ESM G26 65' Mill Gons - I likes!!!!!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Any idea when they left the CR roster?

BTW, we might have a source for photos of brown ones for you. I'll ask around.

[inkaneer]

Call me cheap if you want to but $27.00 is a lot of money for an N scale car.  Seems as if the hobby industry is trying to keep pace with the medical industry as who can inflate their prices more.  And I don't buy the argument that current cars are more detailed and therefore cost more or are worth more.  N scale is about trains and long ones at that. You can't do that at $27.00 a car.  What N scale needs is rolling stock that people can go out and buy for a reasonable price.  I picked up some LifeLike GP38-2's at the Bedford show for only $20.00.  Atlas engines were $30.00.  Now can anyone explain to me why a gondola should cost me more than an engine?  By the way the ESM gons were discounted to $21.00 which was still more than the LifeLike engines.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Because it takes money to make things. Especially new things.

If $27 is too rich for your blood, there are still Trainman cars out there (with paid off tooling from the dark ages) for $6, but if $27 cars mean that we've got a new manufacturer in the game, it's great news.

[wm3798]

I'll be honest with ya, I'd love to have a handful of them, but the price point is pretty off-putting.  Yeah, they're great looking, yeah they're a prototype that we need, but I still can't get my head around a plastic freight car at more than $20 clams a throw.  Hell, I get the hives if I have to put down more than $10, even in the best of times.

I understand they want to recover their tooling costs, but do they have to do it all in the first run?  Wouldn't it be better to sell them at maybe $18 and make it up on volume?

I love that there's new manufacturers coming on line, that's a good sign, but they have to understand that the business plan they wrote 5 years ago was based on an economy that just isn't there for a lot of us anymore...

Lee

[Mark5]

I'll be honest with ya, I'd love to have a handful of them, but the price point is pretty off-putting.  Yeah, they're great looking, yeah they're a prototype that we need, but I still can't get my head around a plastic freight car at more than $20 clams a throw.  Hell, I get the hives if I have to put down more than $10, even in the best of times.

I understand they want to recover their tooling costs, but do they have to do it all in the first run?  Wouldn't it be better to sell them at maybe $18 and make it up on volume?

I paid $20 for mine @ MBK. Unfortunately, unless it is stone age tooling just about anything new is coming in at $15 and up these days.

But yeah, I gotta think twice myself when the street price exceeds $20. On the other hand I've got so many freight cars at this point that I'm getting pretty particular about any additions (except maybe for open hoppers ).

Mark

[bbussey]

Unfortunately, it takes money to tool and manufacture product just as it takes to buy the finished product and the costs continue to rise.  In addition, a tiered discount structure must be factored in to accommodate distributors, dealers, etcetera.  Believe me, the preference would be to have a lower MSRP.  But regardless of how initial tooling costs are amortized, this would be an issue.

[wm3798]

Well, you're not a dentist, so I know it's not going to your boat payment!

Lee

[wcfn100]

I'll be honest with ya, I'd love to have a handful of them, but the price point is pretty off-putting.  Yeah, they're great looking, yeah they're a prototype that we need, but I still can't get my head around a plastic freight car at more than $20 clams a throw.  Hell, I get the hives if I have to put down more than $10, even in the best of times.

Next thing you know, you'll understand why N-trak still uses code 80 for the legacy equipment that those members can't afford to replace at current prices (or prices for the last 10 years).


Jason

[pfs]

I got my pair at MBK for less than 20 a copy.

Some folks appreciate high fidelity, others see it as wasted effort.

To each their own.




I'm still miffed at anyone who manufactures anything that is proto and not offering an undecorated model.

Trainworx's did, and they don't seem to be in stock anywhere, I could only get 6 from MBK before they sold out.


I've seen the model and cant imagine a unpainted version would be too much of a burden. But as a business owner I do understand if you have limited resources sometimes you cant produce all products, even those that would be profitable.

[Mark5]

I'm still miffed at anyone who manufactures anything that is proto and not offering an undecorated model.

Trainworx's did, and they don't seem to be in stock anywhere, I could only get 6 from MBK before they sold out.

PM me if you need more (of the Trainworx Gons). (I have two surplus)

Mark

[pfs]

sent

[wm3798]

It's not that I don't appreciate the fidelity of the model, nor do I reject the notion that this fidelity requires a bit more of an investment.  I guess I'm confused that an Intermountain covered hopper, which has a lot more parts (based on my experience assembling their kits) and includes brass etchings can hit the streets for a considerably lower price point than a gondola, regardless of how well rendered it might be.

Granted, ESM is working in the same world the rest of us are, and prices seem to continue to rise despite receding incomes, so they've got to make a buck.  But even with the layers of retail and wholesale mark up, is it better to sell 100 items and make $10 piece, or 1000 and make $7?  They aren't making money sitting on the shelf.

Even the Bluford Shops hi-cubes street for under $20.  I know that's probably comparing apples and orangutans, but still.  On the surface, it's a bigger car with a more complex coupler assembly, lots more packaging, and it's cheaper than an empty gondola.  I'd still have a hard time swallowing the Bluford car, but then, I wouldn't need more than a couple of them, and I can keep using my ancient Atlas and Rapido high cubes until I can round out the upgraded fleet.

I don't know, maybe I'm just too cheap (or broke) for my own good...

Lee

[wcfn100]

I guess I'm confused that an Intermountain covered hopper, which has a lot more parts (based on my experience assembling their kits) and includes brass etchings can hit the streets for a considerably lower price point than a gondola, regardless of how well rendered it might be.

I get your point, and I don't know a lot about the procees, but in regards to IM, they can do the plastic injection in-house so that has to help.



Jason

[Mark5]

Even the Bluford Shops hi-cubes street for under $20.

19.99 @ MBK. I paid 30 cents more for my ESM Mill Gon.

FWIW, these are much more complex models than the Bluford auto box (they're great!), The gons have movable end "doors" and the gon itself is not a simple one piece mold as far as I can tell (there is rivet detail on all visible surfaces).

[wm3798]

That gives me an idea.  I'll set up an equipment trust, that way you guys can pay for my rolling stock, and I'll just make sure it keeps rolling! ;D

Lee