Uncertain future for more US-prototype N scale models from Arnold/Hornby

[peteski]

The biggest issue with the SW-1s was road name and paint scheme choice.

What were they thinking with the Amtrak ones? I'm sure both people who model Amtrak coach yards in N were very happy, but... \

It's exactly the same as the Kato RDCs.

Well, in my case (I model B&M) the road name choice was right on the money. They actually gave my 2 paint schemes in the same run!  I now own 4 SW1s!
But it was another story with the Kato RDCs - no B&M was offered, even though B&M hat oodles of them.  I guess Kato didn't think B&M would be a popular enough road name.

[Cajonpassfan]

Love the title of this thread: "Uncertain Future..." Looks pretty damn certain to me...there is no future
Otto K.

[peteski]

Love the title of this thread: "Uncertain Future..." Looks pretty damn certain to me...there is no future
Otto K.

Well, it looks like there might be a glimmer of hope. Arvids also updated me yestarday. I might as well quote him (since there is nothing secret or proprietary).  He stated "As for American outline- I spent some time in the past weeks answering various queries from the UK regarding N and HO American outline- whether anything happens is still to be determined."

[nkalanaga]

Mark5:  Thank you!  Looks like I'll have to order some from BLW.

For those not usually interested in the Hill Lines, the NP's U28Cs were in U25C bodies.  In fact, they specifically ordered the U25C bodies, rather than the newer U28C.  To make it even more interesting, the last 3 of the 12 ordered were upgraded, at the factory, to 3,000 Hp, meaning that, technically, there were at least 3 U30Cs in U25C bodies!  The NP, and BN, listed them all as U28Cs.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

(CB&Q #564-577 are the only phase 1 versions like this I think)

Northern Pacific #2800-2811 and CB&Q.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

But wait ... I know! Walthers will buy up the SW and U-boat tooling! We're saved!!!

Nah... it'll be Lowell Smith... he needs something to pull all those Walthers' passenger cars they will be producing...

[w neal]

Funny. I have 2 NP U25Cs (1st run) for sale at the shows I've been going to. I priced them to match the online price (below $50) and no one is buying them. Amazing. 

[wes_sutton]

An update from a couple of weeks ago on Hornby's current financial position.

Note they are still planning acquisitions - a 49% stake in Oxford Diecast.

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108082-hornbys-financial-updates-to-the-stock-market/page-132#entry2927234

[wmcbride]

Mark5:  Thank you!  Looks like I'll have to order some from BLW.

For those not usually interested in the Hill Lines, the NP's U28Cs were in U25C bodies.  In fact, they specifically ordered the U25C bodies, rather than the newer U28C.  To make it even more interesting, the last 3 of the 12 ordered were upgraded, at the factory, to 3,000 Hp, meaning that, technically, there were at least 3 U30Cs in U25C bodies!  The NP, and BN, listed them all as U28Cs.

I've bought from Pete for over 30 years but his prices on these is still pretty high compared to ebay (and I mean new from the dealer who bough about a million of them from Hornby/Arnold/Rivarossi whatever their name is.

There are pairs of them (brand new) on ebay for about $90.

[nkalanaga]

If the sold "about a million" of them to one dealer, whether that dealer has been able to resell them or not, H/A/R probably didn't lose any money making them.  At least, I assume they charged him enough to make a profit...

[wmcbride]

Exactly. I am sure they got a good proportion of their cost out of the sale.

Both the HO and N versions have been selling on eBay for many moons. The price on the HO versions sometimes comes close to a free engine. One is just bying the Loksound decoder.

[peteski]

If the sold "about a million" of them to one dealer, whether that dealer has been able to resell them or not, H/A/R probably didn't lose any money making them.  At least, I assume they charged him enough to make a profit...

No inside info on this but since they had a "buy one get one free" (BYGYF) blowout sale last Christmas I assume that they did not sell the entire run and sold them close to cost (50% off MSRP).  So yes, they probably didn't' lose money but were l left with an experience they probably don't want to repeat.

BLW also offered them on-sale earlier this year.  I originally reserved my SW1s at BLW when they were first announced and I paid $99 for them when they arrived. But then (IIRC, after the Hornby BYGYF) sale they lowered the price to $78.  I wonder if that price drop was orchestrated by Hornby or BLW did this on their own?  The MSRP is $130 which seems a bit on the high side for that type of a model.

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  That makes more sense.  If they had sold a bunch, to one customer, at regular wholesale price, they should be eager to make more.

[wmcbride]

No inside info on this but since they had a "buy one get one free" (BYGYF) blowout sale last Christmas I assume that they did not sell the entire run and sold them close to cost (50% off MSRP).  So yes, they probably didn't' lose money but were l left with an experience they probably don't want to repeat.

BLW also offered them on-sale earlier this year.  I originally reserved my SW1s at BLW when they were first announced and I paid $99 for them when they arrived. But then (IIRC, after the Hornby BYGYF) sale they lowered the price to $78.  I wonder if that price drop was orchestrated by Hornby or BLW did this on their own?  The MSRP is $130 which seems a bit on the high side for that type of a model.

I seem to recall an email exchange with Pete that price was lowered by Hornby and he was adjusting his down as a result.

Then the BOGO sale came along. Now on eBay the one shop that bought a ton of them is basically selling them for a little less than the BOGO price direct from Hornby. Like $5 less per engine.

[CBQ Fan]

I seem to recall an email exchange with Pete that price was lowered by Hornby and he was adjusting his down as a result.

Then the BOGO sale came along. Now on eBay the one shop that bought a ton of them is basically selling them for a little less than the BOGO price direct from Hornby. Like $5 less per engine.

This is accurate.