If You Were a Manufacturer?

in2tech Apr 2, 2022

  1. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Or rich enough that money was no object. What would you manufacture NEW or change in the model railroading industry for a product.

    I would make the Woodland Scenics Just Plug items ( I think it is Plug & Play ) actually Plug & Play. In other words you run say the Female plug to where you want it and on the end of say a street light, at the bottom of it there would be a tiny, tiny, tiny, Male plug that would connect the two together. For one reason you could run extra Female plugs on the layout and move them fairly easily when you wanted to. So a Female/Male connector at the end of the street lights, one on the wire lead, and the other at the actual bottom of the street light, Plug & Play!

    Would also do the same with turn out too! Which actually a person I guess could actually do them their selves. Surely there are Female/Male connectors that tiny some where? And yes I agree it is already a great system compared to using other lights for some of us that don't mind spending the money on the Just Plug system. But I am lazy, so the easier the better :)

    Curious to see what other instant billionaires would do here :) What would you manufacture or change? And another great idea, if you could just drop a decoder in instead of soldering...oh right...they already did that one, and I love it! Some billionaires think alike :)
     
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  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    If the money wasn't the roadblock, JPT Industries would invest heavily in 3D printing for N Scale. Follow the path of BLMA starting with details and accessories and as the technology gets better, expand into rolling stock. There are so many items out there that have gone away that could probably be brought back to the market in todays world with commercial 3D printing. I also think it would allow for doing things on both a large and small runs while still keeping the products produced affordable for everyone. That's my pipe dream :D
     
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  3. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would focus on products that would bring younger people into the hobby or at least attract them to it.
    Teen Titans tower, video game emporium and more.
    I would also produce a line of figures mounted on stands including animals or pay a current manufacturer to do so. This is especially important
    n scale.
    I would produce a line of container homes ranging from rusted out through ultra shiek.
    Make a line of secondary use freight cars such as excursion cars and transfer caboose and storage sheds.
     
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  4. Metro Red Line

    Metro Red Line TrainBoard Member

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    If I were a manufacturer, seizing on the lack of availability of products from its competitors, my company would make quality Code 55 and 40 track in N scale, making flextrack, turnouts and crossings. Other products would include Code 80 to 55 and Code 55 to 40 sectional transition track.

    It would also be the first to make Code 80 track with prototypical North American tie spacing, and would also make a Unitrack-like system with Code 55 rail. If all goes well, the company would expand to HO and Z scales as well.

    My company would also form partnerships with loco/rolling stock companies (not named Atlas or Kato, for obvious reasons) and market train set bundles with our collective products together to encourage new people into entering the hobby, especially in N scale.
     
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  5. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    All great ideas. I forgot I would make sure Walthers hired someone that could actually make assembly instructions that make sense for their Cornerstone kits at least, instead of a bunch of words that confuse people and a single drawing that makes no sense or even worse several drawing that make no sense in helping the modeler with assembly. Think Tamiya plastic models and such companies with very detailed and helpful instructions. Really like most of their structures, HATE the instructions, or lack of. Just look at the North Island Refinery as an example :)

    @BNSF FAN Like that you already have a company name, JPT Industries, and if one had the time couldn't one test this on a small scale ( not meaning N or Z ) with current affordable printers?

    @Grey One Agree we need somehow $50.00 starter DCC locomotives, yes I feel your concern for quality, and I would like to say $50 DCC simple controller, not sure if that is possible though. At least the Bachmann EZ Command DCC Controller should now be $100 bucks. It's been out forever.

    @Metro Red Line Very specific customer you are going for there, me likes it!

    Curious to see what other billionaires would do or change?
     
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  6. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Legible instructions? Like the new touch pad I got from the rental management?
    It had none but, I looked it up on the internet and found a 'video'. Just the item and a voice that said " If you don't know how to set-up a Smart A phone you shouldn't have this. Just throw it away. Even the camera is very subgrade." o_O

    I did that but kept the charger and cable.
     
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  7. Randy Stahl

    Randy Stahl TrainBoard Supporter

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    The company would be H.A.C.M. (hot asian chick manufacturing) I would make only Milwaukee road and interurban items. The factory would be kept at 55 deg F.
     
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  8. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

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    I would make a dedicated line of N-scale 1/160 specific aircraft. 1/200 and 1/144 are both kindasortafudgeable for N-scalers, but if you park a JC 1/200 airliner next to a 1/160 firetruck, or have 1/160 figures in your diorama near it, the size difference is blatant. And put a 1/200 aircraft next to a 1/144 on the tarmac and tell me it looks feasible! I've seen printed 1/160 planes and helicopters, most are -meh- at best. I'd like choices that look great without having to just 'make it work'. I have to wonder if more wouldn't incorporate planes and such into their layouts if they lined up size-wise, as well?

    This makes me happy! I'm putting together a Japanese city, a good part of which is modeled after Akihabara in Tokyo. Akihabara is pretty much the anime and video game capital of Japan, both of which are huge parts of the nation's identity (and even approaching 50, both are a good part of mine!), and both are elements I don't see done in model railroading much when at all. I'm having a blast with it.
     
  9. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I'd acquire the manufacturing rights for scores of N Scale locomotives and rolling stock that saw a few runs and haven't been available for a decade or more, modernized with the latest DCC technology and also available in DC.

    I'd also mount the body shells with screws to allow easy removal and mill the frames from depleted uranium for superior traction, and resistance to rot. ;)
     
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  10. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

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    Would make 3d prints of rolling stock that had never been produced, create the appropriate decals and sell all as kits, including locomotives.
     
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  11. Espee_SacNorthern_CPLT

    Espee_SacNorthern_CPLT TrainBoard Member

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    I would crate a company called Espee Daylight Limited. Mostly Collecting local modelers and collaboration on a museum that has 4 scales. One outdoor live steam depicting 1920-1959...
    One indoor O scale/On3/On2 RGS in the spring of 1949. (Before the boiler explosion on the rotary)
    One HO scale layout set in the 1980s of Southern Pacific Donner Pass.
    One N scale modern layout depicting BNSF Transcon. All the interesting stuff is around Abo canyon but I wouldn't mind Arizona either.
     
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