<sigh> Oh well, maybe next time. My N-scale brakemen are about to go on strike over having to go between the cars to pull the pin...
Got the most recent email...4 HO cars and an announcement that more metal wheels are coming...so much for "exciting" news for us N scalers
Nice, something else to price the cars even farther from me. In my opinion some of the extra details are getting a little crazy. Kevin
:tb-wink:Exactly the same thing I said a few years back. I was told by a bunch of N scale 'guys' (wont dare call em 'modelers') that if I didnt like it...or cant afford it...maybe its time to get outta the hobby !!!! I was assured it's a 'rich mans' hobby. *Anyone else notice...I am still here..and I aint any $$$$$ wise richer !! I havent been able to afford anything "New" in years ! I have however gained a lot of great n scale friends. They mean more to me then all them super fine collector details that cost more then most guys make in a week !!! In the long run I think I am better off !!! Just my opinion !! .
I could of swore that the BLMA's had cut levers, but I just pulled mine out and nope no cut lever. Now I'm definitely going to have to get these ExactRail cars.
If the BLMA cars had cut levers, we would have been talking about them. To my knowledge, no out-of-the-box plastic N scale model has ever come with cut levers. This is groundbreaking stuff...
Hence the probable delay. I have a line on a few remaining BLMA's but should I wait ?........N Scale russian roulette.
I'm on the other side, I love the details. I'd rather have fewer cars that look great up close than a huge fleet of lesser detailed cars. But I also add $20 in detail parts to each of my engines. That's part of why I like this hobby, there are companies trying to supply all the different levels of enthusiasts.
Regarding Exactrail's N-scale releases... A VERY KEY point in all these discussions is this: the market for HO is about THREE TIMES what it is for N. Depends on who you ask but roughly...to keep the math simple....it's about 22% N versus 66% HO and the other 12% split up between the rest. I've heard slightly less for N...the number I have to back up my number is that in 2003 at a regional NMRA convention the number of n-scalers was 50 out of 250 attendees. Or 20% of the market. And that is at the NMRA for cryin out loud! So if you factor the market percentage in, Exactrail is producing N-scale at a rate of somewhere between 1.5 to 2 times that of HO. Outside of the N-centric guys like ESM, BLMA, and Kato, I doubt anyone else has N as that much of its production. (maybe Atlas, but it's close I bet) And to further that...let's assume that the minimums have tripled. So before, N-scale production was 300 (minimum production) and HO was 900, (three times N market share, and three times minimum production) according to our assumptive math regarding the market. Let's assume those numbers are the numbers that sell out. So now, the HO production is still at 900 (three times N market share, but now AT minimum production) but wait....n-scale now is also at 900. Minimum production, but THREE TIMES what the market will bear. Does that kinda give you guys an idea of what might be going on here? And hey, throw out my market numbers...pick any number you want to represent the n-scale market and unless you are picking an unreasonable single digit market percentage for N, the numbers still don't bode well for trying to do a run of n-scale. In a nutshell, if getting to 300 is a challenge and that number is now 900, that turns into a virtual impossibility from a business standpoint. I suspect that there will be someone to take a smaller order, but that's likely what we are now seeing as a delay as all that gets negotiated. I'll admit I was standing on the ledge about n-scale too, up until Atlas formally announced the coil cars. I really do think things will get back to normal in the next couple of years, but it was just a perfect storm of economy and Kader and all-around timing issues. Only time will tell I guess.
A VERY KEY point in all these discussions is this: the market for HO is about THREE TIMES what it is for N. Depends on who you ask but roughly...to keep the math simple....it's about 22% N versus 66% HO and the other 12% split up between the rest. I've heard slightly less for N...the number I have to back up my number is that in 2003 at a regional NMRA convention the number of n-scalers was 50 out of 250 attendees. Or 20% of the market. And that is at the NMRA for cryin out loud! IMHO...using NMRA anything for any stats...is bogus at best...LOL. The NMRA itself is a gimmick at best !!!
If you can provide a number that is statistically valid, please feel free. Over the past few years since I've heard various numbers thrown out there. MR put something out that I think was 19% for N and 70% HO I think. (just pulling from memory, I don't have the info in front of me) I would say a pretty safe bet would be N-Scale between 15 and 25 percent, and HO between 63 and 73 percent. I would be very surprised if it was different than that range, although I like to think N is on the high side.
I'm assuming you meant freight cars, but the Atlas C40-8W and Fox Valley's ES44's both came with individual cut levers instead of being molded on.
Yup..I was looking for the official Trinity announcement-fool headed thing to do I guess. If nothing shows or we seen no "improved N Scale product in the next 6 months "like I was told in a e-letter then I have but,one thought..ER N Scale is vaporware including the Trinity reefer..
Well, I for one will keep buying their vaporware 4427 as long as they keep spraying it into a box. Mine have held together pretty well for being in a gaseous state. By far the best model they've released, yet it doesn't count? I just don't get it.
Doug,ER has nice stuff but,they seem to be dragging their heels on making a official announcement for the N Scale Trinity while announcing another run of HO Trinity's. Is there is a N Scale Trinity in our future other then BLMA(a great car BTW)?? Oddly enough the N Scale Trinity was announce at time the HO reefer was announce and we're still holding a empty Trinity bag..
Just because you hear stats over and over DOESNT make them factual. Ever play that game in grade school...the teacher lines the kids up in a circle...she whispers a word in the first kids ear and it goes around the group. By the time it gets back to the teacher...the word is nothing like the one she told the first person?? I wont get in a P*ssin match...but...its no sceret the NMRA is HO Biased. http://www.nmra.org/surveyreport/SurveySummary_11292008.pdf Scroll all the way down to #39 :tb-wink: So using NMRA convention figures as factual N scale to HO stats is well....ludichrist. Perhaps YOU can find and give factual stats that arent HO Biased. BTW MR is also HO Biased. Just look at the article ratio n scale to HO. If you can find an 'independent' source for some stats....I might just listen.....just sayin :tb-wink: Just bugs me when some poor misguided person throws the 'NMRA' word around like it really means something...wellllllll...it dont mean squat to a ton of people !!!
there really is a easy fix for this problem of manufacturers not making the stuff you want.... 1) buy this machine http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERMAX-SE...819?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item589022fbbb 2) hire a die maker 3) hire a guy to run machine to make the cars you want
How about you buy the machine,contract Mark to do some 3D printing,then you make the needed models and we buy 'em?
