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You need to consider the market's future too. It can be argued that N scale is more attuned to post-steam modelers, as N scale was born and came of age post-steam. Psychographically, the tendency is to model what you know, so if you weren't around steam when it was in its heyday you're likely to not model it. For several reasons, N scalers as a group likely trend younger than the larger scales, so steam modelers are going to be in the minority in the scale/customer base. No, I don't have hard numbers to back this up, but believe me when I say I'm usually right about these things.
Why don't the PRR guys (greater community, not just on this board) fund the production of an N scale K4? If you approached FVM with enough $$$ to cover the cost of development and made it worth their while, I'm sure get yourselves a sweet little K4. Then, with that success under you belt, you could move onto the next PRR steamer you wanted.My $0.02
I must strongly disagree with this. I really hate to sound like Inky but majority of modelers I know would switch to steam in a heartbeat if there was more offered....
And on that note, it's no psychological mystery that we tend to befriend people that are like us. The peoploe we call BFF tend to be of similar belief systems, religions, political outlooks, education, salary, race, etc. and, when one happens to be a model railroader, that carries over as well. We may not make this selection process consciously (in fact denial can be pretty strong), but we do it all the same. For instance, when you look at my modeling buds they are quietly brilliant, opinionated and slightly condescending creative types who focus on the 60s or 70s. So, we know people that are likely to feel and act just like us, and hence the majority of your friends wanting the same thing you want, to pull a Benedict Arnold and go all fire and water. Duh.And the B&O is not the biggest challenge. The GN is. Oh wait, no it's the IC. Oh wait, it's the CGW. Few steam models match a prototype perfectly out of the box. But the same can be said for diesels; pretty much every model needs detailing to match a prototype to some degree, and there are many diesels still not produced that we all need so bad, just like steam models. To enter into a modeling decision requiring highly specialized models and hoping the commercial market will fill that need is a dicey gable at best. In fact, thinking about it depresses me so much I am going to switch to something easier, like modeling electric railroads. I'm sure Kato's GG1 is just the start of a slew of electric locos and the BA&P GEs will be on the shelf in no time. Uh huh. I'm happy for Milwaukee modelers and for those who model the SP and UP, etc. I'm not going to let their having it easier get in the way of my modeling though.
Well I didn't want this to spiral into another Pennsy rant but maybe it was inevitable. In any event it does not boil down to economics...
Bryan (Busséy),Would ESM entertain any sort of Pennsy conversion boilers, cabs, and tenders for existing N scale mechanisms? I really think the heavy 4-8-2 from Bachmann (with the 6-wheel tender trucks) could be made into an almost M1 with help from Shapeways. I would do everything I could to help make that a reality.Rather than shake our fists at the big guys, let's not forget our local RW manufacturer-friends, many of whom have already shown a strong Eastern focus.It's frustrating to see just how much obscure Pennsy stuff is RTR in HO, but what I don't know is how well that stuff sells once released. Either way, I think Pennsy steam will be a cottage industry until one of the big boys (Bachmann?) takes the plunge. If that never happens, it won't surprise me. But just remember, there's more to modeling than just opening a box.
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Topic: Just wondering (Read 23813 times)
