As far as the "on this board" goes, I know I'm not that financially set that I can pop for four or moro locos at once. I tend to buy locos one at a time until I feel I have enough. Of course, by doing so I run hard into the "limited release/production run" wall, but that was another thread, so I won't beat it any more. Understand, I'm still trying to run consists that are big enough (and in some cases I have to to get the train across) but, like I'm sure a lot of other folks do, I have to bow to the economic reality and build my fleet slowly.
Well, when I buy multiples of locos (admittedly, not that often) I would like to have four numbers available. I would buy both DC and both DCC to have them, retrofitting PC boards so they all run the same. How often would I do this? At least once a year. 4 Western Pacific GP40s, you bet! Chessie GP40-2s, yup. The soon-to-be-released F7s (I wish!), would buy eight of those.
That's a great insight, GG. I suspect that the 80/20 rule of marketing applies to N scale, and the hobby in general. That is, 80 percent of modelers buy 20 precent of the product, whereas the other 20 percent buy 80 percent of the product. That also applies, perhaps at the next significant statistical ratio (86/14?), to participation on forums.
Well, the eight F7s would be for the WP, plus I would have to buy three undecs to cover Snick locos. Now, if I could only find a way to get some decals....the HO decals just won't shrink no matter how long I leave them in the water.
So you feel that the people who post here represent 80 or 20 percent of N scale purchasing habits? If that is true then the Manufacturers better get in line and do as we say.
GG, Well, no. Not exactly. If 20% of N scalers posted here--whatever their buying level--the forum would be flooded beyond my wildest dreams. I believe forum members--both here and on other forums--are not an accurate cross section of the market. We are probably the leading edge in one marketing area, which is expressing what we want. But we also, within our small submarket, probably follow the 80/20 rule. There's nothng golden about that ratio; it could be 90/10 or 77/23 for all I know. I think the manufacturers do listen to the forums. But they also listen to their sales figures--I would, if I wanted to keep my job.
