Re: RE: RE: [cpsig] HO Intermountain CPR FP7 and F7B
- From: ADAM MEEKS <Matchless@xxxxxxx>
- To: cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 05:08:17 -0600
All true enough, but I'll still betcha that if we knew the facts in this
case, it still boils down to a very small Canadian market.
-The owner of Chinook & Hobby West here in Calgary had a discussion with one
of the reps from Kato USA last year over why the Kato F40PHs were not done in
VIA, but were released in Chicago RTA paint, which arguably has a MUCH smaller
target consumer base. He was told that Canadian sales represent less than 3%
of the North American market share. With that in mind, I would venture to say
that we are lucky that there are as many Canadian models (inaccurate or
otherwise) as there are available today. I can remember a time in the not so
distant past when it was difficult to find any quality plastic models in
Canadian road names.
Have to agree with Roger gone are the days in the UK when companies could
produce Toys instead of Model Railway Trains.
-Admittedly it has been a few years since I have checked out any UK imports,
but from my experience with European model trains in the mid-1990s, they left a
lot to be desired. I will attest to the detail being much finer than what was
available in North America at the time, but the mechanisms on the Lima and
Hornby trains I saw were average at best. Comparing European railway models to
North American ones is also kind of like comparing apples to oranges. Whereas
North American manufacturers produced a certain model (i.e. FP7) that was
modified or customized by nearly ever railroad that bought it, European
locomotives are often specific to a single railway. From a modelling
standpoint, this leaves a company like Intermountain trying to produce a single
FP7 model that represents what essentially becomes dozens of different
locomotives, whereas when Horby releases a British Railways Class 56 diesel,
they are making a specific model of a single prototype. What makes a huge
difference in the equation is if ten UK modellers go to buy a BR Class 56
diesel, they all want that specific locomotive in that specific roadname,
because that is all that exists in real life. When ten North American
modellers go to buy Intermountain FP7s, two of them want UP, one wants
Milwaukee Road, two want CPR, one wants CNR, and so on. The problem is that
they all want an accurate model for their road of choice, which become
impossible for the model maker to provide without incurring tremendous expense.
Actually why do they not contact groups such as these CPSIG &
CanModelTrains) to ask us what we think and want. Maybe we should volunteer.
They would get free consultation and then we would get what we want or at
least something that is nearer to 100% than we get now. Look at Rapdio he
has produced some nice models along with help from the groups.
-This is an excellent suggestion. I would encourage anyone who is willing to
contribute their time and knowledge to contact manufacturers and volunteer
their services. Most companies are receptive to this sort of thing and are
willing to consider suggestions. Rapido is an excellent example of one of
these companies, as I know for a fact that members of this list helped with the
research for the upcoming RCP cars, and as a result of that input and Rapido's
high standards, the accuracy of these cars appears to be striking.
Adam Meeks
Calgary, AB
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