CMW announces Scenicruiser in HO ...

[bbussey]

... and since they feel there is no return to be gained on tooling N scale buses (unless someone else foots the bill), it's unlikely we'll ever see a CMW Scenicruiser in N.

Maybe they should review their N scale marketing strategy as the reason for sluggish sales.

 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Well Bryan at least you know your future bus project won't have competition. You know, I have a feeling your kit will be easier to build than trying to lower the CMW bus to its proper height over the weels.  Just sayin...

Anyway, have you made any headway on other alternatives to the FUD prototyping? I still think M4D would be a good solution for the masters. Maybe you can increase production to 50 units to cover whatever cost may be involved.

I'd like to have a standing order for any vehicle you create.

[bbussey]

I got quotes for the TDM4507 in Perfactory resin.  It will be $550 to have the master done and then another $10 or so per casting, so that's a lot of bus kits that have to be produced/sold in order to hold the price in the teens.  The project isn't dead.  But most of ESM's resources currently are tied up in the X58 project, and there are a couple of other limited-run projects that I want to push out ahead of the buses.  These projects will pull a bigger return and help finance the buses and other specialty projects where the margins are tighter.

[TiVoPrince]

Tease  
and retreat is hardly a Nscale marketing strategy.  I think my holiday layout could accomodate two Scenicrusers at Union Station if they arrive in the $30USD range...

[bbussey]

Where is the tease and retreat?  No ESM Scenicruiser was announced nor scheduled.  Sneaks of digital solid model screen shots were posted here on Railwire, and that's been the only mention of it.

The injection-molded projects take precedent over everything, and the X58 rollout is the company focus right now.  Then come the specialty projects that will at least cover the manufacturing/production costs.  They serve mainly as advertising/publicity.   The Sovereign Modeler Series products fit into this category.  The interest in the TDM4507 hasn't been strong enough to to just green-light the project, to be honest.  So it will be worked in as schedules and budgets permit.  Should it at least break even, then the Scenicruiser probably will follow.  But most people are not going to pay $30 for a static vehicle model, no matter how unique.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think $20 is about right for a high quality resin model. Thats about where GHQ is these days. If you sell them direct, you may be able to charge $15-18 range without the typical loss from distributers and LHS's cut.

Still, that IS a LOT of buses before you break even on the masters and casting materials.

[TiVoPrince]

Where is the tease and retreat?  No ESM Scenicruiser was announced nor scheduled.  Sneaks of digital solid model screen shots were posted here on Railwire, and that's been the only mention of it.

Referring  
to CMWs penchant towards tease and retreat marketing.  Rumours run rampant that HO and N are being considered but only HO 'makes the cut' in the end.

No disrespect towards ESM was implied, CMW strategy was brought up in your original post.  Perhaps sensitvity classes are in order...

[bbussey]

My mistake.  No worries.

In all fairness to CMW though, they aren't the ones who start the N scale rumors.  But they feel that the demand doesn't exist in the scale to warrant the tooling expense.  The only reason the transit bus was done is because Walthers sponsored it, otherwise we wouldn't have seen that either.

[Catt]

Sometimes it is hard to believe that CMW is owned by N scalers.

[SkipGear]

While on the topic of busses......sorry I'm not good at identifying them but this photo just showed up on Godfartherrails.

http://www.godfatherrails.com/photos/pv.asp?pid=1620

Even though a little late for me, I wouldn't mind having one of these.

[bbussey]

Interesting design.  Anyone know who the manufacturer is?

[Rasputen]

That Scenicruiser sounds like a good candidate for Hydroshrink.

I'm not too surprised that CMW doesn't think they can make it in N scale - Yes, it is nice to look at, but
how many tour busses is anyone going to buy for their layout?  It's pretty obvious from their recent poll that they are having difficulty keeping costs down.  I personally am thankful for what they have come out with so far.  Injection mold or die cast tooling isn't cheap, even in China.  As long as they keep coming out with interesting products, someone can always make a smaller scale version.

I see they are going to offer a 1950 DeSoto as well.

[TiVoPrince]

Realistcally 
at $30USD I would expect a thouroughly decorated foreground quality model.  Similar to or better than the Athearn bus products. 

Undecorated or reduced from museum quality and I would be looking for an appropriate discount.  Cast in clear would be ideal since I really want these to be parked in front of Union Station in a night scene with the bus interior fully lit up loading/unloading passengers...