[zedbob]

That's a good point, but not one I think the manufacturers could easily answer. Its my understanding that at least some of the factories in China produce runs of a model, there by once the run is finished they can go on to create other products for other manufacturers, that way the main manufacturer (Hornby Bachmann etc) do not have to pay the full brunt of running the factory.

Also, with changes to working laws (minimum wage etc) and increase in production prices (cost of buildings, cost of oil / electricity to run said building) you would only be able to hazard a very vague guess, and very vaguely it would be considerable more than China!

Who knows, these developments have only happened in the last 30 years or so, as the Chinese economy takes off production prices will increase and in another 30 years we might be going round a full circle and find it viable to create in Europe again.

 

[zedbob]

QUOTE (adecoaches26point4 @ 9 Jan 2008, 16:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have one concern that has bothered me for sometime with the loss of manufacturing to China.
What happens if they close there borders and become a closed soceity as has happened throughout history?

David

Then a very odd situation would occur, they would shoot themselves in the foot as their entire exports would stop nosediving their recovering economy, and no doubt a black market of smuggled models would develop,

I can imagine the next James Bond, sneaking over the border in a driving lorry covered in hay, hiding the illicit goods of Class 50's with matching coaches!!!