Large Scale Central

Cost status of our hobby

General Discussion
#21

HJ, while I agree that resourcefulness really helps in this scale, the current direction of the discussion was directed towards new products for the rest of this year. While Terry mentioned several very nice locomotives…compared to my gloom forecast, I in return mentioned that they were out of reach for the working masses here in the US.

Scratch building may be a viable option for some to ease the pain of soring prices, but there are those within the hobby that don’t have those skills and are even intimidated by a screwdriver. We have one such person in our club. Over the past dozen years he managed to gain confidence in screwdriver technology and even managed to put together a couple snap fit building kits. To put together a model from a blank piece of plastic is most likely beyond him in this lifetime.

While I painted a gloomy picture for the last half of 2007, I do think that this year will become a historic year for the large scale industry. Only time will tell whether or not that history will be in a positive direction or negative. LGB’s fate is pretty well written into the books. I personally think Lewis Polk shot himself in the foot on the track deal. As to whether or not the injury will be fatal or not, or what effect it will have on the industry as a whole remains to be seen. I doubt if it’s fatal but I do think it will have a profound influence on the modeling direction of a significant portion of modelers.

#22

Allegheny
Royal Hudson
Accucraft Connie
EBT Mike
2-10-2
K37

Lets not forget USAs Big Boy or Broadways Limiteds Cab Forward

Funny but this is like gushing over the newest line of Maserati’s and Porsche’s rolling off the assembly line and all I can do is look thru the showroom windows not to mention I dont have the acreage for the racetrack to drive them on.

Oh well, as I look at my workbenck, and take stock of what I’ve boxed when I pulled up the old layouts, I have enough stuff squirreled away that I could conceivably keep myself busy for the next 5 years working on stock and building my layout without having to buy anything. Well, at least not anything major. Styrene, paint and Ozark parts are just part of the normal diet these days.

As much as I would like an LGB Forney or some new cool small radius loco to come along (I’m not holding my breath) I can now easily walk away from the LHS or shows like the BTS without being tempted by any major purchases. I only saw 2 things at this years BTS I truley liked, one was the brass Falk gypsy that was not for sale, and its $700 to boot, and the worlds last Accucraft Porter, that was close to $400, both way too expensive for me, but as my current engine roster is well into double digits as is my rolling stock list, its not like I’ll be missing anything.

So as each month passes I’m finding myself being less impacted than I first thought I would be by the passing of LGB or the toe targeting practices of Aristocraft. Future repair issues with LBGoA might be an issue but I just have to wait and see.

#23

All is well here.
I have enough track stored away to last me for many, many years. I have all the track laying done for this year, and it is all sidings or improvement to the existing pike.
As far as new rolling stock or locomotives; I doubt that I’ll buy any more locos, as I have all I need for operating the railroad, and about three put away as spares. I don’t collect locomotives. I only have purchased the ones I need to operate the pike.
As for the rolling stock; I have all I need and I can’t see any manufacturer bringing out anything in the future that I could use. I have a number of cars, in boxes if the need arises for their use, but there are about 200 in use, so there is great doubt that I’ll need them.
I’ve given up the thought of having a 1:20.3 operation as the equipment is just too delicate. I’ll probably sell all I have aquired; saving one of each for display.
I will probably buy one each of the new B’mann tank cars, and the gon; just for display.

The bottom line is; that I have everything I need to keep my pike operating for years to come. I’m quite content to enjoy what I have…too often we seem to forget to use and enjoy what we have, and only find pleasure in the purchasing of the stuff. I"M NOT A COLLECTOR; I’m an operator, and builder.

I am very fortunate to have purchased what I have, while the prices were low. Now I can watch the trains run in the operations, and not sit looking at the prices going up…
The price of holy water is stable, and a cold bheer is fine for sitting trackside with.
I hope everyone is having a fine Summer, now that it is here.

#24

If you notice AC announced today they are extending their track sale to Feb. Yes I said Feb. Buy 4 boxes and get one free. So there is plenty of track to be had at a price. For locos there will be several addtions including a LS 0-4-0 so I don’t think one should be hurting for a new loco. Later RJD :slight_smile: and =)

#25

So the price increase is only 60% instead of 100%, whilst the sale is on.

The price increase for the on sale items compared to the sale prices last time the sale was on, is 100%.

#26

The track sale has been extended for the rest of the year.

#27

I guess Lewis decided it didn’t feel so good to shoot yourself in the foot…:confused:

#28

Re: my posts on this topic - A thousand apologies to all - I have absolutely no idea what has happened there with the multiple posts.

It was NOT intentional, I assure you, and it has never happened before.

Again, sorry.

tac

#29

An interesting scenario is what happens if all these hobbyists who ran out and purchased from dealers who had not passed on the price rise immediately. Will these people be entitled to the fifth box free, or is it only for those who have already paid the price increase on existing stock?

Also is it possibly a marketting ploy to announce a price increase of 100% effective immediately. Wear a bit of immediate flak from disgruntled puchasers. Finally, announce a track redemption scheme to help offset the price increase. This is then a little of a confidence trick to one soften the price increase plus restore purchaser confidence. Heaps of praise are then lavished on Aristo for looking after the modeller. However, the price has still increased dramatically and we are still paying a lot more than we were a few weeks ago, but we are now praising Aristo for the increase in prices, because we are getting something for free. A bit like a mugger who takes your wallet and then gives you back a dollar for bus fare home. A cynical view for sure but look at the timing of the announcement of the price increase and the track ‘sale’. Realistically why would a manufacturer announce a price increase and then a sale a week later?

Lewis is a very astute businessman. He would anticipate that the announcement of an immediate doubling of track price would impact on sales. I feel that the sale was preplanned to be incorporated, after the price increase to seduce customers away from the emotional impact of the increase in prices and thus ‘soften’ the actual increase. Attention is now directed to the ‘sale’ and not the actual price increase. The track is still double the price of a week ago, but we are all patting Lewis on the back. Are we all really that gullible? Very smart marketting strategy.

#30

Didn’t buy any track last week. Not buying any track this week. No immediate plans to buy track next week. All is well.

#31

Well, thanks a whole lot, Mr Polk.

Not.

Here in UK, where there has been panic buying of Aristocraft track, many people, including me, have just spent their annual train budget stocking up against the upcoming bad times.

I just handed over $2000 for Aristocraft track and switches.

And here is that nice Mr Plok, GIVING the stuff away until next February.

Boy, do I EVER feel a fool.

Been made to look like one as well.

Don’t rightly know which makes me feel wustest. :mad: x 10

tac

#32

calculating pricing of new sale using math from a few weeks ago…

“Pay for 8 boxes of track (receive 4) at regular price and get one free”

just sealed deal on some used track…should be enuff to finish-maybe

#33

Heheheee…Panic buying?

Yeah, I paniced and bought track…USA track…for less than $3 a foot no less, hehehee,

Now THATS a panic…of laughter. I just dont get it why so many people here in the US of A seam to think Aristo is the now the only track manufacturer left… especially when USAs track come out of the SAME g-dam factory that Aristos comes out of and a little shopping around can still turn up lots of it.

If USA track cannot be purchased in England or Europe then thats a real bummer, but then maybe the suppliers there should be looking into fixing that if they want to continue selling track. Of course if they sell the trains there, so why not the track?

#34

Yes, sure looks like Lewis Polk heard the message from the hobbists loud and clear .

Coincidentally, the most recent issue of the GARTENBAHNprofi arrived yesterday. Amongst other very good content is a list of alternatives to LGB track. Of course it is aimed at the European buyer, but in any case here are the names of the mfgs:

Aristo-Craft; USA-Trains; Thiel; Heyn; GMTS; Revalda; Scheba; Trainli; Lebu. All producing Code332

Accucraft; Gartenbahn-Team; Sunset Valley; Peco; Wenz Modellbau. Producing Code250

#35
Victor Smith said:
Heheheee...Panic buying?

Yeah, I paniced and bought track…USA track…for less than $3 a foot no less, hehehee,

…


Vic,

The track panic is just one instance, all types of other stuff is also in the “I just must have it” category.

Rationality? Straight out the window! With a whole load of money thrown after it for good measure!

#36

HJ,

Was there a price comparison of those track manufacturers in that article?

Andre’

#37

Terry,

Fr.Fred offers blessings, and forgivenance for the multi-postings.....Branch Railroadians are a forgiving bunch.
#38

What are YOUR conclusions?

My “cost analysis” of our hobby includes these conclusions:

1 - LGB of America will not produce any products until the who-owns-what topic is resolved. LGB of Germany is in the same position. Any product advertising at this point is to keep the brand alive;

2 - IF Marklin, or anyone else, buys LGB, I doubt they will manufacturer and market the vast menu of products shown in LGB’s catalogues;

3 - The amount of time it will take to sort out who-has-what and will-they-give-it-to-us means LGB is will be a brand name for a limited line of products;

4 - IF Bachmann produces a fully TESTED (Did I say Dave Goodson?), reliable, highly detailed, K27 loco that will handle 8 diameter curves, Bachmann can gain the reputation and secure the advantage of pricing when LGB’s shelves run dry.

#39

Andre Schofield said:
HJ, Was there a price comparison of those track manufacturers in that article? Andre’

No, there wasn’t. From what I gather the purpose of the article is to show that there are alternatives . For some the world, as they knew it, collapsed when LGB had to declare insolvency. There are alternatives in NA, too. Perhaps the price is different, the looks are a bit different and in some case it takes a bit of extra to source the material. And all those “poor people” who have elephants in their neighbourhood better budget for a sturdy fence.

#40

…there was a song…"…Dream along with me…" If you are hoping for a 1:20.3 scale K27, from B’mann, that will negotiate an 8 foot diameter curve; you must be really drowning in LGB mentality.

I'll be surprised if the minimum radius is less than 6 foot, or 12 foot diameter, for the K27, as the model will be closer to a scale model than anything LGB ever thought of producing.

I know that some people don’t have room for wide, sweeping curves, but that is just too bad, if the general public wants their models to be closer to scale.

For my pike; the K27 is too large a locomotive, to be of any use; but I sure wouldn’t want B’man to comprimise a scale loco at a reasonable price, for a “Cut-and-hack-bendable thingy”, just to please a bunch of LGB hang ons.
I may buy one just to put on a shelf, in a year or two; but I sure don’t plan on operating with it. My pike with minimum curves of 10 foot diameter MIGHT be able to handle it, but it just wouldn’t do anything for my operation in 1:22.5, and I’m giving up the idea of a 1:20.3 operation due to the equipment being too delicate for practical use.

This NOT meant as “LGB bashing”. It is just facing the facts of reality.