Value for money

QUOTE (rb277170 @ 11 Mar 2007, 20:23) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Nice to see cost of new models coming to more sensible levels

Vitrains Class 37. Mechanism seems very good only put off by yellowy plastic. £55

Heljan launching un numbered Class 47s also likely to be around £50 mark

Makes £105 Hornbys well over priced.

I've just got a Heljan 27. Lovely smooth runner. If the 47s are like this then I'll be picking up a few. Nicelypackaged too.

Hopefully vitrains will bring out more modern image locos which will help keep prices in check. They might want to start with a 56 and force Hornby to moderate its ridiculous price.Russell
i managed to pick uip two 56's over the weekend on ebay for just 74 quid ...both brand new in the boxes as well

QUOTE They might want to start with a 56 and force Hornby to moderate its ridiculous price

No , no, please please no!

There's quite enough duplication already. The last thing we need is yet another duplicate new tooling and yet another Type 5 freight diesel

Vitrans - proper 86 please. One that can pull more than 5 coaches out of the box. Or an 87 . Folk would be willing to pay a bit more than £50 for that

Hornby's £105 includes DCC Fitted. Vi-Trains 37 isn't DCC ...

Heljan's 47 represents Heljan dumping the end of the production run ahead of Bachmann's model

The excellent Bachmann Class 66 normally retails for between £53 and £58. The cheapest I paid for one version was £48 !!!!

The rehashed and inferior Hornby (ex-Lima) Class 66 is listed at £52.50 on Rails web site. Where's would you put your money?

ViTrains Class 37 - £50 at Rails, £50 to £60 at Hattons

Bachmann new mk3 Class 37, £50 DCC ready, £60 DCC fitted, listed at Rails.

Hornby "toy town" Class 37, £43 at Hattons, £47 at Rails. ????????

Hornby have released a whole bunch of cheapo ex-Lima stuff at not so bargain prices, and they still have "old timers" like the aformentioned class 37. Now they are releasing the Railroad range.

Please, Please, no more El-Cheapo models!!!

I would gladly pay for top quality if it's available. someone mentioned £100 or more. Unfortunately this is a bit thin on the ground in British outline OO.
Bachmann have done rather well with the excellent 66, 37 and 57 plus others, at amazing prices; but what could they have done for £100 ???

As for duplication: I'm in favour if it's in an upwards direction because that inspires a bit of competition and will help to move the standards forward.
I'm totally against duplication with cheap, low spec models as that does nothing but peg back any progress in raising standards.

Value for money is obviously in the eye of the beholder, but you'll often find better value for money paying for a more expensive item, than a cheaper lower quality product.

QUOTE (Gary)A model that cannot run on radius 1 curves has no value and is absolutely useless to those who have a layout with these!

Thankfully there arnt many of those ! and i think even a child realises why when he sees something going round it. even many of the older models wont go round an R1. i dont honestly think anyone would recommend building a layout using an R1 these days anyway. if they dont have space for an R2 at least then they are better off going for rocoline (if they can find it) or bachmann EZ track and just laying it on the floor.

I really like the low priced models. they give an opening to people who want to have a go at detailing and weathering and they enable people to run full length rakes for just a few quid.

I do think some of the hornby prices are a bit iffy though. not just the UK range either.

i think many of the older models and the limby models should be nearer the £25-30 mark rather than £50-60

i set an absolute limit for RTR stock of about £100. that is alot of money and i cant justify any more than that on a hobby.

I think the bachmann class 66 is a good buy and correctly priced.
i think over the next 12 months we will see some price corrections going on.

i would like to say this to the people that dont like the duplication with cheaper models, they do give people a way in to the hobby. the reason i did US modelling for 10 years was that i could get athearn box cars and even an athearn BB loco kit with my pocket money. they were alot more impressive than the 5 plank wagons and the smokey joe that were the same price but UK outline. and they ran great (even if they did sound like a cement mixer!) the reason i had a small expadition into german modelling last year was that PIKO released their hobby range.

I noticed that hornby are going to be having a continental Hobby Range this year too. now if only i could find somewhere that sells it!!!!

Peter

QUOTE (Oakydoke @ 12 Mar 2007, 22:54) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The problem is, the more ex-Lima re-hashes that sell, the more Hornby will believe that this is the standard we are happy with.
I don't see a flood of new high standard D&E releases from them?

Sorry, I don't really see the problem - people can vote with their wallets & purchase from B if they don't like the H offerings - at least there is now some choice for the modeller.

Don't forget that H is a plc - that means their #1 objective is to make money & to make their shareholders happy. The H executives decide what to produce to do this & if they fail are responsible to the shareholders. The shareholders will expect to see returns made from the purchase of the Lima tooling, or they may want to know why their money was spent on some very high quality scrap metal. This is how it works.

It may be that H are churning out "re-hashes" (don't forget the H International range) to recoup the outlay, which in turn may allow far money money to be available for the development of many, many high quality models in the future - not just UK D & E, but worldwide models, especially a H are now in the european market as well.

QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 13 Mar 2007, 06:12) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thankfully there arnt many of those ! and i think even a child realises why when he sees something going round it. even many of the older models wont go round an R1. i dont honestly think anyone would recommend building a layout using an R1 these days anyway. if they dont have space for an R2 at least then they are better off going for rocoline (if they can find it) or bachmann EZ track and just laying it on the floor.

I really like the low priced models. they give an opening to people who want to have a go at detailing and weathering and they enable people to run full length rakes for just a few quid.

I noticed that Hornby are going to be having a continental Hobby Range this year too. now if only i could find somewhere that sells it!!!!

Peter

If you want a "lay it on the floor" track you have the choice of Geoline (from Roco), Prof-track (from Fleischmann) & the one from Trix (can't remember the name this early in the morning) as well as EZ Track. Rocoline (with the "rubbery" roadbed is no longer available from Roco, although it is still available without).

The "hobby" type ranges (at least from the european manufacures) are excellent value for money ;
Piko produce some excellent D & E locomotives that retail for around £30-40.
Roco produce similar but they are a bit cheaper & have slightly less detail (mostly older tooling used).
Trix produce some great start sets - e.g. BR185, 3 x wagons, oval of track & power unit - around £85 - & the stock is fully detailed.
& I've not even discussed the rolling stock !

Personally, I'm all for "hobby" ranges - they have a very definate place & are here to stay.

As you say Peter - they give a great "opening" to people.
(BTW - send me a PM if you're interested in the H Hobby range.)