One of the problems is finding stuff, IF you want to do certain road names. HO you can find almost anything. N Scale not as much. Another problem is people wanting to build a big set all at once. They don’t understand MOST people built those big setups over 5, 10, 15, or 20 years.
Gents, As a DC model railroader, I agree. A while back my wife went with me to one of the local train shows. Of course as soon as you walked in the door, $400 HO scale DCC locomotives. She looked at me and said "your not spending THAT kind of money are you?" Nope. I know my place. I just cant do that. Now that I'm moving and I have a much larger space to fill, I'm going from what was a "display layout" to an operational one. This is NOT going to be easy for me. I grew up with the old Tyco, Bachmann, Life Like "junk". Back when you could go to Toy's R Us, Two Guys, KB Toy and Hobby and the like and get anything and everything you needed CHEAP. I cant image a 20 something these days with a limited income trying to do what we did back then. However, you have to be smart. I have co-workers that have asked me how they get into the hobby. I tell them start with a small set and work up from there. Keep up the good work guys! Ray
Kato pocket line is cheap and good, piko sells a solid european diesel for $56.00 and walthers sells a good US diesel for around the same price as well. Piko also sells a few respectable running european ho diesel and steam locos for younger modelers for around 30.00. and freight cars for as low as $10.00.
The problem with the price, we are a people of "lock and key." Nobody models anymore, where we use to dress our locomotives ourselves, the mfg does it for us, and charge us for that service. That's one of the resons things cost so much. On cost, I have been told so many times, by the younger people in the hobby, "Then don't buy it!" Or "You can afford that." Nobody has a respect for the dollar anymore. (My opinion)
Evemodel sells decent scenery for cheap, so do a lot .of non mainsteam sellers such as war world scenics, also walthersand gaugemaster still make the old POLA ahm model power buildings and they are inexpensive.
Outstanding discussion. I think that we have 2 opportunities and target groups that need to be investigated. #1 - young people....there is the "nerd" factor regarding DCC that can attract the "video gamers". #2 - retirees with disposable incomes wanting to have something to keep themselves active. Affordable good quality product is also important. "blue box" was inexpensive and good quality. Over 80% of my 400 cars were "blue box".
If you super detail the lead loco in a consist train will look fine,sound in every loco to me would be overkill,want good are sound locos ifyou have to wear earplugs to run your trains
One of the problems is finding stuff, IF you want to do certain road names. HO you can find almost anything. N Scale not as much. Another problem is people wanting to build a big set all at once. They don’t understand MOST people built those big setups over 5, 10, 15, or 20 years.
Gents, As a DC model railroader, I agree. A while back my wife went with me to one of the local train shows. Of course as soon as you walked in the door, $400 HO scale DCC locomotives. She looked at me and said "your not spending THAT kind of money are you?" Nope. I know my place. I just cant do that. Now that I'm moving and I have a much larger space to fill, I'm going from what was a "display layout" to an operational one. This is NOT going to be easy for me. I grew up with the old Tyco, Bachmann, Life Like "junk". Back when you could go to Toy's R Us, Two Guys, KB Toy and Hobby and the like and get anything and everything you needed CHEAP. I cant image a 20 something these days with a limited income trying to do what we did back then. However, you have to be smart. I have co-workers that have asked me how they get into the hobby. I tell them start with a small set and work up from there.
Keep up the good work guys! Ray
Kato pocket line is cheap and good, piko sells a solid european diesel for $56.00 and walthers sells a good US diesel for around the same price as well. Piko also sells a few respectable running european ho diesel and steam locos for younger modelers for around 30.00. and freight cars for as low as $10.00.
Nice show fellas. Thanks. A never ending debate but it is important to continue to talk about it and act on what we can to keep younger folks engaged.
FAA is destroying the hobby as well as closing local hobby shops.
Thanks again fellows and also to the southern gentleman behind the scenes :)
The problem with the price, we are a people of "lock and key." Nobody models anymore, where we use to dress our locomotives ourselves, the mfg does it for us, and charge us for that service. That's one of the resons things cost so much. On cost, I have been told so many times, by the younger people in the hobby, "Then don't buy it!" Or "You can afford that." Nobody has a respect for the dollar anymore. (My opinion)
Limited production has people scrambling to buy before they are gone
Evemodel sells decent scenery for cheap, so do a lot .of non mainsteam sellers such as war world scenics, also walthersand gaugemaster still make the old POLA ahm model power buildings and they are inexpensive.
I love the hobby but just do not have the funds,for example I cannot afford to convert to DC.😖
I didn’t know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Great topic and good conversation. Thanks...Anthony
Outstanding discussion. I think that we have 2 opportunities and target groups that need to be investigated. #1 - young people....there is the "nerd" factor regarding DCC that can attract the "video gamers". #2 - retirees with disposable incomes wanting to have something to keep themselves active.
Affordable good quality product is also important. "blue box" was inexpensive and good quality. Over 80% of my 400 cars were "blue box".
O scale switches are 100 a piece 😳
Good series
YES THE HOBBY IS DYING......through corporate greed, in the never ending pursuit of bigger profits, and smaller output, and low grade products.
If you super detail the lead loco in a consist train will look fine,sound in every loco to me would be overkill,want good are sound locos ifyou have to wear earplugs to run your trains
DC scale trains Dash 9 $99 n scale