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What you say has some merit but, we can't forget we haven't seen a new Atlas N Scale locomotive since the GP15-1 but,we have seen several new locomotives and cars in HO and in my mind that seems to rule out the "bad economy" excuse...I'll mention the new O Scale models as well released since the GP15-1.I won't help support Atlas HO/O Scale projects by paying higher N Scale costs while we get nothing new in return as far as new locomotives and cars.
I been on the Atlas forum since 2001 and I know there is more lock topics now then ever before and we can't overlook the fact Atlas shut their forums down twice due to the "brawls" that was very common on those forums..
Obviously? InterMountain and Fox Valley 6 axle locos have MRSPs that are $30 less. The Kato Gevos made in Japan arepriced at about $50 less. What is so obvious that we are not seeing?
What you say has some merit but, we can't forget we haven't seen a new Atlas N Scale locomotive since the GP15-1 but,we have seen several new locomotives and cars in HO and in my mind that seems to rule out the "bad economy" excuse...I'll mention the new O Scale models as well released since the GP15-1.
It's due to the economy of scale (numbers not size). Kato sells primarily to Japan who buys 3-4 times the loco's we do from what I understand. This means production runs are 3-4 times larger for the Kato loco's, maybe even more considering all the leftover product that Kato is sitting on compared to Atlas, Athearn and FVM.Larger production runs yeild to lower prices. In round numbers, say it costs $10,000 to set up the machines and $5000 per paint scheme to run a particular loco. If you run 10,000 of units of one scheme that equates to $1.50 per loco pays for that setup cost. If you run 1000 units, then you are looking at $15 per loco to pay for setup. Two schemes and that price doesn't get cut in half but it does come down. Say the total production is 10,000 units in 10 schemes then the cost works out to $6 per loco for setup. Now in real numbers, Atlas has admited some production runs have been as few as 200 units for a particular paint scheme. Even using the large run of multiple schemes model, setup costs spread over the small run would be (using the example above) over $25 per unit. Kato runs large production runs of just a couple paint schemes at a time, this is where their savings come in. They have a larger audience to sell to so they can afford to do this. I'm sure Atlas sells loco's over seas but not in the number Kato does. If you take the quantities above and cut them just in half, you see how the cost rises. Setup charges are a fixed cost and don't go down just because you are not making as many of one scheme over the other. You may say, "Well I'm buying CSX which should be a lot stonger seller, it should be cheaper." Atlas doesn't work that way, they average the cost between models so that everybody pays the same. That is the only way Atlas can run the oddball stuff that they do. The high volume movers help offset the cost of the unique. Even at that, it looks like the "special edition" versions are going to start bearing some of their own burden as they as slightly more expensive now for one off paint schemes. I know these are not real numbers, they may be higher but they are probably lower so don't debate the actual dollar values please.
Have you taken a look at the HO offerings over the past year? I'd say offerings across both scales have been pretty even.
Just out of curiosity,How many of you guys would purchase a locomotive with DCC and $150.00 price tag if it was made in the United States?J,,,
Well I don't like doomsayers but I have a feeling these price increases are going to be very hard to swallow for a lot of people. If I were one of the boys at Atlas I would be consulting with experts about moving new production to another location. We have already priced the kids out of the hobby and now we are working on doing the same to the adults. Soon we will be asking whatever happened to model railroading?
Bryan,The Magor caboose dates back to 2008.The '09/10 runs doesn't count as a new model no more then any other rerun including the the 1932 ARA Boxcar goes back to '08 as well..I realize you are defending your friends at Atlas and I can appreciate that.However,the cold facts speaks for themselves Atlas has not release any new locomotive or car in N Scale since the GP15-1 back in 2008..The reason I do not count reruns is all 3 scales gets reruns on a monthly bases..I can also appreciate Atlas putting their tooling money into HO and O Scale since those are the larger of the three markets.However,a new N Scale locomotive or car once a year would be nice.To be fair I will include Athearn and Walthers with their lack of new N Scale models least I be accused of Atlas bashing.As far as the Atlas forum..All forums are privately owned but open to the public and just like any other you need to resister to become a member and follow their rules...Going back to the "brawling" years of the Atlas forum there was little moderation.The moderation came after the last shut down and the forum has improved 100% since then except for a few ego and brand bashing problems that results in a locked topic..