Just wondering

[inkaneer]

Didn't know what else to call this but here's the story.   Monday evening I venture to an HO club that is building a N gauge layout.   I knew the guys from the club from the past and knew that several of our own club members both past and present were members there also.  After fending off all the usual good natured remarks about why I should convert to HO I met a couple of other guys that I did not know.  Three of them related to me that they switched from N scale to HO because they model Pennsy and while N gauge has no Pennsy steam that is not the case in HO.  So I started to wonder how many others are in the same boat.   Is the 'Build it and they will come' theory still viable?   Is the growth of N scale hampered by the unavailability of product?  Just wondering...

[Chris333]

What is HO?

[Dave V]

I've been tempted to switch because of N scale PRR steam...  But then again, in the near future I have no prospect for a space large enough to do mainline PRR in HO scale.  Space beats product for me.  So over time I've addressed the N scale PRR steam issue with brass and kitbash.

[Bob Bufkin]

I've almost switched several times because of no PRR steam or period PRR specific passenger cars.  Problem is I had too much money spent on N at the time so I stuck with it.  I now have 3 brass PRR specific steamers but they don't run worth a darn. 

[inkaneer]

I am in the same boat as Dave and Bob.   I just wonder how many more are there like us.  And this probably involves more people than just Pennsy people.  Pennsy just sticks out because its steam was unique.  But there got to be others.   N scale is heavily weighted in favor of the Western roads.   Is that because most people model Western roads or is it that Western roads are what is available?  Just wondering...

[TiVoPrince]

Switched  
to N because I would never have enough space to build a proper layout in HO.  Also the push was availability of tunnel motors, what a fool I was....

[MichaelWinicki]

There is some "pull" there to build a Pennsy layout circa the late 20's or the late 40's (in our area the PRR had dieselized in the early 50's– the turntable was yanked in '52). 

But the space issue quickly nullifies those thoughts. 

Maybe some day when some appropriate PRR steam shows up in N-scale.

[Brakie]

How can I say this without being lynched?

All to sadly there is far more "goodies" in HO then we will ever see in  N and its these "goodies" that lures N Scalers to HO.

Also Manufacturers seem to think  N Scale's 24% of the market isn't worth pursuing so,a new bone here,a rehash bone there with lots of ear tickling suffices for  N Scalers since they are accustom to such treatment and even say "thank you" for the few bones we toss their way while we keep cranking out new HO..

Many of you may recall I have HO that I use at the club and its discouraging to see new products in HO month after month after month while  N Scale is basically ignored-the last new Atlas  N Scale locomotive was the Trainman GP15-1 in '08 but,they have released 4 new HO locomotive in the past 3 years..We are still waiting on Atlas to release their  N Scale coil car-now its the first quarter of 2012.

I have contacted the big 3 and another outfit and had my ears tickled 3 times and a more/less N Scale doesn't sell" reply that sounded more like a snicker.I fully believe this guy was convince  N Scalers are nothing more then Code 80 roundy rounders.

.

[MichaelWinicki]

I understand your point Larry, when it comes to Atlas, but gosh there have been some interesting new releases by others including FVM, BLMA, IM and low & behold Bachmann.  And don't forget that Kato has re-released products that haven't been seen in the market place in a long, long time.

No question a big hole exists in the N-scale steam market.  personallyly think the problem has been more about technology rather than manufacturers ignoring N-scale.  But it looks like Bachmann is figuring out how to produce a decent steam locomotive for N-scale.

If you're waiting for Atlas to make some sort of big steam-announcement, I just don't think that's what Atlas is all about at this point.

However if someone wants to build a realistic n-scale pike based on history from about 1950 onward, then N-scale has a lot to offer.

[rickb773]

Just wondering how many of us built in N scale for space and operating purposes but collected PRR HO steam for display? Back when I had a job, Broadway Limited made that possible for me.

[Brakie]

Michael,I agree Bachmann seems to be very  aggressive in  N Scale,FVM,BLMA and IM seems to have a plan for N Scale as well.

Kato has stayed true to N Scale even though they get  a tongue lashing from the HO guys for the lack of HO products.

I agree Atlas won't enter the steam locomotive market.

I also fear Atlas as set their sails for HO..

I have no idea what Athearn plans are for  N beyond rehashes.

ER says they are retooling their N Scale..We shall see.

[ArtinCA]

With specific models of steam engines, this would be the perfect spot for a cottage manufacture. If we sit all day waiting for the Big Guys to get around to stuff, we might as well go take up stamp collecting. But a small company the likes of BLMA or FVM could do more.

I also think the Shapeways idea has very good merit. There are enough good 3-d designers on this board alone to have someone tackle this. We've all seen their work, so we know it's good.

[victor miranda]

I've almost switched several times because of no PRR steam or period PRR specific passenger cars.  Problem is I had too much money spent on N at the time so I stuck with it.  I now have 3 brass PRR specific steamers but they don't run worth a darn.

bob ,
you and I should have a serious conversation.

[Dave V]

Oops, accidentally deleted my post when I went to modify it. Darned iPhone.

Shapeways has the potential to cure our Pennsy steam problem as long as good mechanisms keep coming out.  It won't be 100%, but I can live with 90%.  I just wish we had a good, reliable 2-10-0 mechanism.  A smaller one with higher drivers might yield a Strasburg 90, and a longer wheelbased one with low drivers would yield a Pennsy I1s.  Cylinder size, wheelbase, driver size, and valve gear all have the potential to force some compromise, but I'd rather have a great-running, DCC almost-I1s versus an exact replica that won't run worth a crap.

[sirenwerks]

What is HO?

What's the Pennsy?

Seriously, a PRR K4 was one of the first N scale steamers, so you can't say there's no N scale steam; but of course more modelers will (re)join the N scale fray if product's available. Then again, there's no GN, CB&Q, ATSF, etc., etc. Who gets what first? SP is getting some, N&W, C&O, maybe PRR modelers should come out of the closet and let manufacturers know of their existance, or were you expecting the manufacturers to actually do some real market analysis?

The "if they build it they will come" scenario works in reverse too... Offer HO in specific roads and those pesky N scalers will see the "light." That's why manufacturers like brainwashing us into the ready-to-run mentality, so we lose our modeling capacity and are forced to all move to one scale. You will be assimilated...