Thinking About The Future.

[Mountain Goat]

To me there is a large gap in the market for the future with those who want what losely are described as "Models" but without the high costs and in the past there have always been either a new gauge and scale where the costs of manufacturer could be made cheaper, or a manufacturer invented a cheaper method of making their products to make them more affordable.

The problem today is that I see the toy market produce amazing toys which are not designed to be models as they have to comply with strict child safety requirements, but have some pretty amazing prices which are so close to being described as models that if one changes their couplings then I honestly do not see a great difference. But for most they are still toys and due to the nature of needing to capture their intended customers which are young, there is no incentive for them to make changes to enter into the modellers market.

But who now caters for the budget modeller who does not want to scratchbuild? In the past 00 gauge was known as "The poor mans 0 gauge" as when the likes of Jouef and Triang came along who were providing modellers with budget friendly models, one could see where this thinking was coming from, as what was once a hobby for the wealthier families opened up into a hobby for all.
The issue today is that the hobby is starting to get out of the reach of the lower income families at the same time that they are being forced to comply with having to buy their children computerized gadgets for them to complete their schoolwork on etc. So the budget for any child or parent to enter into the hobby is being squeezed.
Trainsets were always made with reduced profits in mind so that they would entice new blood into the hobby. While I do see efforts to entice youngsters into the hobby, I am not seeing a lot of effort made to produce budget friendly models. In fact, I see the opposite where if an extra detail can be added as an excuse to charge more it seems to be done. I am not against super finely detailed models to those who can afford them. If one wants one and can afford them then why not enjoy them! That is what they are for! But I am becoming concerned that apart from the secondhand market, there is no longer much in the way of a budget way into the hobby unless one scratchbuilds which for some is jumping into the deep end with no knowledge of what is needed to make a start, or they may buy or get given a budget trainset and then think "Now what?" when they see the prices!

When I see new manufacturers entering into the market, they enter in because there is the opportunity potential to make large profits as the risks are less than they once were as to them, they see the retail sales prices (Which are high) and they are aiming high assuming that the market is there at those prices to allow them to compete. What is missing is the ones who are saying "I wonder if I can make a product that is simpler and cheaper and yet will still tempt modellers to buy?"
This is what is missing. In the past there was always some company that came to the rescue to provide those with lower incomes a chance to enjoy model railways. Some of them may have been halfway betweeh toys and models but they were there. Today there is a large gap in the market that is not being filled and I wonder how long it will remain?

[Chops]

An interesting point. As one who could not sell umbrellas if it were raining, it is a wonderment that any manufacturer would risk capital on introducing anything new to the fickle model rail market. I see precious few young people, on this side of the pond, getting into model railroading, and the number of model railway shops have closed at an alarming rate.

Without question, the biggest competitor is computer games. Personally, I find computer games to be utterly coring. As near as I can tell, they all seem to be advanced versions of "Pong." Seriously. The graphics are more ornate, but the fantastically routine drivel leaves me stoned.

I would suspect that one of the greatest barriers to model railroading for the younger set, if they somehow navigate beyond "Grand Theft Auto," is dirty track and derailments. Cheaply constructed, if not otherwise glittering, models likely do much to self-torpedo sales efforts. Note Andruec's lament of today on "quality control."