Tim Brien said:Tim, Yes, PIKO very wisely saw the light in the standard gauge G scale, which will likely be a reasonably good business for another ten years. I do not believe and did not say that large scale market sector is already dying. But the glory days seem to be over and the decline, or growing old, came in shock like fashion rather than a gradual process. Next year will probably bring a small recovery, BRAWA suggested that some new items may come in 2009 and I believe Kiss will also have a couple of new ideas. And of course PIKO and LGB/Maerklin will keep expanding their standard gauge range as this is the only direction which is likely to be commercially feasible in 'mass' production. Best wishes from Tokyo, Zubi
I do not think that Piko believes the largescale sector is dying. Taking off from the recently introduced LGB 'standard' gauge, Piko are continuing to amaze with the liveries on the Taurus and 218, plus the proposed railcar and freight stock. Let us hope that Marklin continue to produce the German standard gauge coaches.
Tim Brien said:Tim, nobody in Europe will have any problems with Hungary, after all Hungary has been in Europe since eleven hundred years and they have a good reputation for product quality. Moreover, many products are now simply marked "made in the EU" so it is difficult to identify particular country of origin anyway. Best, Zubi
... I feel many Europeans would have liked their LGB to be manufactured in Germany (not Hungary).
Victor Smith said:Victor, I feel that this is a rather unlikely idea, and would probably be a commercial disaster. But perhaps LGBoA will trick PIKO to make a US prototype if they fail to work things out with LGB. Best, Zubi
... The idea that Piko could fill the US market void is very plausible, ...
Warren Mumpower said:Warren, Frankly, as the US economy is becoming less and less relevant to the world economy, the consequences will probably not be that severe. Sure, after about a decade of relative prosperity one should expect a slow down but I believe we will only see a shallow dip in the European economy. I am more worried about Japan and Asia but here China is slowly becoming the determinant. And one day they may even start playing all the trains they are producing;-))), which would not be that bad for the large scale market at all! Anyway, lets stick to discussing trains. Best, Zubi
With many believing that the US is about to go into a recession..if not already there, and this recession ultimately having serious consequences in Europe too, as a manufacturer wouldn't you be cautious in the introduction of new products? ....
The LGB 2008 Munch Show Zubie referenced with photos (see earlier post above), does not show reference to Marklin.
Any insight as to why the name brand “Marklin” does not appear? Or, is there appearance other than in the photos?
Further, are the German locos in the photo displays – all black steamers, including the Stainz look-alike – currently in production?
Wendell
Wendell Hanks said:
The LGB 2008 Munch Show Zubie referenced with photos (see earlier post above), does not show reference to Marklin. Any insight as to why the name brand "Marklin" does not appear? Or, is there appearance other than in the photos? Further, are the German locos in the photo displays -- all black steamers, including the Stainz look-alike -- currently in production?Wendell
Wendell, I believe that Maerklin decided that LGB will retain some independence (this is mentioned in the LGB 2008 New Items folder page 2) - so we will probably not see any reference to Maerklin on the product itself or on the promotional stuff. Regarding your second question, you can find the list of the current LGB items (still available or scheduled for production): http://www.champex-linden.de/champex_linden/download/lgb_sortiment_2008.pdf There are some more interesting links under Neuheiten 2008 on the Champex-Linden site:
http://www.champex-linden.de/ Best, ZUbi
Zbigniew Struzik said:Thats an odd conclusion. Why would it be a commercial disaster? Its not like LGB had a lock on the US standard gauge market.Victor Smith said:Victor, I feel that this is a rather unlikely idea, and would probably be a commercial disaster. But perhaps LGBoA will trick PIKO to make a US prototype if they fail to work things out with LGB. Best, Zubi
... The idea that Piko could fill the US market void is very plausible, ...
If Piko produced a good 1/29 scale model at the same price point of the Taurus of something like an Alco Century or an RS11, which the standard gauge guys have been screaming for fer years now, how could that be a commercial disaster? It would be great way to get a foothold in the growing 1/29 market.
If Piko indeed wants to be a player in the US market, they CAN NOT continue to only offer Euro prototypes that NO ONE over here has ever heard of and could care even less about. The Euro market here simply isnt that large compared to US 1/29. To continue to cater only to the Euro crowd, that would be a mistake if they do indeed want a bigger stake here.
agrees with victor
Vic,
from my perspective, the American 1/29 scale market is ‘saturated’ with Chinese made imports. I really do not see Piko investing in an American ‘standard’ gauge line. I believe that their niche market will be the defacto 1/28 Euro standard gauge as started by LGB. Piko released the Taurus as a standard gauge loco to supplement the LGB coaches. Piko, rather than being left high and dry after the LGB ‘collapse’, have taken the upper hand and extended their standard gauge offerings with new loco liveries, standard gauge rolling stock and a railcar.
I believe this defacto 1/28 scale will be like the old 'OO/h.o.' legacy, due the narrow English and presumably European loading gauges. The 1/28 scale will seem to be compatible with the 1/29 scale American range. Unless Piko are offered a deal that they cannot refuse, then I do not see a Piko/LGBoA partnership. To do so implies that LGBoA actually has something to offer. If they have then they are keeping very tight lipped.Tim,
Actually the defacto “scale” is 1:26 to 1:27 (commonly known as G1.5), just far enough from anything else to make sure that nothing fits.
That of course is “Classic LGB”!
PS Yep, we are still awaiting that big announcement from LGBoA! Didn’t someone write not long ago “Don’t hold your breath, your toes may turn blue!”?
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:If my toes are turning blue, it's not from holding my breath. Sodding winter :(
Didn't someone write not long ago "Don't hold your breath, your toes may turn blue!"?
…but Chris…more time for sitting in front of the fire …wittling away on hunks of wood…!!!
Fred Mills said:Yep, by spring Fred will have whittled his firewood into five boxcars, a CP Northern and the best little house in Rat Portage.
....but Chris.....more time for sitting in front of the fire .......wittling away on hunks of wood....!!!
Tim Brien said:Tim - FYI - The Berne Gauge[1] or Berne Convention Gauge is an informal but widely-used term for the railway loading gauge considered the standard gauge in continental Europe. The term arises from the international railway conference held and consequent convention signed in Berne, Switzerland in 1912. The official name of this gauge is the Gabarit passe-partout international (PPI), literally pass-everywhere international, and it came into force in 1914.
...due the narrow English and presumably European loading gauges.
The European (Berne) loading gauge is usually 10 ft 2 in (3150 mm) wide by 10 ft 5 in (3175 mm) rising to 14 ft 0½ in (4280 mm) in the centre. This is a clearance envelope (see Loading gauge) on a curve of 250 m (820 ft 2.5 in) radius.
Previously, international through traffic, particularly freight, had been effectively constrained to vehicles and loads consistent with the standard French loading gauge, the narrowest and lowest in Mainland Europe. As a result of accepting the convention the French embarked on a period of progressive upgrade to make their network compliant.
Even after adopting the convention, significant parts of the European network operated to larger gauges, thus limiting the passing of traffic out of such areas.
The Berne Gauge is larger than the British loading gauge, and this restricted the travel in Britain of the Eurotunnel Class 9 locomotives used on the Channel Tunnel. Originally they could not go by rail for maintenance to the Brush Works at Loughborough of Brush Traction, where they were built.
The US loading gauge is slightly larger than the Berne, but is still smaller than the russian loading gauge, which, at a maximum rail height of 16’ 10", is the highest is use anywhere in the world. The Chinese mainline loading gauge dithers between each of them.
tac
Things are changing in the US. Clearance problems use to exist all over the East coast where 14’ 6’ was the max. But times have changed. Currently double stacks and auto racks both exceed the 16’ 10". I believe both are over 18’. There are some Hi Cube boxes that are quite tall too but I’m not sure just how tall. At one time, when the 40’ box car ruled, there were both a West coast box car and an East coast box car. The East coast box being 6" shorter in height.
Zbigniew Struzik said:John, In fact there is one right now on Ebay! You can make an offer or at least see the photos!!;-) Best wishes, Zubi http://cgi.ebay.com/Kiss-K-36-Durango-Silverton-Brass-Loco-Sound-Decoder_W0QQitemZ180215807702QQihZ008QQcategoryZ19154QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemJohn Bouck said:John, it has been around for one and half year! A very nice locomotive indeed, Zubi http://www.kiss-modellbahnen.de/index.php?language=de&obereich=produkte&bereich=spur_2m&ubereich=loks_usa&file=content.BR_K_36.inc.php
So when's this long awaited KISS K series Mikado sposed to be here. Whazzit 3 years ago it was announced?
Zubi,
Don’t get JB all exited, he’ll sell his mid-life crisis car for that. 
Please check some photos from the PIKO stand. It is good to see the face of Wolfgang Richter
again! Although I feel that the events of last year took a toll on him. Anyway, it seems PIKO
was pretty active discussing business with importers from Moscow to LGBoA, wherever that is.
Best wishes back from Tokyo after walking the Great Wall of China last weekend, Zubi
http://www.piko.de/d/wir_ueber_uns/PIKO_auf_Messen/PIKO_auf_Messen_2008/Nuernberg_2008/Nuernberg_2008.php
Zbigniew Struzik said:I guess you mean this http://www.piko.de/d/wir_ueber_uns/PIKO_auf_Messen/PIKO_auf_Messen_2008/Nuernberg_2008/Nuernberg_2008.php
Please check some photos from the PIKO stand. It is good to see the face of Wolfgang Richter again! Although I feel that the events of last year took a toll on him. Anyway, it seems PIKO was pretty active discussing business with importers from Moscow to LGBoA, wherever that is. Best wishes back from Tokyo after walking the Great Wall of China last weekend, Zubi
Some of those pictures sure made me smile!
Hans-Joerg, thanks! I forgot to include the link… Zubi