I am starting a new subscription box service for scale modelers, and I was thinking about including some model railroad boxes. I would love some feedback about how much people would be willing to spend per month, and what people would expect in the box each month. Off the top of my head, I would offer a box with some passenger or freight car kits, along with some paints and decals, for those of us with some model building experience. I would also allow you to select the scale of your choice. If I offered boxes with ready to roll cars, what would you be expecting? I can't wait to see what you think.
Interesting. Been thinking.... But likely as I am in HOn30 mostly these days, not something which would be a fit for me? If I could afford to commit to anything steady.
Yeah, I don't know if that would be possible, maybe N and HO, but I have always wanted to do N scale narrow gauge, so anything is possible. In a hypothetical world that I did offer an HOn30 box, what would you like to see in it?
Would these be plastic, resin or wooden laser? Resin kits for some Maine 2F (HOn30 in scale) proto cars. Box, flat, gondola, etc. But the material is just a pain to assemble. I will grant to you that those are better than nothing. But... Wooden laser exist for box cars as well. Nice, but a bit pricey. There is a fellow who has bashed a Tichy HO wooden hopper to HOn30. Looks great. That car I wish could be had in a commercial package. I believe the primary issue could be having enough rolling stock variety to sustain such an effort in HOn30.
You'd have better luck, I suspect, if you further subdivided by era. Transition Era modelers won't be any more pleased to get Ten Packs this month than Modern Era modelers would be to get an ice reefer next month...
Sure, that can be easily done. As far as what people would get every month, in addition to models, I want to include detail parts, maybe some generic scenery stuff, tools, paints, generic decals, maybe some pins or buttons people could wear. But the main selling point is going to be exclusive products that you can only get through the service. There will also be an exchange, where people can trade in what they don't want for something else.
Sorry to double post, but here is where we're at so far: In the subscription process, you will be able to choose: Scale, Era (19th century, Early 20th Century, Transition Era, Modern), Region (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Northwest, Southwest), Setting (Rural, Urban), Skill Level (Ready to Roll only, Modeling skills required) Each Box would potentially contain 1 or two cars (Depending on scale) or a locomotive conversion, related details (Loads, wheels, couplers, Resin parts, Photo etch, etc), accessories (decals, paints, tools, etc), railroad related pins or buttons. I will be partnering with various manufacturers from across the industry for exclusive products The Exchange: If you don't like what you get, trade it in for something else. It doesn't have to be a mystery, we can let you know what you'll be getting before we send things out, so that you make your exchange before shipping.
Thats the million dollar question...I wont know that until I secure my suppliers and know the wholesale costs of each item, I would love to keep it under $30 if I can.
I may be interested if things sound good when you get it figured out. I'm into the transition era in Wisconsin. I had to move so I don't have a layout yet. But do have a steam switcher and 4-6-0 small streamer (DCC with sound) two ice boxes, a half passenger/half freight car and six flat cars to haul the logs to the paper factory. All in HO.
Would I have to subscribe for, say, a year, or could I buy an individual box if it had a car I liked?
