, big useful freight types
ROD/O4
NER T 1, 2 or 3
GWR 47XX

And those are just a few of my favourites, once the present ranges have all been brought up to a decent standard. How is it the GWR Castle for example isn't available to the standard of the King Arthur or Britannia? I can only conclude that enthusiasm for the products of Swindon is no longer what once it was...

I am totally bemused at the lack of any LMS suburbans. We have practically the complete LMS to BR 2-6-4T development available, and no typical matching coaches until well into the BR era?

However, down South we are still waiting, very patiently, for an Unrebuilt Merchant Navy - any version (at least three versions, not including the prototypes) and any livery (at least four - Southern Malachite, Black, BR Blue, BR Green)....and please not a bodge job of re-badging a WC/BB like Wrenn and Graham Farish!

Regards,
Paul Francis.
(Our Club: http://www.runnymedemodelrailwayclub.com/ )

 

[34C]

QUOTE (paftrain @ 2 Oct 2008, 22:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>However, down South we are still waiting, very patiently, for an Unrebuilt Merchant Navy - any version (at least three versions, not including the prototypes) and any livery (at least four - Southern Malachite, Black, BR Blue, BR Green)....and please not a bodge job of re-badging a WC/BB like Wrenn and Graham Farish!
Surely that's just a Merchant Navy, or original Merchant Navy? Graham Farish offered one in OO, so it's been done, and presumably didn't find enough takers since it disappeared from the catalogue ever after.

It would seem an obvious prototype for Hornby to offer.

 

[7113]

QUOTE (34C @ 3 Oct 2008, 14:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Surely that's just a Merchant Navy, or original Merchant Navy? Graham Farish offered one in OO, so it's been done, and presumably didn't find enough takers since it disappeared from the catalogue ever after.

It would seem an obvious prototype for Hornby to offer.

The Farish Merchant Navy (circa 1950) was hardly a long lived model, as indeed was the whole of the OO locomotive range.
Nowadays examples of this, by modern standards, primitive model can reach astronomical sums, especially if boxed. There is perhaps a need for the "airsmoothed" Merchant Navy, and certainly enough variations, I would have thought to make it a viable business proposition.

Personally I think that both Bachmann and Hornby need to look at the trusty 0-6-0 tender locos.

Regards

 

[dwilson9]

A GW King and Castle to the latest modern standards would surely be a top seller for any manufacturer, especially if coupled with some nice new Collett or Hawksworth coaches to the standard of, say, Hornby's Bullieds or Bachmann's BR mk2s.

 

[ROUGH TOR 34025]

There are an awful lot of variations in the Merchant Navies as built though, several different shapes to the front of the air smoothed casing for example.
They may look superficially similar to a light pacific, but they are different.
How much work would need to be done is a moot point.
It does seem that pre-grouping may be the way forward, or even some more exotics given the current trend amongst other manufacturers.
"Leader" anyone?
Perhaps that P2 may well happen, the LNER must be due a turn now that the other 3 have had their share.
No problem with that myself, I think I gave up trying to keep within a region long ago!