I simply thought that someone as smart as you claim to be would/could come up with some other possibilities especially since they fall within your supposed area of life experience! Maybe you lost some ground while “teaching” all those people setup and use their machines rather than knocking out 8-10 hours a day producing something?
Kevin Strong said:
Do the ore cars and transfer caboose look like the old MDC/Roundhouse cars from years ago to anyone else? It's been a while since I've seen them in the flesh, but boy do they look familiar. If so, can a cupola caboose be that far behind, or can we hope they also found the molds for the 2-bay hoppers?Later,
K
I mentioned on MLS that the ore car looked like the old Lionel ore cars, but I’m pretty sure they ARE the old MDC stuff , how much you wanna bet if Piko produces an American 0-6-0, Piko will also have the ex-MDC caboose waiting for it along with other ex-MDC large scale items.
Jack Barton said:
I simply thought that someone as smart as you claim to be would/could come up with some other possibilities especially since they fall within your supposed area of life experience! Maybe you lost some ground while “teaching” all those people setup and use their machines rather than knocking out 8-10 hours a day producing something?
Jack, when you’re running on empty it really shows. 
Got an email today from someone who reads here and is familiar with “The Ventilators”. I thought it was a neat link http://www.sueddeutsche.de/,ra17m1/reise/bildstrecke/461/181898/p0/ Gotta read the commentary or have your wife read it to you, to make sure there aren’t any Ventilator slip-ups :lol: 
:lol: You should be able to make out at least two languages. The other three could be a bit of a challenge, they are French, Swedish and Dutch. Blooming funny that only the German translation has “Ventilators”, you really must be a pioneer! 
With a following!
(http://pix.sueddeutsche.de/reise/bildstrecke/461/181898/image_fmbg_0_2.jpg)
Sign is at a Pub in Liverpool UK
I knew logic and reason would not work. Tim will be disappointed that you reverted to name calling, Oh wait, that’s normal.
I come from a family of pioneers. Mom’s mother was French and I backed that up with two years of college work. She homesteaded her own section in central Nebraska.
Jack Barton said:
I knew logic and reason would not work. Tim will be disappointed that you reverted to name calling, Oh wait, that's normal.I come from a family of pioneers. Mom’s mother was French and I backed that up with two years of college work. She homesteaded her own section in central Nebraska.
Names, what names? Who coined the “LGB Ventilator”? Sure wasn’t me, was it?
But getting back to the PIKO Starter set, at <200Euro it should be a really hot seller. Time will tell!
Jack,
yes, I definately would be disappointed with derogatory name calling. I like a little heated discussion and humour in an argument, but call the line at using derogatory criticisms of members and feel deeply offended when one attacks me personally. I can take it on the chin like most of us, but when the argument becomes personal, then it has overstepped the mark and becomes nothing but a brawl with negative consequences.
If Piko has purchased the ex-MDC moulds then it will appeal to the Gauge 1 American outline crowd. It is however, 1/32 scale, sparsely detailed and so relatively smaller than the normally accepted 1/29 scale offerings. The caboose and transfer caboose were nominally 1/24 scale and the critter of unknown scale. The trucks had a history of the bolster self destructing. The lack of detail, present on today's offering from the major 1/29 scale models, would mean that the rolling stock would need to be relatively very low-priced to compete in the marketplace. Maybe a good entry level starter set inclusion but little real demand for individual items unless marketted at bargain basement prices.You don’t see large highly detailed cars in a starter set. The idea is to keep the price point low .
If PIKO has the old MDC car molds it means they own a bunch of “American” style cars- could American style locos be far behind? I’m more interested in the locos than the cars myself!
JJS,
I agree with the starter set inclusion, but the items offered by Aristo and USA Trains in their starter sets are basically off the shelf individual items and not specifically lower detailed starter set inclusions. It is the size discrepancy for most 1/29 scale operators that will dissuade many. A 40-foot boxcar in 1/32 scale is considerably shorter than a 1/29 scale offering. Hoppers and ore cars are less critical when it comes to scale. However, one must realise that, to date (and this is not intended as a criticism as I really like the product) Piko has not been too concerned with scale fidelity with its German standard gauge locomotives, so a scale discrepancy with the ex-MDC moulds may not deter them. I feel that they are only looking at the lower entry level of the marketplace with the American rolling stock. I really do not think that an further American locomotives are in the pipeline and that the 0-6-0 will be marketted in America with the German outline body. The whole set will need to be very inexpensive to attract consumer interest.
Tim-
To go further with your analysis—
Any best guesses as to how the PIKO starter set will be marketed?
Here’s my take:
My hopes are PIKO will also use the garden mags with emphasis on “animating your yard” as a possible theme – photo stories showing choice of plants, a night run shot with the lit passenger cars, and the daylight photos with small kids. Those kids could be grandchildren.
To continue to virtually ONLY market to those who have I think will be limited in productivity.
Wendell
Wendell,
as is the case in American largescale marketting methods, the local Aristocraft dealer did advertise in lifestyle magazines and attracted considerable new interest. By advertising only in railroad magazines, Piko will limit sales (as you rightly say) to those who already have an interest/investment in largescale. Piko need to break out of the mould and appeal to a new consumer base, as their ‘basic’ detail American outline stock (assuming they have secured all the ex-MDC tooling) will not have mass consumer appeal to those already heavily committed to 1/29 scale. The MDC rolling stock is basic but still quite attractive. I feel that the basic tooling requires upgrading (see-through walkways, more detailed brake gear,etc) to make it more acceptable. Even so, there is still the scale discrepancy issue to overcome. This is why I believe that Piko will see its dominant market as new customers who are simply after a ‘train set’ and who have minimal technical knowlege as regards scale, prototypical accuracy, etc. They could also market their product heavily in American gauge 1 against the likes of MTH.
Silvergate do have a big job ahead of them in making this product acceptable to mainstream modellors. Most of us are already aware of the Model Die Casting range and its limitations. Considering the advanced production notice of the upcoming German releases for 2008/2009 with the railcar and German standard gauge freight rolling stock, introduction of the ex-MDC range seems to me much like Lehmann releasing the Toytrain range back in the early 1990's. There is definately a market for the product, but it will be the lower price range end, novice railroader. It will be an excellent starter product, but in the long term, the items will be nothing but stepping stones to the other largescale manufacturers.Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Jack,Please tell me all about CAD-CAM, Rapid-Prototyping, mould making etc. etc.
It is possible that this gray elephant forget a few things since last week when he read the latest trade publications on how industry does it today and what the next big step is.
Hanging around the schools for too long? Some of that “Those who can’t, teach.” rubbed off on you???Oh yeah, for those fluent in German here’s the thread http://www.gartenbahn-forum.de/s.php?m=301617 in which some people already question the heritage of certain “New Items” from PIKO.
There are at least two rapid prototyping machines in Jack’s hometown of Cookeville, TN, TTU has one, and (I think) one Mfgr has one somewhere. I have seen a few results of these floating aroud Cookeville. Check out YouTube HJ, a lot of videos of these interesting machines.
Also, I had seen a while back that Midwest Companies of Merrillville, IN had ended up with the MDC large scale line late last year?
http://midwestcompanies.us/news.html
The idea of a DB wagon based off of a Rio Grande short caboose is a bit interesting, but maybe more coming down the pike…and as you say HJ, the price is right!!
Garrett said:
Also, I had seen a while back that Midwest Companies of Merrillville, IN had ended up with the MDC large scale line late last year?
They still have no online store that was to be selling parts and kits by the end of 2007. I wish them luck. It would be nice to see some more products made in the USA.
Ralph
Yep, the price is right. And there’s no law requiring purchase of any goods that don’t fit the theme.
On the positive side: The Kollektor will have the chance to be in on the ground floor with a whole new product line; “PIKO in G1.5”
PS I’m waiting for the Kollektor to have the “definitive write-up” on such modern methods; reasonably certain " …wait til next week" will eventually pay off. :lol: :lol:
It has to.
Just like the guy carrying the sign around town that says “The World Will End Tomorrow!”
He’ll be right…once.
Ralph Berg said:Garrett said:
Also, I had seen a while back that Midwest Companies of Merrillville, IN had ended up with the MDC large scale line late last year?
They still have no online store that was to be selling parts and kits by the end of 2007. I wish them luck. It would be nice to see some more products made in the USA.
Ralph
They were on eBay for about 38 seconds…pffft.
check this site,
http://www.midwestcompanies.us/manufacturedproducts/mainlineamerica.html
It seems that 1/32 scale is their forte. At $60.00 for a hopper then I fail to see any 1/29 scale interest.
There is a link on the site to MRHTS, Inc. which sells the hopper for $49.95 with plastic wheels.
Ralph
Dear All,
Has anyone noticed the striking similarity between HJ’s avitar picture and the toothy-smile emoticon? (See the third emoticon five posts above.)
No, I don’t pitch rocks at bee hives in my spare time.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Joe Satnik said:
Dear All,Has anyone noticed the striking similarity between HJ’s avitar picture and the toothy-smile emoticon? (See the third emoticon five posts above.)
No, I don’t pitch rocks at bee hives in my spare time.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
I believe pitching rocks at beehives might be the lesser of two evils :lol:
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:Joe Satnik said:
Dear All,Has anyone noticed the striking similarity between HJ’s avitar picture and the toothy-smile emoticon? (See the third emoticon five posts above.)
No, I don’t pitch rocks at bee hives in my spare time.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
I believe pitching rocks at beehives might be the lesser of two evils :lol:
Ralph
Having no intention to join the “glum and dumb” fraternity, I find enough reason to laugh in everyday situations.
BTW I’ve tackled a few hornets’ nests, winged hornets and the wing-nut ones. Good aim from a safe distance is a recommended approach in both instances.