Tim Brien said:
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.</blockquote>If so, then Piko will remain a minor player here in the US, I think not offering a US model is a big mistake and limits their potential, I know personally I wouldnt touch a Taurus with a ten foot pole, I’m not into Euro. If I won one in a contest I would likely chuck the body shell and build a narrow gauge boxcab on it.
Vic,
unless LGBoA have some tooling stashed away in a cupboard somewhere, then I really do not see Piko entering the cheap ready to run U.S. marketplace with U.S. prototype.
Although looking a little 'gummi', I actually like the look of the Taurus with all its planned new liveries. The 218 diesel is also very nice in white with its blue and maroon livery. I am not ruling Euro standard gauge out of my future, as long as the LGB standard gauge Euro coaches are available.Tim Brien said:Somehow I dont think the Taurus would look very believable in a Santa Fe Warbonnet :O ;)
Although looking a little 'gummi', I actually like the look of the Taurus with all its planned new liveries.
Might not look too bad in Amtrak or NJT. NJT uses the Taurus’ sibling the ALP46 aka DB 101. With some of the funky locomotives Amtrak is using on the NE corridor I doubt if anyone would raise an eyebrow if a Taurus went past.
Vic,
to appreciate the Taurus one needs to be a little less parochial with their modelling prototype and embrace the Euro standard gauge offerings. It is not so much the basic shape but the colourful liveries planned for it that excite me.
As a youth the prototype railroad rolling stock that I saw in Australia was like the Model 'T' Ford, any colour as long as it was black. After viewing American railroads around L.A. I was amazed at the available colour variations with interchange of different company rolling stock. It is the difference that attracts me. The colourful Taurus and the 218 diesel will be significant models for Piko as they will be the backbone of their G scale range. Extending their range to include a railcar and two standard gauge freight cars is a reassuring sign for the future. Let us hope that Marklin also appreciate this new market and offer other than narrow-gauge items dedicated to just a few popular prototype railroads.