Should Model Manufacturers do what electrical retailers do...

So in the latest issue of Model Rail, there was a wish list of things people want to see - and in the 00 Gauge category, there was some rolling stock, but the interesting thing I noticed is that the locos people want the most are the preserved ones on various lines around the UK.

So its clear that what people want is locos they've seen, or recently had a ride on. So why don't the manufacturers do what electrical retailers do... release the same model, with different numbers, purely for the heritage railways to be able to sell for those enthusiasts and visitors to their lines. Electrical retailers release the same TV, laptop, washing machine, etc with the same spec, but a different model number, and then sell it to different retailers so that they can't be price matched - as its a different model, its technically not the same product, so the prices are kept high. But for model manufacturers, its a way of getting more models sold. Think of the popular classes of train in preservation - Black 5s, Class 8 shunters, 37s and more - one tool, but each one numbered with the ones that exist today would result in an extensive product line, and a way for people to 'collect them all'. You could get a black 5 numbered 45407, 44871 or many of the others that are around.

It'd be a good way for heritage lines to get exclusives, a younger audience to get into model making and a way for people to buy the trains they have a connection to and can relate to

What do you think?

Jason

 

In many cases this would be less profitable.

Making a model of say 45407 exclusively on sale at Bury, may sell say 1000-1500 models over 3 years.. that is of course if Bury were to have the funds enough to buy up a batch of 1500 (Think £100k of cash) tied up in models to sit in storage whilst they sell over time.

However as a general release nationwide a model manufacturer may sell 3000 in a single year (think every minor retailer in the country may buy 2 or 4 each to sell over time).

There are many cases where a model shop will buy a special batch for a limited edition (Usually somewhere between 350 - 1000 models with a certificate), however these tend to be either:
a. local interest (a model of an engine associated to the location of the shop)
b. short term interest (A special paint job)
c. A special case (Think NRM exclusives)
d. High Risk (A model of no particular famous engine, that the model companies think they would not benefit selling themselves directly nationwide).


However limited edition is just that.. a one off (or supposed to be).
Usually if it's not one of the above, the manufacturers will just do it themselves.. after all their job is to make a profit, why make a limited edition exclusive best seller for Location A, when they can make a general release for everyone and make as many as they can sell ?

My particular pet favourite would be a model of 71000... however think how high risk this would be.. $100k just for tooling for a model which has just 1 class member in 2 variations of livery (1950's tender logo and 1960's) 4 if you include weathered variants... Do reckon it would sell 10,000 models a £200 a piece to make it worth it or maybe 5000 at £400 ? - In Europe this could be very possible - my avatar is a class of 1 engine in 2 paint variations.. (18 201) Roco did it very successfully as european prices are much higher than the UK but normally in smaller production quantities, however at approx 300 Euro back in 1999, and maybe 10000 models made this is an exception, Roco's 310 class is upto 600 Euro each ! the UK market wouldn't pay that !

Rather than a comparison to the TV industry a better comparison would be the Scotch Whisky industry.

 

Doesnt have to be just sold at Bury, but its a way for collectors everywhere to get trains that they have a connection to that are still running today. ELR wouldn't have to buy a load of stock - and manufacturers would easily be able to produce another run by varying the decals that go into the machine for that particular tool.

 

They do this already though, surely? Manufacturers provide their locomotives in a variety of running numbers over time. I do not know what makes manufacturer's choose this or that locomotive to represent, perhaps it's arbitrary, but a fair smattering of preserved examples may be found. I know that at least four of the locos on the SVR have been represented in model form.

This leads to a bigger question about modelling generally - if you don't have the gumption to change the identity of an r-t-r loco, can you call yourself a modeller? I'm not aiming this directly at you Jason. I'll admit that it is not something that I have done, but it's a case of when rather than if. I have locos awaiting renumbering when I get round to it, in the meantime they're operating with the number they came with.

It isn't a difficult process.

 

I must be missing something ? Isn't this what they already do ? why would the manufacturer want to do an endless run exclusively for 1 railway, rather than just put it in their own catalog and sell it themselves to anyone who wants it ?

I do know one railway which did a limited edition renumbering of a GWR outline model in their railways shop it was "limited to as many as he can sell" it worked easy enough and as it was a stock model and shawplan name plated glued on..they didn't have to commit heavy cash.

Whilst it doesn't always appear so, catalogs are quite cleverly put together..

The manufacturers are enthusiasts too, they read whats being restored, repainted or in the news, anniversaries of end of steam etc.. and place models accordingly.. a few years back there was a smattering of 1968 era Black 5's, 8F's 9F's timed around end of steam anniversary in 2008..
When a new model is made they make many variants to cover the market (GCR directors being one to look forwards to in 2012).
Famously in 1993 when 70013 was announced to exit Bressingham Hornby announced a new mould model of 70013.. but when it failed to emerge Hornby canceled the model in order to save the potential for the future.

Also the "re-runs" and "new numbers" of older models always hit the shelves around the start of the year.. after all they are easiest and released at a time (post christmas) when shops have "christmas" cash..., production runs are lower. New mould models are generally later summer designed for major exhibitions or the christmas market. You also get a years notice so that it warns off the competition, and they can gauge demand for a model, before spending money on making it.. (Lima once announced a range of Class 44,45 & 46's in a catalog... but when Bachmann suggested a revamp of the mainline moulds they backed away and it never appeared)...but on another occasion both Hornby and Lima announced the Class 92 on the same day.. and both lost money (The 92 really contributed to the downfall of Riko Intl.. Lima's promoters).

I have seen a 00 gauge test mould for an N7 0-6-2t in Kowloon.. it's been around for a while.. but as yet the manufacturer has yet to announce it.. maybe they are waiting a date.... there is already an 0-6-0t S100 USA in production, and an S160 2-8-0 planned.. but not in the UK market.

If you want a public insight into the industry's foundations, this is a very good read of how it was in the late 1980's and "what might have been"..

http://www.replicarailways.co.uk/information/company-history
and the 5 year plan that never happened..
http://www.replicarailways.co.uk/images/stories/Downloads/5yrplan1986.pdf

One final note, my friend in Kowloon recently showed me a fake HO gauge model of a german outline locomotive by a certain manufacturer... thats something I never thought I'd see happen !.. but obviously their chinese contractor has made a few extra's in interesting boxes and sent them out of the back door and to the post office on Middle Road,TTT.

 

Just what I was going to say - If I wanted a model of (say) 45407 I'd be more likely to buy a black 5 with the correct moulding (ie top feed etc in the same position as 45407's) and a set of transfers than to shell out however much extra the manufacturers would have to charge to make it viable plus however much the ELR would have to charge to make it worthwhile. That said, if we're talking about renumbering etc rather than new toolings, one only has to look at the Heljan range to see there must be a market for a huge variety of identities within a range!

 

Although a manufacturer does this at their peril - remember Lima in the 90s.

 

In this day and age it's a pretty much given that any preserved and operational mainline steam loco that ran after 1948 will feature in a manufacturers range at some point... There really isn't much left to do.
my guess is caley 828 may make it to the range soon.

 

That occurred to me too. A Caley liveried loco is out of time and location for anything I model but I'd still have a model of 828.

 

And that is duely what I have done along with having the nameplates made too, in total I think it cost me around £80 to carry this out with the loco being purchased from eBay.

 

Well quite - on the workbench at the moment (with time getting tight to get them finished for an exhibition setting up tomorrow!) are 45134, 46417, 47383 and 90194 - none of them produced RTR (as far as I'm aware!). Ok, not preserved locos (bar '383, which I'm not doing in pres condition) but the same principle. Each of them bought second hand, stripped, renumbered and weathered for around the price of a new one. In the case of the WD, quite considerably cheaper - it's amazing how much you can save by waiting round for one with damaged paintwork! :lol: Quite aside from the cash savings, much more fun, and you'll never see one quite identical.

 

If you scroll down less than a dozen stories you will find my last post here:

http://railways.national-preservation.com/model-railways/35080-lyd-16mm-scale.html

Accucraft are running a limited edition of 'Lyd' as an exclusive for the FR to raise funds for the full size loco and have re-tooled and re-liveried their 'Lew' model inorder to do this, so much more than a simple re-numbering exercise!

Foxy

 

Are there not people out there willing to rename and renumber a model for you at the right price if your a bit ham fisted ?.

 

Yes, or you can buy them ready done from The Model Centre (TMC). It does come at quite a cost though - about another 75-100% on top of the price of the model.

 

Indeed, I have seen the prices quoted by TMC and quite staggering springs to mind. When I renumbered my Black 5 into 45407, I enquired directly to them about making the nameplates for me but they flatly refused unless I purchased a model and sent it to them for them to renumber etc (which would have cost £65 and didn't include the cost of the loco) or to pay out £150 plus for a model they would provide which I certainly wasn't going to do!

I duely found another maker who made the plates for me at less than a tenner and whom I shall be using again when the time comes!

 

Mainline used to produce models of preserved locos, they must have believed the market was there, I have 5690, 6115 and 3205 in my fleet.

I do think a lot of modellers have been spoiled to the point almost of laziness. There was a time, not too long ago, when one would renumber/rename a new purchase as a matter of course, as well as adding the additional detail that was always required. Today it is considered easier to petition manufacturers to produce a personal favourite, and this despite the standard of aftermarket decals, plates and detailing parts being higher than ever

Having said that, I would love to see a manufacturer (mainstream or specialist) produce a model in OO of 6200/1 with the correct valve gear.