New BLMA Products & Videos!

[Craig Martyn]

We've got new products in stock, all-new BLMA videos in HD, and upcoming product photos!

Now in stock: (PDF Flyer Link) http://www.blmamodels.com/images/misc/DealerFlyer_Jan_2009.pdf

- N Scale Modern Dual-Sided Billboards (Includes 10 different ads)




Check out our all new videos in HD!

You can see additional information on our Newsletter at: http://blmamodels.com/newsletter/

Thanks for the continued support everyone!

Craig Martyn
BLMA Models
www.BLMAmodels.com

[asarge]

Great idea Craig. Are the N scale TopGons still on for early spring?

[rswinnerton]

Good idea Craig!

[Craig Martyn]

Great idea Craig. Are the N scale TopGons still on for early spring?

Thanks guys!  The N Scale TopGon's should be here early in the 2nd Quarter of 2009 - so we're looking at roughly May for delivery.

[asarge]

Thanks Craig. be nice if the N scale ones came first. That way Russ Goodwin can drool for awhile.

[SecretWeapon]

Hey Man,
  Is mine on the way yet? Sorry,I won't see you in Springfield. I was going,but if it snows,I'm screwed.

[Craig Martyn]

Yep, its on the way Mike!

I won't see anyone in Springfield - I'm not going!   ha!

But, Hobbytyme Distributors will have a sample of the N scale Billboard, HO Modern Block Signal and HO Scale TopGon test sample to show...

[SecretWeapon]

Yep, you're is on the way Mike!

Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sirenwerks]

Built ups? Ugh.

[Hyperion]

Built ups? Ugh.

Ditto.

I was surprised.  At a high-price of $40, I'd have to think they could be significantly less if they were kits.

I understand the marketing reasonings behind offering built-ups though.  Even though it could be assembled out of about 6 pieces of plastic and a couple photoetch parts, it would still deter a rather large percentage of the population.  And it's probably not worth offering both.

Nevertheless, I'll still be ordering at least 1.  And I've gotta give Craig props for embracing more "New Media" marketing techniques.  I just wonder what took so long.   Not only are they simply superior forms of advertising your business as even a hobby as old as this one moves more and more online, they aid in bringing in more young people, if not directly at least indirectly by demonstrating that not everybody in this hobby is an AARP member.

[3rdrail]

Not only are they simply superior forms of advertising your business as even a hobby as old as this one moves more and more online, they aid in bringing in more young people, if not directly at least indirectly by demonstrating that not everybody in this hobby is an AARP member.

Not everyone over the age of 50 is an AARP member either. I am 67 and oppose almost everything the AARP stands for...so kind of resent your remarks. 

[Craig Martyn]

What's the problem with products coming built-up?  The assembly techniques are superior to the vast majority of the modeling population, the percentage increase in price is extremely reasonable, and you have time to work on other parts of the layout.

This billboard is way more than just a few pieces; the model took FIVE molds to complete and having seen the parts in kit form, I would not want to assemble even one myself.

The bottom line is:  As a modeler I too enjoy building kits; however, the vast majority of the market simply doesn't.  Times changes, and so does business.  It's 2009 guys!

[Craig Martyn]

I'd like to point out the quality of this product in respect to the gluing, painting, and overall assembly.  Notice that in this close-up photograph, the etched metal walkway components are actually LASER WELDED together (see the three dots on either side), they're glued in place along with all of the bracing, and the brown paint that lightly covers the model is applied with a fine mist to not cover any detail.


More detail...

[Hyperion]

Not only are they simply superior forms of advertising your business as even a hobby as old as this one moves more and more online, they aid in bringing in more young people, if not directly at least indirectly by demonstrating that not everybody in this hobby is an AARP member.

Not everyone over the age of 50 is an AARP member either. I am 67 and oppose almost everything the AARP stands for...so kind of resent your remarks. 

No offense was meant, Gregg.

What's the problem with products coming built-up?  The assembly techniques are superior to the vast majority of the modeling population, the percentage increase in price is extremely reasonable, and you have time to work on other parts of the layout.

I'm sure you'll get some people that'd say that it takes the "modeling" out of Model Railroading.  But I'd have to disagree with that sentiment, as it doesn't take anymore away than, say, buying a Santa Fe decorated GP30.  Just because you didn't whip out the styrene and build the thing yourself, doesn't make the hobby any less "modeling".  You still gotta work on the entire scene that the billboard goes into. 

My "problem" is simply on the economic side.  If you claim it doesn't increase the price beyond an "extremely reasonable" amount, then I believe you.  It would just seem to me that the additional assembly, blister pack, and shipping costs would of added a rather significant amount since, to me at least, $40 seems high.  That didn't deter me from ordering one however -- I went out to my LHS between my last post and this one and ordered one.  I will say that the owner of my LHS was also surprised at the price (granted, he only knows it as a "billboard", and hasn't seen pictures or anything of the sort).

I never doubted the quality of the piece.  I've never known you to sell something that wasn't of the upmost, Craig, which is why I went and ordered one.  I will admit that the laser welded photoetch is a nice touch.  I assumed they were a single piece, but if the manufacturer was limited on the length of their photoetch that's a pretty  nice way to solve that problem.

[Craig Martyn]

No worries.   

The benefit of production in China is the labor.  Their machines, raw materials, and many of the other manufacturing costs are the same as the US (for instance, they use many US built machines for plastics production, machining, etc.).  That said, labor (assembly) cost is the huge benefit.  Yes, the packaging is more sophisticated with an assembled product; however, it still needs packaging no matter what.  My point here is that a kit vs. assembled cost sometimes aren't as different as they appear.

As always, there is a fine-line between price/value and what people are willing to pay.  At $39.95 the product isn't exactly cheap, but you get a fine-scale model that's painted, features numerous etched metal walkways, 10 pre-printed ads, and installs on the layout in minutes.  There are other billboards on the market (of different styles), their prices are lower, but so is the quality and value based on what's provided. 

Anyway, thanks for the support!   ;D   :-*

(Interestingly, I KNOW they're capable of making the etchings all one part, so I don't know exactly why they did that...  interesting.)