The FVM GEVO Got me thinking

[oakcreekco]

With all that we know now about the GEVO, let's say it delivers as promised, and is a "home run" for Matt. With a $120MSRP, here's a small company making a large impact on the model industry with one new loco that is "needed" and wanted by modelers

Question? Is now possibly the time for "small" mfgs to target a specific loco, do it right, and have success?  I'm thinking yes, for the right individual/company, and that a "new" SD45 and SD40-2/SD40T's could be winners too.

Question? For all the folks disappointed about the GEVO's not being detail specific/road specific enough, would you be happy with "your version" wanted, if it had an MSRP of $180?

So, if all "versions" were correctly done, down to the specifics of each loco number, grabs installed, and ready to roll, would the "price" be an issue??

Just thinking on all that I've been reading

[wm3798]

It wasn't long ago that Intermountain was considered an upstart, and they had a reasonably good hit with the F unit series (barring paint inaccuracies and shell problems on the F-7-B).  Then they quickly settled into a groove of expensive mediocrity.  Hopefully guys like Matt will keep their eye on the ball and not over-reach, as has happened at IM.

Lee

[ednadolski]

would the "price" be an issue??

If price were no object, why not buy brass?

[nscalesteve]

If price were no object, why not buy brass?

because there is a big gap (even bigger than the one on the C40-8W) in peoples mind between what they want and what they are willing to pay for...

[nscalesteve]

...but I was thinking to offer:

FVM GEVOs with all the painted and installed grabs plus

- two little nose grabs
- BLMA windshield wipers
- wheels painted rusty
- BLMA airline
- MU hose color touch up
- BLMA mirrors
- light weathering (dull coat and some washes)

for US $219.95 (or US $109.95 if the engine is provided by the customer)

or

FVM GEVOs with all the painted and installed grabs plus

- custom road number
- two little nose grabs
- BLMA windshield wipers
- wheels painted rusty
- BLMA airline
- MU hose color touch up
- BLMA mirrors
- light weathering (dull coat and some washes)

for US $249.95 (or US $139.95 if the engine is provided by the customer)

a simple grab irons job would be US $49.95

[oakcreekco]

would the "price" be an issue??

If price were no object, why not buy brass?

$180 is a little different than "no object".  Pretty simple thought.......each loco exactly detailed to the road number, all parts installed, and for $60 more than the MSRP that FVM has set.

I bet more folks would be "whining", and guess about what?

[sundowner]

I would pay what I paid for an Atlas or Kato with road specific details.

[ljudice]

Isn't this the Tower55 / T55 business model, and didn't they fail?

The sad fact is that Kato can deliver a very nice, though certainly not perfect model of the SD70ACE - road specific to the largest owner - for about $75.00.  They are setting the benchmark among the vast majority of buyers.

I don't think retailers want a zillion different versions of anything - it's a pain for them. I'll bet you they are also not going to like the FVM grab iron thing. I am well aware a lot of folks think this is a fantastic idea, but it's going to be nothing but trouble for retailers. There will be missing parts and complaints from idiots who don't know what they are doing and drill holes through their motors, etc.

And by the way, although the new ESM gon is SUPERB and most of the Atlas and FVM and
Deluxe cars are wonderful, I was really, really depressed by the Atlas C40-8W Wide Cab. The quality of products from China is inconsistent - and I have no idea where the problem lies - the design, the factory, the workers.

Sorry to be so depressing, but thats how I see it.

[ljudice]

BTW, someone told me in a private email that Kato had so many complaints and issues from consumers and retailers over those END RAILINGS (on wide cabs, etc) that they had to swallow the cost of installing them in the factory.

Issues included the parts breaking, getting lost, not being included, dropping the model while installing them, etc...

[Chulvis]

Isn't this the Tower55 / T55 business model, and didn't they fail?

True to a point however the T55 price point was a lot higher, albeit they were HO Scale, then what FVM is asking. We never got to see a T55 offering in N Scale so the point is kind of moot.

The sad fact is that Kato can deliver a very nice, though certainly not perfect model of the SD70ACE - road specific to the largest owner - for about $75.00.  They are setting the benchmark among the vast majority of buyers.

If you are going to compare prices it should be based of MSRP and not the best deal you can find on-line. The MSRP of the SD70ACe is $110.00 MSRP and the GEVO is $119.95. A $9.95 difference. One could make the argument that considering some of the innovations that FVM has put forth with this model it's worth the $10.00.

I don't think retailers want a zillion different versions of anything - it's a pain for them. I'll bet you they are also not going to like the FVM grab iron thing. I am well aware a lot of folks think this is a fantastic idea, but it's going to be nothing but trouble for retailers. There will be missing parts and complaints from idiots who don't know what they are doing and drill holes through their motors, etc.

I don't see the grab iron thing being an issue at all. It's easy to do and if someone wasn't smart enough to take the shell off before drilling then whose fault is that? I think that lots of people will choose not to install them and be perfectly happy.
I'm not sure what you mean by "a zillion versions of anything", so I won't comment on that.

The quality of products from China is inconsistent

Amen to that

Sorry to be so depressing, but thats how I see it.

Nothing wrong with having an opinion.

[asarge]

T55's issue wasn't model quality as they were NICE, but the business model they were using wasn't conducive to a mass market style loco like the GEVO's and ACE's should've been. They also were VERY short on the discount to dealers and in order to get that max discunt dealers had to order at a pretty high threshold for a new loco that at that time was not on alot of modellers radar screens. Many dealers balked at ordering to get the best discount. We did end up ordering more and selling everything but it took awhile. I don;t think the demand under Overlands terms was enough for him to be able to spend the max resources to get the 70M-2's and ACE's done or more to the point done the way he wanted them done. Oh well, next year the HO guys will get the ACE's with sound at a decent price and they will very happy.

Question? Is now possibly the time for "small" mfgs to target a specific loco, do it right, and have success?  I'm thinking yes, for the right individual/company, and that a "new" SD45 and SD40-2/SD40T's could be winners too.

Possible, but IM will be doing the SD40-2 and unless they give up or go under nobody else will be covering that loco like they will. As far as another loco and another small manufacurer, never say never, but Matt is a different small manufacturer. The Bluford's, Trainworx and WOT guys know what they do good and I'd bet my first born (if I had one) that they ain't gonna touch loco's for a long, long time if ever. Then there is the matter of what model. after the SD40-2, there ain't many that sold alot that ain;t been done.......BUT........there is one group of models that might work if they can modularize the tooling adequately. The question is can they sell better than the HO models did.

SOooOo......who might be the Uboat commander?