David K Smith G&D blog

JoeS Jul 13, 2011

  1. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'd be interested. It would be a lot easier and cheaper than a micrometer.

    Mark
     
  2. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah !!! an all in one. The others you make are more specific. I have the Nn3 one but would rather have an official Z one, especially the coupler height and track spacing.

    Nice touch with the hole too on the Clearance version.
    .

    Charge accordingly. If this cost $28, or whatever, so be it.
    .
     
  3. TechRepJapan

    TechRepJapan Permanently dispatched

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    Mr. Smith... How have you determined that the interest is too low? When you say the cost is too high... what is the cost that makes it "too high"?
     
  4. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ouija board.

    But seriously, when the cost is pushing $20 per, the potential market starts dwindling fast. You may get a few enthusiastic folks to say they'd pay that much, but you won't get the hundreds needed to make it cost-effective.
     
  5. markm

    markm TrainBoard Supporter

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    $20 isn't an unreasonable price...its the same as some of the gages from "them". I think its also fair to say that those of us in Z know that the precision necessary to make things in 1:220 doesn't come cheap (otherwise we'd all be doing HO). As for the unit sales, I'm not sure much of anything in Z sells in quantities of hundreds, but you'd really have to ask those people who make things for sale.
    I do know that nearly all my problems with reliable operation could be traced back to gauge issues with wheel spacing, rail spacing or turnout spacings. Once I got the micrometer out and figured out how to get a meaningful measurement, in general I was able to fix the problems. I suspect that many of the "why won't my loco run right" posts are for the same reasons and that they could fix the problem if they had the tools to take the necessary measurements.
    Of course I suspect there is always the "why won't my new loco fit your gauge" issue. And I have no answer how to handle that.
    Mark
     
  6. David K. Smith

    David K. Smith TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's cost to manufacture; MSRP would be more. I'd love to offer to them to the folks who honestly need them, but I still have to make a buck for it to be worthwhile. As it is, I'm starting to think I'll be really lucky to break even on the clearance gauges.
     
  7. Don A

    Don A TrainBoard Supporter

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    Having done design/engineering work for retail products for many years, I can assure you that List Price / MSRP or whatever you want to call it MUST be approximately 3 times the manufacturing cost. If not then count on a trip to the bottom of the quicksand pile. $20 Cost = $50 to $60 LIST

    I'm stil interested though.........

    ...don
     
  8. clevermod01

    clevermod01 TrainBoard Member

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    For the record. Clever models is sanctioned by the NMRA to offer the reproductions of the G&D engine house and water tower.
    Thom M
    Clever models llc
    www.clevermodels.net
     
  9. Alaska Railroader

    Alaska Railroader TrainBoard Supporter

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    How exactly did you obtain this "sanction"? It was not even suggested to me on site by their attorney as an option. Do you pay them royalties????
     
  10. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

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    Great question karin! I think we'd all like to know. :D
     
  11. Loren

    Loren TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah Joe..........I'm waiting for an answer also. Who do you have to smooze to get on board the G&D band wagon?
     

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